Badger Common’Tater
August 2016
THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
Research, Technology & Sustainability Issue AGRICULTURAL STUDIES At Rhinelander Research Station INTERVIEW: WIST’s Paul Fowler Talks Residual Materials POTATO GROWERS AUXILIARY Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence WATER USE EFFICIENCY Irrigation Technology Saves H2O
Jeff Endelman, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, addresses crowd at Rhinelander Field Day.
Volume 68 Number 8 $18.00/year $1.50/copy
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On the Cover: Jeff Endelman, a UW-Madison Assistant Professor of Horticulture, stands in front of a field of SPUDPRO minitubers at the Rhinelander Research Station. Photo by Joe Kertzman
8 BADGER COMMON’TATER INTERVIEW:
PAUL FOWLER, WIST Executive Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology at UW-Stevens Point, Paul Fowler oversees a project to explore new opportunities for revenue from residual materials left after harvesting and processing fruits, vegetables and potatoes. Here, