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Badger Common’Tater

February 2016

THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

WPVGA Show Issue INTERVIEW: Don Hamerski, Hamerski Farms Inc.

Volume 68 Number 2 $18.00/year $1.50/copy

BYPASSING SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS Pre-Enforcement Judicial Review of Wetlands BADGER BEAT Fall Manure & Cover Crops Auxiliary 40th Anniversary Part 3: 1955-2005

Don Hamerski Hamerski Farms, Inc.

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Badger Common'Tater

On the Front Cover: Don Hamerski stands by the entrance sign to Hamerski Farms Inc.’s headquarters.

8 Badger cOMMON’TATER INTERVIEW: Don Hamerski, Hamerski Farms Inc.

Shown here: The operation’s shipping facility is a constant hub of activity.

Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN.................. 68 AUXILIARY NEWS.............. 57 EYES ON ASSOCIATES....... 60

30

20

40TH ANNIVERSARY

BADGER BEAT

WPGA 3rd Decade 1995-2005

Fall Manure & Cover Crops

34 BYPASSING SCYLLA & CHARYBDIS Pre-Enforcement Judicial Review of Wetlands

GROUNDED ........................ 6 MARK YOUR CALENDAR..... 6 MARKETPLACE.................. 62 NEW PRODUCTS............... 52 NOW NEWS...................... 44

Feature Articles:

NPC NEWS........................ 61

38 WISCONSIN HELPS Ethiopian Potato Farmers

PEOPLE ............................ 51

24 2015 TAX LAWS Passage Allows Farmers to Breathe & Plan

POTATO BOARD NEWS.... 58

28 AGRIBUSINESS HEALTH BENEFIT OPTIONS That Help Avoid Penalties

WPIB FOCUS ................... 59

4

BC�T February

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WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Andy Wallendal Vice President: Mark Finnessy Secretary: Eric Schroeder Treasurer: Josh Mattek Directors: Larry Alsum, Steve Diercks, Ron Krueger, Jeremie Pavelski, Gary Wysocki Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: President: Heidi Alsum-Randall Vice President: Richard Okray Secretary: Bill Wysocki Treasurer: Keith Wolter Directors: John Bobek, Cliff Gagas, John T. Schroeder, Tom Wild and Dennis Zeloski WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Chris Brooks Vice President: Wayne Solinsky

www. Jay-Mar.com Plover (715) 341-3445 • 800-236-2436 Antigo (715) 627-4321

Secretary: Steve Bohm Treasurer: Zach Mykisen Directors: Butch Fencil, Cathy Schommer, Sally Suprise, Joel Zalewski Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Ron Krueger Vice President: Eric Schroeder Secretary/Treasurer: Dan Kakes Directors: Bill Guenthner, Charlie Mattek

WPVGA Staff Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan Managing Editor: Ruth Faivre Director of Promotions & Consumer Education: Dana Rady Financial Officer: Karen Rasmussen Executive Assistant: Julie Braun Program Assistant: Danielle Sorano Coordinator of Community Relations: Jim Zdroik

Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Paula Houlihan Vice President: Lynn Isherwood Secretary/Treasurer: Gabrielle Okray Eck Directors: Kathy Bartsch, Deniell Bula, Patty Hafner & Sheila Rine

WPVGA Office (715) 623-7683 • FAX: (715) 623-3176 E-mail Address: wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com Website: www.wisconsinpotatoes.com Like Us On Facebook: www.facebook.com/WPVGA

Mission Statement of the WPVGA: “To assist WPVGA members to be successful through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action, and involvement.”

Mission Statement of the WPVGA Associate Division: “Our mission is to work in partnership with the WPVGA as product and service providers to promote mutual industry viability by integrating technology and information resources.”

Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409 Subscription rates: $1.50/copy, $18.00/year; $30/2 years. Foreign; $30/year; $50/2 years.

Telephone: (715) 623-7683. Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409.

Or, subscribe free online: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe/ ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 347-3755, or email: Ruth Faivre: rfaivre@wisconsinpotatoes.com. The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands.

BC�T February

5

Mark Your

Calendar FEBRUARY 2016 2-4

WPVGA & UW EXTENSION GROWER EDUCATION CONFERENCE & INDUSTRY SHOW Holiday Inn, Stevens Point, WI (715) 623-7683

2-5

WISCONSIN CORN/SOY EXPO Kalahari Resort Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

3

WPVGA ASSOCIATE DIV ANNUAL MEETING Holiday Inn, Stevens Point, WI (715) 623-7683

4

WPVGA ANNUAL MEETING Holiday Inn, Stevens Point, WI (715) 623-7683

10 WSPIA ANNUAL MEETING

North Star Lanes Antigo, WI 17 UWEX FRESH MARKET

PRODUCE WORKSHOP Ontario, WI

17-25

POTATO INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Grand Forks, ND

18-19

INTERNATIONAL CROP EXPO Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND

22-25

POTATO D.C. FLY-IN Mayflower Renaissance Washington, D.C.

25-26

MIDWEST MINT GROWERS MEETING Swan Lake Resort Plymouth, IN

28-3/2 2016 NGA SHOW

Mirage Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV

March 2016 2 UWEX CENTRAL WI

PROCESSING CROPS MTG

Hancock Agricultural Research Station

Hancock, WI 4-5

WI AG WOMEN'S SUMMIT Madison Marriot West Middleton, WI

7-9

MIDWEST FOODSERVICE EXPO WI Center Milwaukee, WI

12 WI HOPS PRODUCTION MTG LaCrosse, WI 19-22

SNAXPO 2016 Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND

Grounded

Camaraderie, education, networking and entertainment are just a few of the benefits you get when you attend industry trade shows.

I found all of that and more when I attended Potato Expo 2016 in Las Vegas, NV in January. This was my first participation in Potato Expo and I was pleasantly surprised at how large it was and how many advertiser clients and WPVGA grower members I saw during the event.

I even squeezed in an enjoyable night at Le Cirque des Pommes de Terre: A Magical Evening of Aerial Arts and Entertainment.

I am pictured with two of the delightful entertainers above.

Our own WPVGA Grower Ed Conference and Industry show occurs this month. I encourage all growers and industry professionals to attend this wonderful show and other potato industry events.

These shows attract some of the brightest and best in our ‘field’ and offer many opportunities to exchange ideas and information with these individuals and with the vendors who exhibit at the shows.

I hope that many of you will be with us at our February show! If so, please do not hesitate to stop me when you see me and let me know your thoughts about Badger Common’Tater and any ideas you may have. I absolutely love hearing from our readers.

Don’t miss our interview this month which features a trip down memory lane with Don Hamerski, Hamerski Farms, Inc. Don shares with us what it was like to grow up on a Wisconsin farm back in the early 40s and beyond.

Life was not easy in those days but its adversities forged strong individuals like Don, who grew their operations into tremendous successes.

Please email me with your thoughts and questions. If you wish to be notified when our free online magazine is available monthly, here is the subscriber link: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe.

Ruth Faivre

Managing Editor rfaivre@wisconsinpotatoes.com

Interview Don Hamerski Hamerski Farms Inc.

By Ruth Faivre, Managing Editor

Name: Don Hamerski Title: President Company: Hamerski Farms, Inc. CROPS GROWN/ACREAGE: Potatoes -1000; Sweet Corn -600; Snap Beans- 500; Field Corn-200; Sweet Peas-450 and Beans-450 LOCATION: Plover, WI HOMETOWN: Custer, WI CURRENT RESIDENCE: Plover, WI YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: SCHOOLING: Graduated from PJ Jacobs High School, Stevens Point in 1957; received a scholarship from Citizens State Bank and graduated from UW-Madison Agriculture short course.

SOCIAL MEDIA: www.facebook.com/ Hamerski-Farms-440973619294588/?fref=ts ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS: Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Association (WPVGA), WPVGA Legislative and Water Resource Committee and other WPVGA committees, Research Administrative Committee Research- United States Potato Board (USPB), Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association (WSPIA), former ChairmanPortage County Drainage Commission 1980-2015, State of Wisconsin Drainage Board Executive Committee 2007-2015, Town of Plover Planning & Zoning Committee Chairman 1980 to present, Elks Club member, St. Bronislava Church member.

AWARDS/HONORS: 1987 Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award, Portage County Business Council FAMILY: Wife Mary; Son Jon & his wife Dawn and children Trent and Taylor; daughter Lori (helps Mary with the farm’s bookwork) & her husband Dan Hoerter and children Ashley, Katie, Gabe and Eli. HOBBIES: NASCAR, Bowling, Green Bay Packer games (season ticket holder), farming and farm equipment.

8

BC�T February

Farming in Wisconsin was a harsh environment in 1939, when

Don Hamerski was born. Most family farms were self-supportive with goods produced on the farm to provide some cash income and buy supplies for crops and services Daily tasks were labor intensive and physically exhausting: feeding livestock, milking cows by hand twice a day and cleaning up manure. Water was collected from the well or stream and there was constant log hewing, particularly in winter months, to provide wood for heat, timber for building and income from cash sales of the wood.

Some of the timber came from clearing land to produce more usable farm ground but this was also an extremely arduous task.

Farmers labored from sunup to sundown and hours mounted during planting and harvest seasons since everything was done by hand or powered by nature or horses.

In 1941, the U.S. was just emerging from the Great Depression. Many were looking forward to better times after a decade of hard times.

Then, on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked and the ensuing World War II meant that Americans would endure more hardships.

It even affected clothing and apparel because raw materials usually used for these items, were diverted to things like parachutes and military attire. Like many other items, shoes and boots were rationed so they became a prized possession and people took special care of them.

For farmers, the burden grew heavier since they now had to produce crops not just for local use but to help feed eight million U.S. soldiers on a daily basis, despite a shortage of farm workers, gas and new farm equipment and parts.

A lot of the regular farm help found new jobs off the farm as they were hired to make bombs, tanks or other materials which were built in new plants in rural areas across the nation. These plants and military training bases were constructed far from the coasts where they might be less vulnerable to attack, sabotage or spying.

TOP: Don Hamerski shows off some of his bigger potatoes. Photo by Ruth Faivre

continued on pg. 10

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 8

Don Hamerski, Hamerski Farms Inc. spent his early formative years in this environment. Don’s father, Joe, had just assumed the reins of the farming operation in 1940 from Don’s grandfather, Paul, who started the farm, 127 years ago, in 1889.

Don, in turn, grew up working on the farm, and in 1961, formed a partnership with his father, eventually taking over in 1964. Don now farms with his son, Jon, and his nephew, Dale O’Brien. According to Don, “I used to be the youngest and now I am the oldest farmer.”

PROGRESSION Constantly evolving, Hamerski Farms Inc. headquartered in Plover, WI, now has 2,300 acres of farmland extending into the Bancroft area.

The farm employs 22 employees

between mid-July through the end of February and has moved beyond just the cows, potatoes and corn of Don’s grandfather’s day.

Now, we grow a variety of potatoes including Norkodah, Gold Rush, Silverton, Superior, Red Norland and others along with sweet corn, snap beans, field corn, sweet peas and beans.

This interview focuses primarily on Don’s history in those early years, hoping to provide a glimpse into Don’s past and unlock the keys the led to such a successful future as well as provide a history of what it was like to farm in such severe circumstances.

What are your earliest remembrances of farming with your dad or grandpa and living on the farm?

I started working on the farm 6-7 hours a day when I was only 4-5 years old, picking Colorado beetles off potatoes and dropping them into kerosene in a pail because that would kill them.

After the potatoes were debugged, I would go pick cucumbers and beans.

After that, I would then help tend to the cows as well as chickens, ducks, geese and any other small animals.

I hated the geese as well as the roosters because they were just plain mean. You never knew when or if, they would chase you or just ignore you.

This may seem strange to people today, working at such a young age, but back then, it was pretty much the norm. continued on pg. 12 Top Left: Don Hamerski poses with the highspeed, technologically advanced Fuji Ace robotic palletizer. Hamerski Farms was the first farm in the Midwest to use this type of robotics. Photo by Ruth Faivre Above Right: Don Hamerski (left) and Eugene Mancl look over the control panel that operates Hamerski Farms packing shed’s Guardian ozone generator water injection system. The system is the largest ever built and the first in the United States. Photo by Tamas Houlihan

10 BC�T February

Bottom: Hamerski Farms, Inc.’s headquarters and grading/packing facilities. Photo by Ruth Faivre

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 10

Later, when I was 6-7 years old and World War II was in its heyday, there was a lot of stuff you could not buy and you made do with what you whatever you could get. Sugar was a luxury and clothes consisted of ‘hand me downs’ and for the girls, dresses made out of flour sacks.

We all washed up in a washtub. There was no running water, no electricity, no bathrooms or toilet, only the outhouse or the great outdoors.

Can you describe the equipment you used back then?

Farming was literally a ‘dirty business’ because all equipment was pull-type and hooked to horses rather than self-propelled. There was no cab or umbrella to shield you from the sun except when you were cultivating.

Later, when we did get tractors, they still did not have cabs or umbrellas and when you combined, chaff was everywhere.

‘Dirty’ fell far short of describing how 12 BC�T February

the dirt and chaff squeezed into every pore of your skin particularly because the wind never seemed to blow in the right direction.

It was still better than working with horses, because horses get spooked and take off. However, the horses were smart and could tell what was cultivated and what was not.

The first time I worked the cultivator with a horse, I was only 6-7 years old and the corn was a foot high. A rabbit spooked the horse and it drug me 200-300 feet, ruining everything in its path.

I thought I would get in big trouble but my Dad was more scared that I could have gotten hurt very badly because if a horse knows you are scared (which they always do and I was), they tend to go crazy and get out of control.

When I was 7-8 years old, I learned to drive a jeep using blocks for the pedals so I could help bale hay for cows. I would take the empty feeder

out to the field and Mom and Dad would unload hay into it.

Later, I used the hay chopper. No matter what part you played in the haying process, though, it was hot, awful, awful hot with no wind to cool you off.

What was the community like back then?

In those days, nobody locked their houses or if they did, they used a skeleton key and all the neighbors knew where the key was hidden.

Everyone worked together and trusted each other and if they needed something, they helped each other.

We were always exchanging food with each other. continued on pg. 14 Left: The grading line at Hamerski Farms.

Photo by Ruth Faivre Above Right: Automated procedures abound throughout the Hamerski Farms’ packing shed.

Photo by Ruth Faivre Bottom RIght: This turntable allows for ease in packing. Photo by Ruth Faivre

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 12

My dad had a threshing machine so he went from farm to farm to help the neighbors thresh and only charged for the belts and other things that broke down with continuous use or needed servicing.

We also built things together as a group and had a barn raising, ourselves, when I was 10 years old.

Later, we all helped tear down the neighbor’s old house and then built a new one. Together, we also all pooled lumber and supplies and built build a small store.

Please share with us what it was like during the World War II years.

During World War II, we had a Model C Allis Chalmers tractor and a twobottom plow to farm our own land.

We then bought a John Deere A, which meant we had to sell the Allis Chalmers because you could only have one tractor per farm during the war years.

The number of tractors you were allowed to have was based on the number of acres you had and we did Left: Don Hamerski’s son, Jon, won the WPVGA Young Grower of the Year Award in 2010. Jon serves as President of Hamerski Sales.

Jon also readily embraces change and seeks to improve the farming operation with the latest, state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

Photo by Tamas Houlihan Right: Don Hamerski by some of the operation’s packing equipment. Photo by Ruth Faivre 14 BC�T February

not have enough to get or keep more tractors.

I was only about four years old at the time but did not know what to think.

Therefore, it did not matter what brand you had, International, Allis Chalmers, John Deere, Oliver or whatever, you were just glad to have one.

Luckily, the first time I met them in the fields, one of them spoke excellent English and told me that I did not have to be scared of them.

He claimed they were forced to serve with the Nazis and did not agree with Hitler at all.

Being self-sustainable during these years, we all had livestock, but if you wanted to buy a baler, you had to apply to the government for permission to get one.

We raised potatoes and you had to sell a certain percentage to the government, which left you with just about enough money to raise the next crop.

Since labor was short on the farms during these years, farmers were given the opportunity to let Prisoners of War work on their land.

My Dad arranged for four German Prisoners of War to work on our farm.

I spent quite a bit of time around all four and they were nice as could be and very hard workers.

Everyone supported the war effort and we were so proud we had an opportunity to help the troops.

Families would even open their home to troops in the area, so they had a place to stay or eat dinner.

Close to the end of the war, Dad grew hemp, which was sold to the government to be used for parachute ropes. continued on pg. 16

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 14

School kids were also encouraged to bring milkweed pods to school and the government would bring truck to the schools and pick them up because these, too, were used to make parachute ropes.

Hemp was quite profitable for our farm and others like us, particularly since it was used in thousands more items other than parachute ropes like food, paint, fuel, clothing, construction materials and even cars.

When the war ended, the federal government outlawed the growing of hemp nationwide, presumably due to its drug connotations.

Gasoline and oil was limited and a number on your windshield designated what day on which you could buy gas.

Tires were rationed, too, because rubber was needed form military equipment and tires. At an early age, kids like me learned how to take tires apart, fix and patch tubes.

The government rationed supplies of staples such as flour, sugar, spices, coffee, meat, fish, butter, eggs and cheese.

The Defense Department provided ration cards for all of those supplies and that was how you purchased these items from the stores.

If you had chickens and extra eggs, 16 BC�T February

you could also bring the eggs to town and trade for groceries.

You had to grow your own wheat and barley and make your own bread because bread was not available at the stores.

The war ended in 1945 but the country remained under the same conditions pretty much until the 50s and then the North Korean War started.

What were the 1950s like?

When I got into my teens, we had mechanized a couple of tractors and were using them with a milking machine. Until then, our 20 cows were milked by hand and it took five minutes or more to milk each cow, consuming over an hour and a half each day.

A milk hauler would come pick up the milk and haul it to Nelsonville and Arnott. If you placed your order ahead of time, he brought you butter the next day.

The cans of milk had cold water in the bottoms to keep the milk cold. That water was then given to the cows to drink so nothing was wasted.

By this time, we had a pump for ground water but it took quite a long time to pump enough water for chickens and other livestock as well as the apple and plum trees if

Left: Potatoes being packed into cardboard boxes.

Photo by Ruth Faivre Right: Potatoes packed and ready to display in the grocery stores. Photo by Ruth Faivre

it got dry because everyone had an orchard.

I legally drove at 14 years old because back then, there was a special exemption for farm kids. Of course, I passed my driving test since I had been driving since I was six. However, you still did not waste precious and expensive gas and only drove to town when you could combine several needs into one trip.

The very first car I owned was a 1949 Pontiac and I was 20 years old when I bought it.

What are the biggest differences you see in farming today versus when you started farming with your father?

The only technology we had in my early years in farming was that we tested pH levels for our soils and that was about it.

Farmers moved from simply spreading manure for nutrients to fertilizers with different nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium blends.

Macronutrients and micronutrients had not entered the picture yet.

Nowadays, farming is a science and you really need to use a soil continued on pg. 18

Interview. . . continued from pg. 16

agronomist to determine your soil needs or you will not produce the yields you need to keep your farm prosperous. Today, you need to produce 400-500 cwt/acre versus the 50 bushel/acre of yesteryear.

Additionally, there are so many more types of potatoes that are planted unlike the mainstays of Chippewa for potato chips and Burbank and Russet White/Russet Sebago from the old days.

How has your operation kept up with the latest equipment along with new technologies?

We always strive to incorporate the newest technologies. All of our irrigation systems are computerized and operated remotely with control panels at the farm’s headquarters.

We now have self-propelled sprayers, Lenco harvesters and a 4-row Double L and several self-unloading bulk boxes. When we transport our 12-bottom John Deere plow, people often take photos of it because they have never seen a plow that big.

Many of our 13 tractors are equipped with Auto-Farm automatic steering.

Our packing shed utilizes a Hagen 18 BC�T February

automatic sizer and X-ray machine for hollow heart detection and Hagen X-ray heads on all four lanes. Our packaging software, allows us to pack just about any size potatoes for specialty packs, for exact size need when going through processing lines.

Our state of the art Fuji Ace EC201 Robotic Palletizer is used in conjunction with a Volmpack Auto-Baler in the farm’s packing shed. This high-speed, technologically advanced robot can handle as much as 20 bags per minute and lift up to 400 pounds. We also have an Odenberg automatic grader.

What was it like working on the WPVGA Legislative Committee in the 60s?

In 1960, water first began to be legislated. I was on the WPVGA legislative and water resource committee and went back and forth to Madison, burning the midnight oil, five days straight one week and four days straight the next week, working hard to get an appropriate water bill passed. Luckily, our hard work and efforts to explain how important our issues were to our region as well

as the rest of the state, paid off and we succeeded in our efforts.

My work with legislative bodies did not end there however, since I also served as Portage County Drainage commissioner for 27 years. As such, I worked closely with the DNR and other governmental agencies and we were the only district in Wisconsin to institute a 10-year maintenance agreement.

My theory is that it works best when all parties work together to achieve common goals rather than fighting each other.

Sure, there may be compromises but the result will usually be much more closely matched to a win-win solution for everyone.

Are there any new directions you will be pursuing in terms of farming or the procedures associated with it such as grading, processing or storage?

At the moment, I cannot think of any but we try to stay on top of anything new, particularly technology, review Top: Don Hamerski and son, Jon inspect potatoes that have gone through flume water injected with ozone. Photo by Tamas Houlihan

it carefully and see if it will make sense and fit into our operation with an appropriate return on investment.

If you could do anything different over the years, please describe what that would be.

I cannot really think of anything I would necessarily change. If I did something a certain way, I did it for a reason and not until I carefully considered it and reviewed negative and positive implications.

Most probably, if I could do anything over again, it would still be close to how I did it in the first place.

What advice would you give young farmers starting out today?

If you want a steady income, you might want to consider a career other than farming. You never know in farming if you will be up or down because there are so many variables, most of which, like weather, you cannot control.

Above: Don Hamerski was one of a group of “behind the scenes” donors who agreed to publicize their latest donation to Plover Whiting Youth Athletics (PWYA), a brand new John Deere TS Gator back in April, 2011. Pictured in the Gator: (L-R), Craig Giese, President PWYA and Don Hamerski (Hamerski Farms). Back row (L-R): Gary Smith (formerly of Faivre Implement), Bruce Soik (Myron M. Soik & Sons) and Steve Worzella (Worzella & Sons) contributed the Gator, a multi-purpose utility vehicle designed to serve as a “mobile workhorse” for all kinds of needs. Photo by Ruth Faivre

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BC�T February 19

Badger Beat

FALL MANURE & COVER CROPS

By Matt Ruark, Department of Soil Science

Nutrient management in dairy productions systems produces both

to leach out compared to manure applied in November.

One of the big challenges is efficient use of manure nutrients if the manure is applied in the fall. There are challenges with fall manure application on all soils, but the lack of nutrient retention and high leaching potential of sandy soils adds to the challenge.

The later application date means a reduction number of leaching events and cooler temperatures that will slow mineralization (the microbial conversion of organic N to plant available N).

challenges and opportunities on sandy soils.

In general, since only a portion of the manure N is in a mineral form (e.g. ammonium), N leaching from manure would be less compared to inorganic fertilizer, which is why fall application of N fertilizer is not recommended on sandy soils.

Now, there are many management practices associated with fall manure application that can alleviate some of these challenges.

The first is application timing. Manure applied in September or early October has a much greater chance

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The second is addition of N stabilizers (e.g. nitrapyrin) to the manure.

This will protect against rapid mineralization of the organic N in the manure during warm fall periods, keeping the N in an organic form until mineralization picks up again in the spring.

To address the issue of fall-applied manure on sandy soil, the Wisconsin Fertilizer Research Council funded research to study how cover crops can influence the N balance of this system.

In 2014, research was established at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station. Liquid dairy manure was applied on September 26 following corn silage harvest. The manure was surface applied and then

incorporated within 1 to 3 hours.

Three cover crop species (winter rye, annual ryegrass and spring barley) and one forage crop (triticale) were drilled on October 1 (Figure 1).

Winter ryegrass and triticale survived the winter, while annual ryegrass and spring barley did not. Triticale was harvested in the spring as a forage crop.

The positive aspect of surviving the winter is that wind erosion control is maintained during the spring.

The disadvantage of surviving the winter is that the cover crops need to be chemically or mechanically terminated (or both) adding to labor costs.

The study continued during the 2015 growing season to assess the effects of the cover crops on corn grain yield and corn grain response to N fertilizer.

The corn grain following triticale was planted three weeks later than all other cover crop treatments, reflecting the difference in planting date that occurs when needing to let the triticale grow to optimum maturity for silage.

Figure 1: Planting of cover crops on October 1, 2014 at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station. Liquid dairy manure was applied September 26, 2014 at a rate of 10,000 gallons per acre.

was similar for each curve in Figure 2.

An additional treatment was added where corn yields were assessed following no fall manure or cover crop.

This highlights one of the main concerns about fall application of manure N – how much is used by the next crop?

Use of fall manure did not lead to an increase in corn grain yields compared to plots without fall manure, and no N "credit" was detected, as the optimum N rate

Manure analysis indicated that there would be a 100 lb-N/acre N credit, meaning that corn yields should start to plateau at N rates 100 lb-N/acre less than corn yields without manure.

This data clearly suggests that additional practices (later application, use of nitrapyrin) are necessary reduce N losses and increase the economic value of the manure N. None of the cover crops (winter rye, annual ryegrass, or spring barley) influenced corn grain yields or response to N (corn yield response to winter rye is shown in Figure 3). continued on pg. 22

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50

Badger Beat. . .

200

300

400

250

250

150

Yield (bu/ac)

200

Yield (bu/ac)

100

Nitrogen rate (lb-N/ac)

Figure 2. Corn grain yields in 2015 following fall manure application or no manure application. The nitrogen rates are in-season applicat inorganic fertilizer (i.e. does not include N from the manure).

continued from pg. 21

No manure With manure

100

50

0

0

100

200

300

Nitrogen rate (lb-N/ac)

400

200 150 100

No cover Winter rye Triticale

50 0

0

100

200

300

Nitrogen rate (lb-N/ac)

400

Figure 3. Corn grain in 2015 following fall manure application and planting of no cover crop, a winter rye cover crop or a triticale f Figure 2. Corn grain yields in 2015 following fall manure application or no manure application. The nitrogen rates are in-season application rates yields of The nitrogen rates are in-season application rates of inorganic fertilizer (i.e. does not include N from the manure). inorganic fertilizer (i.e. does not include N from the manure).

Figure 2: Corn grain yields in 2015 following fall manure application or no manure application. The nitrogen rates are in-season application rates of 250fertilizer (i.e. does not include N from the manure). inorganic

Figure 3: Corn grain yields in 2015 following fall manure application and planting of no cover crop, a winter rye cover crop or a triticale forage crop.

The nitrogen rates are in-season application rates of inorganic fertilizer (i.e. does not include N from the manure).

200

Yield (bu/ac)

Conversely, corn grain yields were The lack of response to the cover crops means two things: (1) that the 150 lowered following triticale (Figure cover crops are not tying up available 3), reflecting both a later planting N (i.e. it is not making the manure N 100 No cover date and perhaps some additional or fertilizer N less plant available) and Winter rye (2) it is not making the manure N any competition for water and nutrients. Triticale 50 0

0

100

200

300

Nitrogen rate (lb-N/ac)

more available (i.e. the N taken up in the plant biomass from manure N is not made plant available to the next crop in a timely fashion).

Thus, cover crops as an erosion

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Figure 3. Corn grain yields in 2015 following fall manure application and planting of no cover crop, a winter rye cover crop or a triticale forage crop.

The nitrogen rates are in-season application rates of inorganic fertilizer (i.e. does not include N from the manure).

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control tool are having no influence on the crop production system (positively or negatively).

Before termination there was about 0.5 ton/acre of dry matter biomass for the winter rye, but there was only 16 lb-N/acre measured in the above ground biomass, so only a small amount of the manure N was taken up.

The triticale had closer to 1 ton/acre of dry matter biomass, but also had a relatively low N content, with only 27 lb-N/acre in the above ground biomass.

Therefore, the reduction in yield is more likely due to the later planting date rather than competition for N. So where do we go from here? We are continuing this research for at least two more years to assess if this is the common occurrence or if it is a one-year anomaly.

at work here – the fall season that influences cover crop growth and potential N leaching and the corn grain season that influences corn growth, N uptake and N mineralization.

There are two distinct "seasons"

While it is still unclear what the

probability is that there is not a manure-N credit for fall applications on sandy soil, it is clear that there is an economic risk to this application (if using N credits) and cover crops may not be effective against the environmental risk to water quality.

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BC�T February 23

2015 Tax Laws

Passage Allows Farmers to Breathe & Plan

By Andy McCarty, CPA & Tax Development Manager, Badgerland Financial

Taxpayers can breathe a collective sigh of relief due to the

December passage of H.R. 2029 – also known as the “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015” (PATH Act).

After many years of uncertainty (due to expiring provisions being in limbo until Congress passed extender legislation late in the year), the PATH Act makes many of the so called “tax extenders” permanent, thereby giving taxpayers more certainty moving forward.

It is important to note that “permanent” in the sense of tax law only lasts until future laws are passed. However, until that happens, we are left with many tax provisions that help taxpayers of nearly every type and income level.

This article is intended to provide some insight into the more pertinent laws affecting our readers.

SECTION 179 & BONUS DEPRECIATION

made permanent and indexed for inflation in future years.

Probably the most widely discussed business provisions in the PATH Act surround the accelerated depreciation available through Section 179 & Bonus Depreciation.

Bonus Depreciation is now set at 50% through 2017, 40% for 2018 and 30% in 2019. After 2019, the Bonus Depreciation expires.

Without the PATH Act, Section 179 was set to revert to a maximum of $25,000 and Bonus Depreciation was eliminated.

With the passage of the PATH Act, section 179 was set at $500,000, 24 BC�T February

is $500,000, and once a taxpayer purchases more than $2 million in assets this amounts begins to be reduced.

As stated above, these amounts are indexed for inflation in years after 2015. Most property purchased for a business such as equipment, furniture, tiling, and single-purpose agricultural facilities qualify for the deduction.

Non-qualifying property includes multi-purpose agricultural buildings (machine shed), non-agricultural buildings and other real property.

Below are some explanations and rules of which you need to be aware.

A taxpayer must have net business income to take Section 179; they cannot create or further a loss.

Section 179 is taken on an asset-byasset basis and previous years can be amended to change these amounts if necessary.

Section 179 is an immediate write off on capital purchases and is available on new or used property placed in service during the tax year.

Bonus Depreciation is automatic and requires a taxpayer to write-off a set percentage of a capital purchase made during the year.

The maximum amount available

continued on pg. 26

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BC�T February 25 1/7/16 1:12 PM

2015 Tax Laws. . . continued from pg. 24

For 2015, that amount is 50%. If a taxpayer wishes to opt-out of the deduction, they must file an election with their tax return for the year the property is placed in service.

Bonus Depreciation only applies to new property (not used), and applies to all property with a tax life of 20 years or less.

In general, most property used in agriculture qualifies, including the multi-purpose agricultural facility that is not allowed for Section 179.

Bonus depreciation, if taken, applies to all property in a given asset class.

For example, if a taxpayer wishes to take bonus depreciation on a new piece of equipment, they must take it on all new equipment placed in service during the year.

In addition, the election to take (or not take) bonus depreciation is permanent and a taxpayer cannot amend a previous election after the extended due date of the originally filed return.

S CORPORATION BUILT-IN-GAINS PERIOD Many older farms were setup as C corporations and all assets, including land, were put into the corporation.

C corporations have double taxation because the entity pays tax on any net income and then shareholders

pay tax on distributed earnings in the form of dividends.

Additionally, corporations do not have the same preferential capital gains rates on the sale of capital assets, such as land.

These factors result in a significant tax bill in the year of liquidation, or, when there is a sale of any of the assets out of the corporation.

A tax planning strategy to avoid this tax hit is to convert to an S corporation. However, the tax code previously imposed a 10-year waiting period on the sale of any assets previously owned by the C corporation if the taxpayer wished to escape the double taxation.

The PATH Act has permanently reduced this waiting period from 10 years to 5 years.

ADDITIONAL CHILD TAX CREDIT The Child Tax Credit is $1,000 per qualifying child. To qualify, the child must be under age 17 and live with the taxpayer.

Generally, the credit is nonrefundable. This means you must have a tax liability to be able to take the credit.

However, the PATH Act makes permanent a provision making a portion of the credit refundable known as the “Additional Child

Tax Credit.”

If the credit exceeds the taxpayer’s tax liability, the taxpayer is eligible for a refundable credit equal to 15% of earned income in excess of $3,000.

ENHANCED AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT This credit is available to taxpayers in their first four years of higher education.

The PATH Act permanently extends this credit that total up to $2,500 per student per year. For dependent students, the credit is generally taken on the parents’ tax return.

The PATH Act included many other provisions, many of which were permanently extended.

Many individuals and businesses will benefit from the tax savings due to the passage of this law.

Some estimates put the financial impact of the legislation at approximately $650 billion over the next 10 years.

Now is a good time to meet with an experienced tax advisor if you believe any of these provisions affect your situation.

Lastly, you can take solace in the fact that many provisions are now permanent and we will not be nervously awaiting Congress’ action in December of upcoming years.

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AGRIBUSINESS Health Benefit Options That Help Avoid Penalties

By Jim Halvorsen, Principal Agribusiness and Cooperatives

We hear a lot of commentary in the news about the Affordable Care Act’s

individual mandate, employer penalties and the frequent tweaks to the law as we all adjust to the changes.

However, in agribusiness, I am most concerned about penalties on medical expense reimbursements and employer payment plans.

Employers now face penalties of $100 per day per employee for offering medical expense reimbursements or payment of non-group health insurance premiums. Limited relief was granted earlier in the year for small employers, but expired on June 30, 2015.

WHAT TYPES OF HEALTH BENEFITS ARE COMPLIANT? Though the IRS has offered tax relief for small employers, the restrictions and exceptions on employer provided reimbursement plans are confusing.

Questions about which types of health benefits are compliant still stump business owners and advisors alike. There are many rules and many exceptions.

I continue to receive emails every day with questions about these regulations. I have noticed that it is easier to apply your personal situation to the rules than it is to understand completely how every rule applies to your business.

Some common situations may help clarify these rules.

OPTION ONE: GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE 28 BC�T February

Brown Cow Farms, Inc. offers group health insurance to all full-time employees. Brown Cow Farms withholds a portion of the employee’s check for a share of the premium and pays the rest as an employee benefit.

Group health insurance plans generally comply with market reforms and are a safe bet for avoiding penalties.

Employers may even offer outof-pocket medical expense reimbursement, which can be integrated with these plans.

OPTION TWO: EMPLOYER PAYMENT PLANS Little Farm, Inc., has only a few employees and decides to forgo the cost of group insurance.

Instead, they let each employee go pick their own insurance plan and submit their premium bill to the farm

for payment.

This may appear to be less expensive than a group health plan and the employee may be happy to pick his or her own plan, but Little Farm is subject to a steep $100 per employee per day penalty.

Employer payment plans like this generally violate market reforms.

OPTION THREE: ONE-EMPLOYEE EXCEPTION Itty Bitty Farm, LLC, has only one full time employee, Hank, and several harvest workers. The owners determine that offering a group plan is a hassle for just one participant.

Hank finds a great individual plan and asks Itty Bitty if they would reimburse his premiums.

Fortunately, there is an exception for situations where only one employee is receiving the benefits, and Itty Bitty Farm is therefore not subject to the penalty.

OPTION FOUR: S CORPORATION SHAREHOLDERS Sue and Dave are the sole owners and employees of Family Farms, Inc., an S corporation.

They were told by their accountant many years ago to have Family Farms pay for their family medical insurance and to include the cost

of coverage in their W-2 Box 1 wages and on their individual tax return as a self-employed health insurance deduction.

deductions of S corporation shareholders warranted additional time to sort out appropriate treatment.

Their coverage is not an employer sponsored group policy, and they are concerned that they can no longer have the company pay it for them under the new health reform law.

We expect further guidance from the IRS in 2016.

The IRS offered additional relief to S corporation shareholders, who can continue paying individual premiums through December 31, 2015.

Inconsistencies with health reform regulations and IRS laws for self-employed health insurance

WHAT IS NEXT? Your CPA can help alleviate some of your concerns about your health offerings.

After more than a year of transitional relief, extensions, and clarifications, people are still uncertain about how to comply with the Affordable Care Act.

A professional can help you fully understand your health benefit situation, so you can avoid steep penalties and stay informed about health reform requirements.

Jim Halvorsen, Principal, Agribusiness and Cooperatives, jim.halvorsen@CLAconnect.com or 715-221-3037.

Please refer to the site disclaimers (http://www.

CLAconnect.com/disclaimer and http://www. claconnect.com/Wealth-Advisors/Disclosures) to review disclosures and legal terms of use ("Terms") carefully before using this CliftonLarsonAllen LLP and its affiliates ("CliftonLarsonAllen") material ("Material"). By using this Material, you indicate that you acknowledge and accept these Terms. © 20165 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP | CLAconnect.com

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“Decades of Knowledge - Steady Innovation - Top Results” BC�T February 29

THE POTATO STRIKES BACK! Third Decade (1995 – 2005)

By Paula Houlihan, Auxiliary President

In the mid 1990’s, the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA)

began its third decade witnessing the rise and popularity of fast food and on-the-go eating.

French fry sales rocketed while frozen and processed markets really took off.

Although this translated into a boost in potato sales, French fries and potato chips were now what first came to mind when people thought of potatoes.

While these can be part of a healthy diet when eaten in moderation, the advent of supersizing fast food meals began to cause problems.

Potatoes were once again considered by many as fattening and unhealthy.

Public concern that the increasing consumption of fast food would raise obesity and diabetes in adults and children was greater than earlier decades had ever seen.

Another challenge the potato industry faced at this time, was the peak of the Atkins Diet, which had swept across the nation promoting a low-carb approach to weight loss.

The Atkins Diet further fostered the belief that potatoes were a big 30 BC�T February

“no-no” if you wanted to stay slim and trim.

Once more, WPGA members faced a misinformed public, requiring further need to educate and promote Wisconsin potatoes as a nutritious part of a healthy diet. The Auxiliary was ready for the challenge.

To this end, WPGA focused its efforts on engaging with the public face-toface at community and statewide events.

WPGA volunteers served and shared baked potatoes and other nutritional

potato dishes at Wisconsin Badger State Winter Games, Wisconsin School Food Service Convention, annual National Wellness Conference, UWSP Spud Bowl, Upper Midwest Restaurant Show, Wisconsin Restaurant Show and Wisconsin State Fair.

These events gave people the opportunity to reconsider the potato and realize it is a wholesome and tasty vegetable. They also provided the Auxiliary members with the chance to share recipes and nutritional facts.

Following the lead of their WPGA predecessors in the two decades before them, these women embraced the power of marketing and advertising.

Potato dishes were advertised each year in Family Features, which Top: 1998 WPGA Board (L-R): Kathy Bartsch, Linda Bacon, Carole Gagas, Lynn Isherwood, Karen Spychalla and Brenda Bula.

reached millions of readers across the nation.

The group also utilized television appearances and news releases as tools used to educate the public.

Promotional items jumped to the forefront as well as WPGA ordered 750,000 placemats containing nutritional information and promoting potato consumption and distributed them to casinos and restaurants throughout the state.

largely by Antigo native, Lori Gunderson, was busy visiting schools and attending community events, bringing her fun-filled and educational presentation to children and adults alike.

Left: One of many of Penelope Potato's appearances at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Right: The WPGA created numerous giveaway promotional items like posters, placemats, brochures like this to spread the word about the goodness of potatoes. continued on pg. 32

They also created posters and brochures with nutritional facts and recipes and handed them out at events, even developing a special brochure developed especially for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in conjunction with other state organizations.

The women of this organization visited local grocery stores handing out samples of potato dishes and answering questions about cooking, nutrition and the industry.

WPGA encouraged the inclusion of potatoes as part of a healthy diet by developing a new cookbook entitled Wisconsin Potato Sensations, which was filled with 117 delicious recipes.

Penelope Potato, the Auxiliary’s popular mascot, a role portrayed BC�T February 31

The Potato Strikes Back!. . . continued from pg. 31

Remembering our Outstanding Members

These women were awarded “Farm Woman of the Year:”

The Auxiliary acknowledges the outstanding members of our third decade.

1998 - Irene Gagas 1999/2000 - Carol Yeska 2001 - Lynn Isherwood 2002 - Bonnie Shafel 2003 - Shirley Sowinski 2004 - Carole Gagas 2005 - Kathy Bartsch

These women were awarded “Auxiliary Member of the Year:” 1996 - Linda Bacon 1997 - Sharon Wysocki

These visionary women and the other WPGA members of the third decade dedicated themselves to bringing Wisconsin potatoes back into public favor.

Overall, the WPGA helped put potatoes back on the dinner plate, a tradition we proudly continue today!

Left: In the WPGA’s third decade, the Wisconsin State Fair Booth continued to be a strong revenue generator for the association as well as a great way to promote potatoes to the public.

Above: WPGA member Carol Glugla and WPVGA staff member Karen Rasmussen help at the 1998 Wisconsin State Fair.

32 BC�T February

opposite page Top Left: The 1997 WPGA Board of Directors at their annual meeting. Back row (L-R): Karen Spychalla, Sharon Yeska, Judy Schroeder, Sarah Stelter, Lynn Isherwood, Kathy Bartsch, Front row (L-R): Linda Bacon, Brenda Bula and Sharon Wysocki.

Top RIght: The Auxiliary understood the importance of providing interesting, nutritional potato recipes to consumer and recipe contests like this one held at the Wausau Mall in February 1999, helped generate many new recipes. current page Top Left: Brenda Bula (L) and Jayne Zelozoski (R) helped serve baked potatoes at the 1998 Wisconsin State Fair.

Top Right: Deb Bacon and Lynn Isherwood staff the WPGA booth at the 2005 WPVGA Industry Show.

Bottom Left: Judy Schroeder, middle back, helps with the WPGA booth at Spud Bowl 1996.

BC�T February 33

RUDER WARE Bypassing Scylla & Charybdis:

Pre-enforcement Judicial Review of Wetlands Determinations under the Clean Water Act

By Russell W. Wilson, Esq.

In the Odyssey, Homer told of the inescapable sailing hazards that confronted Odysseus: the six-headed sea monster, Scylla, on one side of a strait and a whirlpool, Charybdis, on the other.

Odysseus chose to avoid losing all to the whirlpool and take his chances with the monster. This was a good choice; Odysseus made it through the strait, though he lost a few oarsmen to the monster.

On the return passage, however, the whirlpool took down the ship and only Odysseus survived.

Deciding whether to dredge or fill wetlands can trigger twin dangers under the Clean Water Act: concede the existence of jurisdictional wetlands and incur enormous cost, effort and delay in seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) or develop without a permit and face restoration costs, penalties up to $37,500 per day and even imprisonment for knowing violations.

At what point may a would-be developer have a federal court review a wetlands order issued by the Corps or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as to whether the land in question contains wetlands that 34 BC�T February

fall within the jurisdictional reach of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?

The Corps and EPA have asserted that judicial reviews of their decisions on wetlands are not reviewable by the courts prior to the agency bringing enforcement actions in court.

Recent developing case law, however, might establish a right to challenge wetlands decisions in court before having to face the twin dangers.

Odysseus would certainly have appreciated wings for his ship that could have flown it safely over Scylla and Charybdis.

FINAL AGENCY ACTION-SACKETT Unless a statute, such as CWA,

expressly precludes judicial review of agency action (which term includes inaction), judicial review may be available if the action is “final” and “no other adequate remedy in a court” is available.

In Sackett v. EPA, 132 S. Ct. 1367 (2012), the United States Supreme Court ruled that (1) the CWA neither expressly nor impliedly precludes judicial review; (2) the EPA’s order to restore wetlands under threat of $75,000 in penalties per day was “final” agency action; and (3) the Sacketts had no other adequate remedy in court.

The Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and accorded the Sacketts the right to have the EPA restoration order reviewed in federal district court.

Chantelle and Mike Sackett bought a residential lot in a Priest Lake, Idaho, subdivision. They secured Above: In Homer’s epic Odyssey, the Greek King Odysseus of Ithaca was forced to navigate a narrow strait between the mythical sea monsters, Scylla and Charybdis.

necessary local permits and began site preparations for construction of their home.

EPA and the Corps visited the site and told the Sacketts to stop work due to the presence of wetlands regulated under the CWA. Later, the EPA issued an administrative compliance order to restore the alleged wetlands or face penalties up to $75,000 per day ($37,500 for dredging or filling wetlands and $37,500 for not complying with the order). The Sacketts sought judicial review, but they were denied it at the district court and court of appeals levels.

A remarkable feature of the Supreme Court’s decision, authored by Justice Scalia, is that it was unanimous. The Supreme Court had little difficulty in ruling that the presumption favoring judicial review applies to CWA, which by its terms does not make judicial review unavailable. Nor does it do so,

the Court ruled, by implication.

monetary penalties.

In similar vein, the Court readily held that the EPA’s administrative compliance order constituted final agency action. The order had determined rights or obligations.

It severely limited the Sacketts’ ability to obtain a wetlands permit from the Corps because the Corps does not ordinarily issue such permits in the wake of an EPA compliance order.

Moreover, EPA’s order provided for no further administrative review.

It compelled the Sacketts to restore the asserted wetlands or face legal consequences in the form of crushing

continued on pg. 36

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Ruder Ware. . . continued from pg. 35

Lastly, the Court had no trouble in deciding that the Sacketts had no other adequate remedy in court.

They had no other legal avenue by which to initiate judicial relief.

They could, of course, violate the order and wait for the EPA to file suit to collect daily monetary penalties, at which time they could challenge the existence of jurisdictional wetlands.

Some choice, the Court felt.

Or, the Sacketts could apply to the Corps for a permit and sue the Corps upon denial. But, suing one agency (Corps) for the action of another (EPA) does not provide an adequate remedy at law.

The Court thus remanded the case to the district court so as to allow the Sacketts to pursue their challenge to the jurisdiction of the CWA to their property.

NEXT UP – HAWKES CO., INC. The stakes could hardly have been higher for the Sacketts, but a less elevated, more common type of order will fall under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court.

Corps regulations provide for form assistance in wetlands matters with

“judicial determinations” (JDs).

The nomenclature may be misleading; these are preliminary wetlands determinations are made by the agency, not by the judiciary. The right of judicial review of JDs would be of a great help to landowners and developers.

The Supreme Court has accepted such a case for review. Hawkes Co., Inc. obtained from the Corps an unfavorable JD on several hundred acres in northwestern Minnesota on which it intended to mine peat.

Hawkes Co., Inc. v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, 82 F.3d.

994.

On April 10, 2014, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, applying Sackett, held that judicial review is available to JDs. The Corps filed for review by the Supreme Court, and on December 11, 2015, the Court announced that it would hear the case.

Notable parties who filed briefs in support of Hawkes in the Eighth Circuit were American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of Home Builders, American Petroleum Institute, Utility Water Act Group and the Foundation for Environmental and Economic Progress.

In contrast to the Eighth Circuit’s decision, the Fifth Circuit held that JDs do not constitute final agency action and were thus not reviewable.

Belle Co., LLC v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, 761 F.3d. 383 (2014)

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The Supreme Court denied Bell’s initial petition for review. In the wake of the Eighth Circuit’s decision in Hawkes, however, Belle renewed its request to the Supreme Court on December 11, 2015.

As of the time of this writing, the Court’s decision whether to hear an appeal in Hawkes is pending. The Court will decide the Hawkes appeal whether or not it takes Belle. Look for a decision on this important issue in mid-2016.

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BC�T February 37

Wisconsin Helps ETHIOPIAN POTATO FARMERS

By Dr. Charles Higgins, President, Norika America, LLC & Dr. Amy Charkowski, Administrative Director, UW-Madison/Dept. Plant Pathology Photos by Dr. Charles Higgins

Ethiopia is a fascinating and beautiful country with a complex history tracing back to the very roots of human history. The Amhara Region, in northern Ethiopia, is a rich agricultural region, where people grow many crops familiar

to Wisconsin farmers, including potatoes.

Ethiopia is rich in sunlight, but not always in water, so crops can be difficult to grow. However, Amhara is also home to Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile, and recent

irrigation projects have opened new possibilities for Ethiopian farmers.

The Amhara Region is about twice the size of Wisconsin and the capital city, Bahir Dar is similar to Madison. It is home to just over 300,000 people, has an agricultural university and is filled with university students and coffee houses.

However, unlike Madison, hippos lounge in the Blue Nile, which runs just east of Bahir Dar town, rather than in the zoo.

Similar to Madison, Bahir Dar is also home to efforts to improve seed potato production for regional farmers.

At the Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopian scientists run a potato tissue culture laboratory and a screen house to produce disease-free early generation seed potatoes for regional farmers.

Potatoes are an important crop in Ethiopia, but yields in Africa tend Left: Nebayu Alemeyu and his family, one of the growers that have constructed a mini screen house on their farm.

38 BC�T February

to be one quarter or less than yields that farmers in Wisconsin obtain.

The low yield is in large part due to the poor quality of seed available in Africa. Ethiopia is no exception to this important agricultural problem.

Ethiopia is considered an to be underdeveloped, overpopulated nation with many Ethiopians living in poverty without access to sustainable food resources or ways in which to create them.

During the last eight years, the University of Wisconsin; Heartland Farms; Dr. Charles Higgins, President, Norika America; Dr. Amy Charkowski, Administrative Director for UWMadison/Dept. of Plant Pathology and other friends of Ethiopia in Wisconsin have been helping improve potato production for Ethiopian farm families, by providing materials and expertise requested by their Ethiopian colleagues.

Dr. Higgins, a strong supporter of these goals, has been raising money to travel to Ethiopia to work in conjunction with Ethiopian agricultural engineers and nutritionists on up to five demonstration sites simultaneously, thereby establishing a sustainable, disease free potato crop.

Dr. Higgins’ knowledge of potatoes,

Asfaw Siefew is an Ethiopian potato grower who is constantly looking for ways to improve his production.

his understanding of how to get things done in a unique 3000-year old culture, and his willingness to devote his own expenses, time and energy to enlarging and auditing the project by returning annually to Ethiopia, make this a truly remarkable, worthwhile and effective program worthy of support.

Dr. Higgins helps set up demonstration sites, which have proven successful in improving crop yield, as well as assisting with constructing potato storage facilities and implementing solar dehydration for potatoes and other crops. The statistical increases have been fantastic.

Within these demonstration sites, local growers learn how to construct potato drying racks and storage facilities from readily acquired materials.

This process becomes self-sustaining for the growers as they trade part of their potato crop every three years for clean seed potatoes developed by the tissue lab.

Funds from these potato payments are channeled into additional potato projects within Ethiopia. Workshops throughout the countryside teach residents how to integrate the potato into traditional recipes and build continued on pg. 40

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BC�T February 39

Wisconsin Helps. . . continued from pg. 39

Dr. Higgins and his Ethiopian colleagues also helped Dr. Charkowski and Ethiopian scientists launch a potato tissue culture lab running in Ethiopia as well as train researchers and technicians and provide supplies such as growth medium for potato tissue culture plantlets.

Dr. Charkowski, who is a participant in multiple international projects, states, “I consider this project one of the most successful in terms of creating a positive and sustained change in local food security.”

The lab now produces huge numbers of plantlets of new disease-resistant varieties for Ethiopian farmers.

Dr. Charkowski, a regular Badger Common’Tater article contributor,

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Ninety plantlets or tubers from the potato tissue culture lab produce enough disease-free seed for one seed potato grower. After three years of field increase, this grower can sell $5,000 worth of seed potatoes to their neighbors.

uses funds she receives from the articles she writes, to purchase vital tissue culture supplies for Bahir Dar.

more of the aforementioned solar dehydrators and storage facilities.

fertilizer applicators

●

With the disease free seed, these improved varieties produce 300 cwt/acre yields versus the national average potato yield of 50 cwt/acre.

This yield is very respectable and quite comparable to potato yields on organic farms in Wisconsin and demonstrates how enormously high quality seed potatoes can impact food security.

The demand has grown substantially for the improved varieties from local farmers impressed by the high quality Top Left: Angash Tefara (R) shown with Dr. Charlie Higgins (L) lost his arms in a farm accident but it does not prevent him and his family from being a leading potato variety innovator in his community.

Top Right: The small screen house keeps virus carrying aphids out.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Left: The national flat bread (Injara), bottom left, and the raised bread, bottom right, were made from 50% mashed potatoes and 50% flour. Flour is very expensive so this saves a lot of money for the Ethiopians.

Right: Oats and mashed potatoes make a good weaning porridge for young children.

Ninety plantlets or tubers from the potato tissue culture lab produce

enough disease-free seed for one seed potato grower. After three years of field increase, this grower can sell $5,000 worth of seed potatoes to their neighbors.

Dr. Charkowski explains, “To me, this is reminiscent of the beginnings of the seed potato program in

Wisconsin a century ago. Local farmers and scientists identified this need and reached across the Atlantic Ocean for help from farmers and researchers in Europe to improve the Wisconsin seed supply. The same thing is now happening with this continued on pg. 42

t

t

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Wisconsin Helps. . . continued from pg. 41

Wisconsin-Bahir Dar partnership. I am hopeful that we will continue to pay it forward and see success with this project.”

Grain can be dried, preserved and stored for years on the farm.

Potatoes will only store a few months unless the farm family uses solar dehydration to make potato flour

that can be stored for years in their pantry.

That is why this potato project is so extremely important. It offers the potential to help resolve the cyclical famine disasters that continue to ravage Ethiopia during periods of drought. Drought struck parts of Ethiopia this year!

Donations to aid the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project (http://www.ethiopianfoodproject.org) can be made through the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin (http://www.cfcwi.org).

Left: Ethiopian potato sales.

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Now News RPE Is Exclusive Marketer for Discovery Garden’s, LLC. RPE Inc. announces their recent partnership with Discovery Garden’s, LLC. and will now act as the exclusive marketing partner for Discovery Garden’s brand of gourmet potatoes.

RPE and Discovery Garden’s share the same goal: to provide consumers with a better looking and better tasting potato. Grown and packaged in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, Discovery Garden’s Sierra Gold® and Sierra Rose® are sure to be a consumer favorite.

The Sierra Gold potato combines the creamy texture of a golden potato with the hearty skin of a russet.

Unlike other yellow potatoes, Sierra Gold was named the 2012 Gold Medal Winner for yellow potato varieties by the Oregon Potato Commission.

The Sierra Rose potato was named the 2014 Gold Medal Winner for red potato varieties. First offered in 2008, Sierra Rose has an intense deep red skin, golden center and an irresistible creamy texture; perfect for any recipe.

“We are more than thrilled about

the opportunity to work with Discovery Garden’s and promote their exceptional brand,” said Russell Wysocki, president and CEO of RPE. “We look forward to working with their talented and dedicated team and we’ll do our best to represent the high quality potatoes they grow.”

Discovery Garden’s is a subsidiary company of Cal-Ore Seed, Inc. and was established to provide

a marketing division for its innovative potato varieties. The two companies work in conjunction and continue to sustain the solid business integrity that Cal-Ore Seed was founded upon in 1965.

The full flavored Sierra Gold and Sierra Rose potatoes are offered in five and ten pound poly bags, and 50-pound cartons, to meet the customer needs.

Discovery Garden’s, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cal-Ore Seed, Inc. It was established for worldwide exclusive marketing of proprietary branded potatoes.

RPE, a second-generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions.

Top: Bagged Discovery Garden’s gourmet potatoes.

Middle: Sierra Gold potato.

Bottom: Sierra Rose potato.

44 BC�T February

Senninger Joins Hunter Industries Founded in 1981, the family-owned company offers more than 1,000 products including a complete spectrum of water-efficient solutions for residential and commercial irrigation systems.

Hunter Industries and Senninger Irrigation are pleased to announce that Senninger has joined the Hunter Industries family of companies, effective January 4, 2016. Senninger and Hunter have been strategic partners since 2004 through an OEM relationship.

“Our history of success together as separate organizations provides a solid indicator of our positive future as a unified team. We mutually respected and admired each other as reputable companies and felt if we came together, we could learn from each other, realize economies of scale, and be stronger than if we operated separately,” said Senninger President James Burks.

Hunter Industries is a global manufacturer of products for the irrigation, landscape lighting and custom manufacturing sectors.

Hunter's mission is to deliver valued products and services, grow the company conscientiously, and remain true to their culture.

This acquisition adds to Hunter’s growing revenue stream through expansion into Senninger’s markets.

“Hunter and Senninger combine to create a very talented team of engineers and manufacturing professionals.

We are very excited about working together with their teams to bring innovations to our shared channels,” said Greg Hunter, CEO at Hunter.

“There has been an opportunity for both companies, over three

decades, to casually observe each other’s development and behavior, providing insight into the character and reputation of each respective company, their founders and management. Cultural alignment was a key factor for both organizations in opening discussions focused on an acquisition,” said Mr. Burks.

As always, the two companies will continue to provide the high quality products and services their customers have come to expect.

About Senninger Irrigation Senninger is a Florida-based irrigation manufacturer of water and energy efficient sprinklers, spray nozzles, pressure regulators and other irrigation tools for agriculture, mining, and dairy industries, and effluent and wastewater applications.

Operations were started in1963 by Joe Senninger with nephews Andy and Mark Healy joining him, respectively, in 1964 and 1965. Throughout its more than five decades of business, Senninger has remained a privately held corporation. continued on pg. 46

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Now News. . . continued from pg. 45

New Focus on Agriculture Energy Saving Opportunities Focus on Energy, Wisconsin utilities’ statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, has a program dedicated to agriculture customers.

The Agriculture, Schools and Government (AgSG) program offers both custom and prescriptive incentives for energy efficiency projects. These incentives are designed to motivate customers to upgrade equipment, or implement energy efficiency projects that otherwise would not be completed.

In 2015, the AgSG program provided more than $1 million in incentives to nearly 600 agriculture customers. The most frequent equipment upgrades included high efficiency lighting, upgraded circulation and exhaust fans, adding variable frequency drives to irrigation and process pumps, efficient grain dryers and high efficiency heaters.

Ring in the New Year with new incentives and offerings from Focus on Energy. Agriculture customers can now take advantage of these 2016 offerings: 1. New and Improved Incentives – Focus on Energy is offering enhanced

incentives for agriculture customers in 2016. For a complete list of incentives, visit focusonenergy.com/ business/efficient-equipment or call 888.947.7828 to speak with an AgSG representative.

2. Conveniently Located Energy Advisors – Expert Energy Advisors are available throughout the state to help guide you through energy savings projects and provide an unbiased third party source of information

to improve the efficiency of your facility. To find the Energy Advisor in your area, visit focusonenergy.com/ agsgEA. 3. Power Connect Chat Sessions – This quarterly call-in chat series features program updates, product eligibility, incentive requirements, case studies, maintenance tips and expert advice from our Energy Advisors. Here are the 2016 Chat Sessions:

SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW WPVGA MEMBERS When you need goods or services, please consider asking our Associate Division Members for quotes or explore what they have to offer. Together, we make a strong organization and appreciate how wonderful we are as a group.

46 BC�T February

• April 28: Keep Cool by Cutting Energy Costs – 2016 Agricultural Fan Offerings • September 29: Recover Your Energy Savings – Overview on Heat Recovery Units • December 8: Shine a Light on Safety and Efficiency – Updates on LED Lighting Systems Participating is easy! Just call 1.855.947.8255 at 9 AM on any of these dates, enter the passcode: 9276715#, listen and ask questions.

4. Agriculture Energy Efficiency Best Practices Guidebook – This NEW guidebook will provide Wisconsin’s agriculture community with methods and tools to help reduce their energy use.

The recommendations outlined in this guide are meant to aid in conservation efforts by encouraging

the use of energy-saving farm equipment, as well as provide general best practices. Contact 888.947.7828 or your local Energy Advisor to receive a free copy of this beneficial guidebook.

Focus on your farm while we focus on your energy. Call now and see how the AgSG program can start saving you energy and money today, 888.947.7828!

5. Support Your Local FFA – Focus on Energy is offering WI FFA Chapters a fundraising opportunity to sell engine block heater timers to local agricultural producers.

About Focus on Energy

FFA members take orders in the fall, and Focus on Energy purchases and ships the timers to the participating chapters at no cost. The FFA Chapters keep 100% of the funds raised!

with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses

Timer buyers must be agricultural producers that are served by a Focus on Energy participating utility. To sign up, contact Melissa Rickert, Fundraising Coordinator, at 715.720.2123 or fundraiser@ focusonenergy.com.

residents and businesses manage rising energy

Focus on Energy is Wisconsin utilities' statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program funded by the state's investor-owned energy utilities and participating municipal and electric cooperative utilities. Focus on Energy works to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus on Energy information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed. Its efforts help Wisconsin costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control Wisconsin's growing demand for electricity and natural gas.

For more information call (800) 762-7077 or visit focusonenergy.com. continued on pg. 48

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Now News. . . continued from pg. 47

2016 UWEX Processing Vegetable Crops Meeting The University of WisconsinExtension is sponsoring the annual Processing Vegetable Crops Meeting on March 2, 2016, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station, N3909 County Rd V Hancock, WI 54943.

Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:00 am.

This seminar will concentrate specifically on issues affecting vegetable production in Central Wisconsin. UW-Extension specialists

will present information on agricultural sustainability, vegetable water use, nitrogen fertility management in sweet corn, disease issues and insecticide and herbicide updates for processing vegetables.

Vegetable production is a vital part of the economy of Central Wisconsin.

The counties of Portage, Waushara, Adams, Green Lake and Juneau produce 68% of the state’s potato production, 49% of the state’s sweet corn production, 62% of the state’s

snap bean production and 38% of the state’s pea production.

In 2007, there were 140,000 acres in this area used in the production of potatoes, sweet corn, green beans and peas.

Pre-registration is required by February 24 in order to make lunch and space arrangements. Registration of $25 will cover refreshments and lunch. Certified Crop Advisor Credits will be applied. There is ample free parking available. People may register by mailing a check to UW-Extension, PO Box 487, Wautoma WI 54982.

For additional information, contact Ken Williams, 920-787-0416, ken.williams@ces.uwex.edu.

INNATE® Second Generation Potato Receives FDA Safety Clearance The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its food and feed safety assessment of the J.R. Simplot Company’s second generation of Innate® potatoes and concluded that these Russet Burbank

Generation 2 potatoes are not materially different in composition, safety, and other relevant parameters, from any other potato or potato-derived food or feed currently on the market.

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Simplot will still need to complete its registration with the Environmental Protection Agency for these potatoes before introducing them for sale in the U.S. marketplace.

The FDA’s safety consultation was voluntarily requested by Simplot and comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Agriculture also deregulated the same potatoes.

These federal clearances involved a thorough technical review and a public comment period that drew the support of leading potato research universities in the U.S. and Europe.

Simplot’s second generation of Innate potatoes contains four benefits of relevance to potato growers, processors and consumers: reduced bruising and black spots; reduced asparagine; resistance to late blight pathogens; and enhanced cold storage capability. These benefits were achieved by adapting genes from wild and cultivated potatoes.

Academics consulted by Simplot estimate that the Innate late blight resistance trait can result in a 25-45% reduction in fungicide applications annually to control late blight.

Reduced asparagine means that accumulation levels of acrylamide can be reduced by up to 90 percent when these potatoes are cooked at high temperatures.

In addition, lowered reducing sugars enable cold storage at 38°F for more than six months without the build-up of sugars, which maintains quality, and which cannot be achieved until today.

Based on these academic estimates, if all Russet Burbank potatoes in the United States had Innate Gen. 2 traits, it is estimated that potato waste (in field, during storage, packing, retail and foodservice for fresh potatoes) could be reduced by 986 million pounds.

Furthermore, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 146 million pounds, water

usage reduced by 17 billion gallons, and a total of 495,000 fewer pesticide acre-applications would be needed.

“The Innate Gen. 2 potato is a major advancement in the potato industry,” said Duane Grant, potato farmer and owner of Grant 4D Farms in Rupert, Idaho. “Late blight disease can and does wreak havoc on organic and conventional potato crops and now we have an effective solution that should reduce fungicide use and reduce the millions of pounds of wasted potatoes each year.”

Late blight, the disease responsible for the historic Irish potato famine, is caused by a fungus-like pathogen and still has the potential to devastate world potato crops.

Innate Gen. 2 potatoes contain a gene from a South American wild potato species that provides natural resistance to certain strains of the pathogen.

“We’re excited to continue

momentum on our Innate technology platform,” said Haven Baker, vice president and general manager of Simplot Plant Sciences. “In our first two generations we have addressed the issues of plant disease, health and quality by harnessing the strongest traits within the potato family and we’re now set to address global potato challenges.”

About Simplot The J.R. Simplot Company, a privately held agribusiness firm headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has an integrated portfolio that includes phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, food processing, food brands, and other enterprises related to agriculture.

Simplot’s major operations are located in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and China, with products marketed in more than 40 countries worldwide. The company’s mission statement is Bringing Earth’s Resources to Life.

For more information: http://www.SimplotPlantSciences.com Note: Simplot’s Generation 2 potatoes remain regulated as Plant-Incorporated-Protectants by U.S. EPA, and there will be no promotion, distribution or sale of these potatoes until they are registered by the EPA. continued on pg. 50

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phone: 719 588 2388 email: higginsfarms@comcast.net web: www.flavorfulpotatoes.com BC�T February 49

Now News. . . continued from pg. 49

Tundra Wraps Up 2015 TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series put its final touches on an incredible 2015 season at Chula Vista Resort on December 19 with its annual Awards Ceremony, which the best attended in TUNDRA’s five-year history.

Twelve teams received awards and point fund checks. This season TUNDRA had its most lucrative season as far as point funds were concerned, thanks to increased support from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and revised business models.

Each of 17 eligible drivers received a check for $555 regardless of finishing position. Champion Dalton Zehr also received a $1,000 bonus from World Championship Snowmobile Derby Track in Eagle River, as well as other bonuses.

At the beginning of the evening, TUNDRA officials and officials from the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series announced a partnership, which will see the Vintage cars appear at each of the six TUNDRA events this season.

The Vintage Series will now run under

Photo by Eamon Bauman, Photographer, TUNDRA Super Late Models

the TUNDRA banner. Fans will see a merger of the two web sites soon.

TUNDRA will also be hosting the Midwest Truck Series at each of the six events in 2016.

The first unannounced award of the evening went to Bryan Syer-Keske.

With over 1,000 votes through a social media campaign and online voting, Keske won Best Appearing Car. He and his teammate Cole Anderson, as co-Rookies of the Year, received a $750 bonus from Dean’s Satellite and Security.

Other awards included Most Improved Driver and (Jeremy Lepak),

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Performance Diesel Pace Setter Award for Most Fast Times (Dan Lensing) and Hard Luck Award (Wyatt Blashe).

Two awards were given out as special honors for the TUNDRA season. Ryan Farrell, a newcomer to the series in 2015, was named recipient of the Sportsmanship Award. Long-time supporters and sponsors of the series Dean and Sonya Pennel of Dean’s Satellite and Security were named Persons of the Year.

The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series begins its 2016 season, Saturday, May 7 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wis. TUNDRA would like to thank its partners for the 2015 season: Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, Dean’s Satellite and Security, Best Western Derby Inn, World Championship Snowmobile Derby Track, Performance Diesel, Country Plumber, Habelman Brothers Company Cranberries, Coleman Racing Products, FiveStar, Radiographic Services, TD Graphics, and Wegner Automotive.

People Denton Joins USPB as Assistant Marketing Manager The United States Potato Board (USPB) announces Schylar Denton has become an Assistant Marketing Manager in the USPB Marketing Department, reporting to Marketing Operations Director, Amy Burdett, and Marketing Programs Director, Kim Breshears.

She most recently served as Marketing Coordinator with Lean Six Sigma Experts, Denver, where Denton established and managed social media accounts in order to increase brand awareness and grow company following, as well as writing and publishing content, both for the company’s website and blog.

In filling this existing position, Denton will assist Marketing Department staff in implementing domestic and international marketing programs for retail, ingredients, seed, foodservice and consumers, along with taking on department-wide projects and program specific support.

Utilizing her previous experience, Denton will assist in the management, content development and delivery of the USPB’s online consumer- and international customer-facing presence and digital assets.

What has become a vital resource to all aspects of the potato industry’s work, Denton takes over management of the USPB’s MediaValet online digital photography database system.

Unveiled at POTATO EXPO 2015, Denton will now manage all donations and placements of potato-friendly salad bars under the “USPB Salad Bar Challenge” industry initiative.

Of her new position, Denton stated, “One main reason I was pursuing a new position was because I wanted to be a part of a great team! In my previous role I was working in an office by myself, so I wanted to branch out and join an organization that was filled with people who work together.”

everyone here is very passionate about them.” Looking ahead, “In the next few months, I am looking forward to attending my first POTATO EXPO and meeting our wonderful growers! Preparing for and attending this event will really help me to be totally immersed in all that is potatoes.”

About what she has learned and liked so far, Denton exclaims, “I love that everyone is willing to help and answer questions. I have learned so much about the industry and it is amazing! I am excited about the projects we are working on and that

Denton was a member of the University of Denver, Denver, Colorado Class of 2015 where she completed a BSBA in Marketing and a minor in Business Information Analytics. She also studied abroad in Glasgow, Scotland.

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BC�T February 51

New Products New Landoll 6231 Series Tandem Disc Harrows With the introduction of a new line of 6231 Series models, Landoll Corporation has taken Tandem Disc Harrows to a whole new level, in part to handle the demands of today’s heavy residue and cool soil conditions.

Available in widths from 21 to 36 feet, 6231 Series Disc Harrows are available with a choice of 24-, 26- or 28-inch diameter disc blades on most models, as well as a choice of 7-inch or 8¾-inch blade spacing.

Both the 7-inch spacing and 28-inch blade diameter represent new options to provide customers with more tillage choices, whether the desire is for highresidue primary tillage applications or simply preparing a smooth, level January 2016

Badger er Common’Tat THE VOICE

INDUSTRY & VEGETABLE S POTATO Number 1 OF WISCONSIN' Volume 68

w Issue WPVGA Sho

$18.00/year $1.50/copy

, Inc. INTERVIEW: Farms & Produce Larry Alsum, Alsum SION LEGISLATION ADVERSE POSSES for Growers Troubling Impacts BADGER BEAT Goals 2015 Review, 2016 Anniversary Auxiliary 40th 95 Part 2: 1985-19

seedbed in preparation for planting.

“Like the existing 6200 Series tandem disc harrows, the 6231 Series features a high ratio of weight per foot for penetration and residue cutting in the fall, as well as walking tandems with heavy-duty tires for added flotation, and a single point hydraulic depth control for a secondary page in the spring,” says Jamie Meier, Ag Manager at Landoll.

“However, based on feedback from producers, we have developed a conditioner reel as an optional rear attachment for those desiring a smoother finish.The capacity of the fore/aft leveler has been increased for heavier rear attachments and

Badger Common’Tater

THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

provides better front/rear stability in the field and during transport. We also added the option of hydraulic raise and lowering of the available chevron conditioner reel on all 6231 models.”

Other new features include increased access for adjusting the front gauge wheels, a front-accessible grease bank for the walking tandem axles, and scraper arms that have been increased in thickness to 1¾ inches.

“It’s all about adding more versatility to our products and improving the ability to multi-task, which, in turn, provides our customers with a greater return-on-investment,” Meier concludes. “And, like the original 6200 Series, the new 6231 Series discs are true multi-taskers.”

For more information on the new 6231 Series Tandem Disc Harrows or other Landoll products, call 785-7386613 or visit www.landoll.com.

Subscribe Today!

Whether you are a grower, industry partner or simply enjoy rural life, sign up to receive this prestigious publication in print version, delivered direct to your mailbox for $18/year (12 issues).

Larry Alsum Produce, Inc. Alsum Farms &

52 BC�T February

wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe

Allied Elevate Premium Popper Allied Elevate is a popper blend that can be used as a foundation for planting in cold soils, especially in minimum or no-till environments.

Allied Elevate has a usage rate on corn from 3-5 gallons per acre on in-furrow applications but 2X2 placement can be flexible.

It can be blended with UAN solutions to create a strip-till/sidedress fertilizer that provides extra potassium and sulfur at a time when uptake of these nutrients is rapidly increasing.

Allied Elevate can also be blended with liquid urea to make an effective foliar fertilizer for forage crops and small grains.

POTASSIUM, SULFUR AND ZINC The advantages of adding potassium and sulfur to your crops should not be overlooked.

Potassium teams with nitrogen and sulfur to produce protein essential for proper plant growth. A high testing soil potassium level does not mean adequate potassium will be available to fulfill the plants need.

The addition of potassium to your starter provides the following:

Sulfur is an essential nutrient for corn production, often ranked behind only nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Sulfur is critical in a young corn plant – deficient amounts at this growth stage and you begin to lose yield.

Sulfur is needed to metabolize nitrogen making it available to the plant. The need for sulfur is closely related to the amounts of nitrogen available to the crop.

Sulfur activates the enzyme nitrate reductase, which converts nitrates to amino acids within the corn plant.

Zinc can be added to Allied Elevate.

Zinc is an element used by corn in small amounts, yet is one of the most important micronutrients in producing high yielding corn.

Corn is more often deficient in zinc than in other micronutrients. Zinc found in the soil profile is usually unavailable, tied up in various parts of the soil. Because zinc is not mobile in the plant, there is a constant need to supply an available source. The very best way to do this is to apply Zinc EDTA with your starter. ©2015 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Allied Cooperative’s agronomy division is pleased to announce the addition of Allied Elevate, 8-27-4-1.2S premium popper fertilizer to its product mix.

Zinc aids in the following: • Synthesis of growth hormones and proteins • Needed in the production of chlorophyll and carbohydrate metabolism • Essential in the transportation of calcium within the corn plant • Necessary for cell elongation and grain formation For additional benefits we recommend adding Ascend® plant growth regulator which accelerates leaf, stem, and root growth.

Ascend® plant growth regulator contains an optimum combination of three plant growth regulators and can be used as a seed treatment, in furrow or as a foliar application.

It can also be applied by ground, air or chemigation.

Contact Allied Cooperative at (608) 339-3698 to see how Allied Elevate and Ascend and Zinc can benefit your crop this spring. continued on pg. 54

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BC�T February 53

New Products. . . continued from pg. 53

AgSense® and Valley® Irrigation Launch New Remote Monitoring and Control Solution AgSense® and Valley® Irrigation announce the release of the CommanderVP™, a new remote monitoring and control solution for Valley control panels. This is the first AgSense telemetry product to integrate completely into Valley digital control panels.

Adding CommanderVP to the Valley Pro2 and Select2 panels extends existing Valley digital technology to the grower’s computer, smartphone or tablet.

“This type of joint endeavor was exactly what we had envisioned and was one of the main drivers for

acquiring AgSense last year,” said John Campbell, advanced technology product manager for Valley Irrigation.

“In the near future, growers can look forward to many new and exciting products as a result of these two industry leaders working together.”

The CommanderVP replaces the now discontinued Tracker SP. It includes many product enhancements, such as remote end gun control and programming, optional wire theft monitoring, comprehensive historical reporting, and communication via the private WagNet® wireless network for quicker command response times.

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Growers will be able to center view pivots equipped with this CommanderVP on the same WagNet web or app login as their other AgSense devices, including other pivots, soil moisture probes, flow meters, weather stations and grain bins.

Like the other AgSense products, CommanderVP also includes easily replaceable modems for areas that vary greatly from one carrier to another.

“This CommanderVP incorporates tools our customer base has been asking for, both before and since the merger with Valley last summer,” said Terry Schiltz, AgSense chief executive officer. “AgSense continues to lead the market in its commitment to delivering leading edge technology at an affordable price for all brands of irrigation equipment.”

The CommanderVP can be ordered exclusively through Valley Irrigation dealers.

About AgSense AgSense, a pioneer in remote management solutions for agricultural irrigation, is majority‐ owned by Valley Irrigation, a division of Valmont® Industries, Inc. As operations continue to expand in size, and labor resources become scarcer, the need for efficient management has never been greater. AgSense products enable farmers and agri‐businesses to manage remotely, different tasks within their operations. For more information, visit www.agsense.net.

About Valley Irrigation Valley Irrigation founded the center pivot irrigation industry in 1954, and our brand is the worldwide leader in sales, service, quality and innovation. With historical sales of more than 200,000 center pivots and linears, Valmont-built equipment annually irrigates approximately 25 million acres (10 million hectares) around the world. We remain dedicated to providing innovative, precision irrigation solutions now and into the future. For more information, please visit www.valleyirrigation.com.

John Deere Unveils 2016 Gator™ XUV 825i Special Edition with Unique Storage Capabilities John Deere is offering a new special edition Gator™ utility vehicle geared towards crop and livestock producers who work long days and nights and require additional storage to keep their tools organized and easily accessible.

The XUV 825i Special Edition Gator features two integrated cargo toolboxes ideal for carrying tools or supplies, plus LED roof lights for added visibility.

“The Special Edition Gator was designed for those customers who require additional storage to complete the task at hand, day or night,” said Mark Davey, John Deere marketing manager, Gator utility vehicles. “This model will continue to provide customers the durability and productivity they come to expect from a Gator with added amenities like integrated tool boxes and LED lights. The added storage capability makes this a distinct offering in the market, and a first for John Deere.”

times longer.

with a yellow bench seat.

In addition to the special edition package, the heavy-duty model is outfitted with power steering, a deluxe cargo box with polyurea liner, integrated brake and taillights and an Operator Protective Structure (OPS) with nets.

The 2016 XUV 825i Special Edition Gator is now available for purchase with a $16,799 USD list price. Product quantities are limited, so visit your local John Deere dealer or www.JohnDeere.com/Gator to learn more.

The vehicle is also equipped with yellow alloy rims and Maxxis® Bighorn tires.

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.

Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.com.

A power and front protection package includes power lift, a heavyduty front brush guard and fender guard, along with floor mats. Inside the cab, the XUV 825i is outfitted

continued on pg. 56

The two cargo boxes are situated on the driver and passenger side of the 50 hp., 812 cc XUV 825i Special Edition vehicle. The driver’s side box opens from the top and has two divided compartments with a removable tray.

The passenger side box opens from the side and features one open compartment. Both toolboxes boast 75 lb. capacity.

The new LED lights produce 74 percent more lumens than equivalent halogen work lights and last 250 Above: The XUV 825i Special Edition Gator is ideal for carrying tools and supplies and features LED roof lights.

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8364 Monica Road • Bancoft, WI • Fax: 715-335-665 BC�T February 55

New Products. . . continued from pg. 55

New Xcel-Wobbler® UP3 TOP from Senninger Irrigation This innovative new Xcel-Wobbler UP3 TOP sprinkler top-of-pipe product from Senninger Irrigation featuring the convenient UP3 nozzle, expands its patented Wobbler technology, known for its abilities to operate at lower pressures and provide outstanding uniformity over a large area.

The new Xcel-Wobbler UP3 TOP can

be installed along the entire length of the center pivot using nozzles from #6 through #24.

It is designed specifically for low pressure (10 psi) to promote energy savings and produce a wind-resistant large droplet. The gentle rain-like application is suitable for all soil types and various terrains.

Senninger Irrigation welcomes any questions and comments about the new Xcel-Wobbler UP3 TOP. Please feel free to contact us at info@senninger.biz or call (407) 877-5655 and ask for technical support.

IVI introduces new IMPERIUM Storage Control Panel Industrial Ventilation, Inc. (IVI) pushes the current industry gold standard for excellence in storage control, the Centurion, to new heights with the introduction of the IMPERIUM Storage Control Panel.

An Industrial Touchscreen PC with Solid State Hard Drive and a 10-inch Color Visual LCD screen is the first feature you notice, but it is tied together with optically isolated, rugged Web-enabled Input and Output modules where storage management options are maximized.

The Control Panel has been expanded to include Thermadoor positioning, digital static pressure readout and control, additional temperature, humidity, CO2, cavity/heater control, expanded user hierarchy of login access (including add-on camera) and service screens capable of meeting GAP-acceptable data logging regimes.

At the high end, IMPERIUM offers custom tailoring of your storage season through user-defined “recipes” while providing a continuous threeday weather forecast.

Simple upgrades to your Centurion 56 BC�T February

Panels offer a pathway to communicate fully with IMPERIUM Control Panels, eliminating the need for panel change-outs.

Three option modules allow you to choose between a “simplified” Centurion capability, a “duplicate” Centurion capability and a fully enhanced IMPERIUM capability.

The IMPERIUM Control Panel will be displayed at upcoming potato

conferences and shows.

“Our IMPERIUM storage control is the result of our extensive solutions in providing the most advanced technology for crop protection. And although the features are greatly expanded, the panel has never been easier to use,” says Mike Machurek, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at IVI.

Auxiliary News

By Lynn Isherwood

You may have noticed our decade-focused articles about the Auxiliary in the last few issues of Badger Common'Tater.

Some of the many ways the Auxiliary reaches out to consumers to educate them about potato nutrition and ease of preparation are through their placemat program where colorful, educational placemats are sent to various restaurants and cafes free of charge for the customer to peruse while they wait for their delicious meal.

Additionally, we distribute free brochures with numerous recipes at many events.

A sampling of titles include Meal in a Peel, Speedy Spuds, Badger State Games- Eating for Peak Performance with special information for the athlete, Favorite Recipes, which was put out yearly for more than a decade and Wisconsin’s Naturally Nutritious Potatoes.

Family Features are our recipe pages run in newspapers. They have been an avenue for the Auxiliary to contribute cooking expertise to a circulation of tens of millions over the years.

Partnering with various other organizations including spices and cutlery, even M&M'S® one time, these Family Features have focused

in March for St. Patrick’s Day, summer for cookout specialties, football season for tailgating at home or at the game and fall and winter for holiday and comfort food options.

We sent our mascot, Penelope Potato, to numerous events, from Badger State Games, potato day parades in Almond, Antigo and Galloway, sweet corn and potato

festivals to Special Olympics and agriculture days at many locations.

Her jovial presence always attracts the children for pictures. She gives them pencils, potato trading cards with cute characters and potato trivia on them or stickers.

These along with This Business Called Agriculture workbook and Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes, reach all age groups, teaching about the nutrition, fun facts and how-to about Wisconsin Potatoes.

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Our multiple high-tech dual rotary drill rigs drill and install casing simultaneously, perfect for the high diameter, high output irrigation wells so necessary for crop success.

CALL (920) 326-5193 or info@samswelldrilling.com BC�T February 57

Potato Board News USPB Launches Spud Nation™ Food Truck Venture Innovative Marketing Program Unveiled at POTATO EXPO 2016 The United States Potato Board (USPB) launched its first Spud Nation™ Food Truck at POTATO EXPO 2016.

This foray deeper into experiential marketing is an entirely new, proactive and aggressive demandbuilding approach for potatoes.

USPB President and CEO Blair Richardson unveiled the Spud Nation Food Truck at the conclusion of the “If You Can See It, You Can Be It,” luncheon keynote address, amid an entertaining curtain drop before excited EXPO attendees.

Afterwards, industry members eagerly gathered around the truck, dubbed “Bettie,” for walk-through inspections, “kicking the tires” and learning more about this new USPB foodservice venture.

After the unveil, Richardson explained why food trucks will provide valuable demand building opportunities for the U.S. potato industry.

“By 2017, food trucks will be a $2.7 billion market according to the National Restaurant Association,” Richardson said. “Currently food trucks are only reaching about 50

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Spud Nation food trucks are part of the new marketing and education programs to be launched by the USPB in 2016.

Food trucks are dynamic “billboards” showcasing the food they create and taking it to consumers where they live and play.

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The state of the art food trucks are owned by the 2,500 farming families involved in the potato industry. This means the USPB will control how potatoes are used and presented and the messages used.

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percent of the U.S. population, but it’s one of the fastest growing market segments in foodservice, and several sources reveal there are huge opportunities for the future. Seventyone percent of Americans polled in a recent survey indicated they are comfortable buying meals from food trucks. We need to be a leader and trend setter in this rapidly changing environment.”

Static billboard advertising in major markets, like Denver, CO, can run as high as $12,000 per month.

Spud Nation food trucks are much more than mobile advertising, though. This venture enables the USPB to do new things, such as partnering with other industry groups in unveiling and rotating innovative new product launches. Spud Nation will have direct contact and actual consumer interaction at many levels.

The USPB will have data on new, exclusively featured products, to share with the industry.

This food truck enterprise will enable the USPB to carry its message to market and leverage the messaging and health benefits of potatoes, which have been gathered over many years of research.

It will be a small, yet extremely visible and growing part of the USPB marketing programs that is scalable.

Spud Nation will provide a direct, experiential marketing channel for engaging consumers with globally inspired potato dishes they have never seen or considered before.

VIBRANT DINER TARGET Food trucks appeal to consumers who are called “Vibrant Diners.”

From USPB research, this target is a grouping, which falls within the “Adventurous Diners” and “Live to Eat” market segments.

This food truck target consumer trends heavily toward millennials who are male, and they are important because they influence other consumers. This is how trends often begin in the food world.

This generation’s age range is 1834, so they tend to be younger.

Vibrant Diners live in higher income households with annual income

averaging $70,000. In education, 52 percent have college or advanced degrees, and 57% are employed full or part-time.

Vibrant Diners are adventurous eaters who favor potatoes. They have 5.2 average weekly potato meal occasions, while the general population eats potatoes 4.1 times a week.

They are frequent diners who often eat on the run. They prefer fresh foods over frozen or canned alternatives, but they are on the lookout for quick and easy meal options.

In their dining experiences, Vibrant Diners are looking for variety and adventure. Food truck menu offerings fulfill this need with potato dishes drawn from the Board’s programs in 23 countries around the world.

They enjoy different types of food and seek variety in everyday life. They choose tasteful food options, caring more about indulging food cravings over making healthy mealtime selections.

SPUD NATION OBJECTIVES Spud Nation will have an objective to average $250,000 in total revenues

per truck. The best food trucks produce $500,000-$750,000 in total revenues, so there is definite potential to earn above $250,000 per truck.

Spud Nation trucks will launch with nine menu items made with a vast array of U.S. potato products. Log on to www.spudnation.org to learn more about the Spud Nation Food Truck.

WPIB FOCUS Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison Month

Jul-14

Aug-14

Sep-14

Oct-14

Nov-14

Dec-14

Jan-15

Feb-15

Mar-15

Apr-15

May-15

Jun-15

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,618,594.66

584,167.62

1,071,362.65

3,145,808.22

2,930,799.68

2,055,822.91

11,406,555.74

Assessment

$97,295.75

$35,049.99

$64,101.70

$188,748.83

$175,821.97

$123,346.96

$684,365.20

Jul-15

Aug-15

Sep-15

Oct-15

Nov-15

Dec-15

Month

Jan-16

Feb-16

Mar-16

Apr-16

May-16

Jun-16

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,679,466.61

553,089.04

813,734.14

2,731,844.59

3,574,243.15

2,242,764.68

11,595,142.21

Assessment

$100,717.55

$33,240.32

$48,851.85

$163,910.77

$214,454.02

$134,565.79

$695,740.30 BC�T February 59

Eyes on Associates

By Associate Division President, Chris Brooks, Central Door Solutions, LLC

Hello once again, It seems that the winter season has finally set in as it is -13° this morning.

It is a little bitter sweet this month as I started this column just three months ago but this will be my last column. I turn the reins over to the new Associate Division President at this year's Associate Division Annual meeting.

I am very happy to say I leave the board in a stronger position. I have had the honor of serving with some great people over the last four years that have worked very hard to make a difference in the potato and vegetable industry.

With a continued increase in research grants, scholarships, promotions and goodwill for the industry, we have achieved many goals we set out to do.

It is unfortunate I will not be involved with such a great group of minds on a regular basis. I however know that the standing board is in excellent

hands and will receive an influx of new ideas and energy from two new board members.

I want to thank fellow board member Butch Fencil of Fencil Urethane for his contributions as he also has served out his term. Butch's experience and contributions to the industry are immeasurable.

I encourage anyone interested to get involved with a committee or board position to do so. It will be as rewarding for you as it will be for the industry.

I want to close out this month and my

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term by saying an organization is only as strong as its members. By having loyalty, business ethics and a mindset of taking care of those who take care of you, everyone will prosper.

To my fellow Associates, I urge you to stay involved in the industry even if it is not on boards and committees within the organization.

There are many areas on County, Town and Village boards that could use our voice. The challenges Agriculture will face in coming years will not be any less.

By ensuring the health of our growers, fellow associates and industry as a whole, you are investing in your own business future.

To the growers I ask that you look at the Associates in your organization that are putting their own time and resources into strengthening the potato and vegetable industry.

These members continue to support everything they can to assist your businesses with only the hope they might get an opportunity to serve you in business at a later date.

These are the tradeoffs to make any organization strong and keep the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association great.

A quick reminder to anyone looking to advertise or sponsor the 2016 Associate Division Putt-Tato Open golf outing, please contact Julie Braun in the WPVGA office.

I look forward to seeing you all soon and remember, personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.

NPC News Potato D.C. Fly-In February 22-25, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C. Collaborate with your fellow growers and industry partners at the Potato D.C. Fly-In to make a difference on issues affecting the potato industry.

The Potato D.C. Fly-In is open to all potato growers and industry leaders who want to advocate for the industry in the center of the action, our nation’s capital.

When you attend the Potato D.C. Fly-In, you will learn firsthand how federal policies are developed in Washington, D.C., and how they affect your business. Best of all, you will have the chance to shape the policy process.

Jim Hoffa 715-366-4181 715-340-4757

A week unlike any other, the Potato D.C. Fly-In is a specifically designed program that encourages learning and practice, one that puts a human face on potato issues because you will talk to lawmakers, administration officials and regulators.

and staff.

• Gain invaluable experience as an advocate for the potato industry.

• Refine your perspective with analysis from political experts and journalists.

• Master advocacy techniques to use during meetings with federal decision makers.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to become part of the solution in Washington, D.C., in an up close and personal way among other growers and industry leaders.

Speaking with one voice, you will be a powerful advocate for your industry.

• Develop relationships with influential Congressional lawmakers

Register today by visiting the Potato D.C. Fly-In website.

In addition to experiencing the dayto-day excitement and history of Washington, D.C., the Potato D.C. FlyIn will help you:

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Marketplace 2016 Food Safety Training Scheduled

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education Once again, Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable industry has the opportunity to stay proactive with their food safety audits, as WPVGA will be offering food safety training classes for yet another year.

The class dates and fees are as follows: HACCP Monday, February 29 - Tuesday, March 1. $100/person (price includes lunch and breaks). 2-day required course for certification PRIMUS GFS Tuesday, March 2 - Friday, March 4. $165/person (price includes lunch and breaks). 3-day course

HARMONIZED STANDARD Tuesday, March 22.

No Fee Lunch will be provided.

under the appropriate block when you call; namely, WPVGA Harmonized Training, WPVGA Primus Training and/or WPVGA HACCP Training.

The above prices include lunch and breaks. Payment in full and registration must be completed prior to February 29, 2016.

Although this is the fourth consecutive year the Association has offered food safety training, many grower organizations have continued sending representatives due to changes in employment and/or as a refresher course.

All classes will be held at the Grand Lodge Waterpark Resort in Rothschild (805 Creske Ave. Phone: 715-2416300).

Attendees are responsible for their own hotel accommodations.

WPVGA has a block of rooms reserved for each class at a set fee of $75/night. Be sure to reserve a room

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Attending these training sessions is beneficial on multiple levels. They assist in a better understanding of the audit process as well as properly preparing for the audit, which includes the most convenient ways to keep accurate records and detailed documentation.

Furthermore, the training is structured to be applicable for several audit scheme levels. The Harmonized Standard training is perfect for growers getting their foot in the food safety arena.

It is also the recommended scheme for organizations that currently have been conducting a USDA GAP audit.

For growers needing a globally accepted audit, the Primus GFS training will provide the information necessary for a high score.

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WPVGA recommends HACCP Certification for all growers as it greatly helps with the risk assessment at each organization and can also be beneficial in documenting food safety plans.

While going from no audit on file to a globally accepted scheme

is extremely difficult, it is not impossible with commitment and diligence.

However, due to the complexity of this drastic step, WPVGA strongly

advises growers to get involved early (even if food safety audits aren’t currently being required of you) and take baby steps to accomplishing your customer’s stated goals, as well

as keeping your markets open.

Stay tuned to future Tater Talk for further details. If you have questions, please contact the WPVGA office at 715-623-7683.

Spudmobile Wraps Up Football Season With Lambeau Field Visit The Packers may not currently be the hottest team in the NFL, but there is no shortage of promotional opportunities for the Spudmobile at the home of the green and gold.

You can bet your bottom dollar that fans from both sides went into the stadium satisfied after getting a sample of hearty and delicious Wisconsin potatoes.

January 3 marked the last visit to Lambeau Field for the Spudmobile during the 2015 football season as the Pack welcomed the Minnesota Vikings.

The grilling duo, Mad Dog and Merrill, helped prepare samples and bring fans into the Spudmobile along with WPVGA staff and industry partners. continued on pg. 64

Packer fan Dan Oliver is amazed when Mad Dog reveals the large pile of Wisconsin potatoes under the grill.

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Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 63

Once again, the samples proved popular as the group provided 1200 servings to fans in just a few short hours prior to kickoff.

Here is a snippet of the fun these volunteers experienced prior to going to the game themselves! If you are ever interested in volunteering for a Spudmobile event, please contact the WPVGA office at 715-623-7683.

Left: A father and son playing the bug game.

Middle: Jim Zdroik and Tamas Houlihan hold up samples of the grilled Parmesan potatoes prepared by Mad Dog and Merrill.

Right: Mad Dog and Merrill grilled up over 1,300 servings of small, round white Wisconsin potatoes coated with Parmesan seasoning. continued on pg. 66

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Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 65 Left: Packer fans huddled in the Spudmobile on January 3 when the Packers met the Vikings at Lambeau Field.

Middle: Jerry Pilecky of RPE, Bancroft, and his wife, Wendy, helped serve Wisconsin potatoes to fans at the Packer-Viking game on January 3.

Rightt: Yes, even Minnesota Viking fans were welcomed into the Spudmobile at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

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BC�T February 67

Ali's Kitchen Column & Photos by Ali Carter, WPVGA Auxiliary Member

Garlic Potato Noodles The potato is one of the culinary world's most versatile and humble (in a very good way) little veggies.

The simplicity and flexibility of potatoes are what I love most about this tuber. Those characteristics saved the day for me and I will admit to you that this month's recipe came about out of a little bit of desperation and a huge lack of time with an end result of deliciousness.

Ali's Recipe

GARLIC POTATO NOODLES (I fed four people with the following amounts.)

INGREDIENTS: 5 medium sized russet potatoes 1-tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ½-teaspoon garlic salt 1 Tablespoon seasoning mix of your preference (I used one with a mix of rosemary, tarragon, chives and garlic) 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese

I had intended to create a beef stew with potato dumplings this month.

However, life does not always go as planned and occasionally a well thought out meal ends up inedible and not photogenic.

Unexpectedly, while cooking up what I thought would be a fabulous dinner for my family, I found myself with camera issues, an unavailable photographer, multiple interruptions while cooking and finally, dumplings with the texture of paste.

Additionally, I seasoned them with far too much nutmeg, as my daughter so kindly announced.

I did serve this not so pretty, not so tasty, meal to my family and they ate it without too much coercion.

68 BC�T February

However, it was not the meal I pictured in my head and certainly not something that I wanted to present to you.

I thoroughly enjoy working on this column and delight in my time playing in the kitchen...most of the time.

So, I found myself up early with the column deadline fast approaching, another busy day ahead and a bit of Polish stubbornness causing me an adamant refusal to go back to the grocery store. Again.

I needed to be creative and use what was available in my kitchen while coming up with something my family would find interesting, appetizing and filling for tonight's dinner.

salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Peel the potatoes and then create the potato noodles by running one potato at a time through the spiralizer.

Place the potato noodles in a baking dish and drizzle the olive oil on top. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic salt, seasoning mix and gently toss everything together.

Roast for approximately 20 minutes or until the noodles start to turn golden brown.

Remove the potato noodles from the oven and set the oven to broil. Sprinkle the potatoes with the parmesan cheese and the place the baking dish back into the oven for four to five minutes or until they are golden brown. Watch them carefully so they do not burn. Enjoy!

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Thanks to a handy little gadget, and a pantry full of spuds, in less than 30 minutes I had a beautiful and tasty side dish ready to place on tonight's dinner table for my family.

The gadget I mention is called a spiralizer. I purchased ours last year and have used it to create noodles out of cucumbers, carrots and zucchini. It is quick and easy to use and gives an interesting texture to vegetables. Sure, I could have simply diced the potatoes and roasted them but goodness gracious potato NOODLES are just so much more fun!

Today's recipe made use of the spiralizer and russet potatoes

seasoned with a bit of garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese all roasted in the oven until golden. I am so pleased with the way they turned out. Super simple, healthy, and quick and thanks to my husband, we had a working camera to photograph the process for you.

These potato noodles reheated beautifully later in the day and paired well with pan-fried pork chops for our dinner.

As for the beef stew and potato dumplings, I am planning another attempt on that meal and hopefully, you will find it in a future Badger Common’Tater.

GET INVOLVED, STAY INFORMED, BE AWARE! Join Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and keep abreast of what is happening in your industry.

Find out how to become a member today. Go to: wisconsinpotatoes.com/about/members

Stake a claim in your future today!

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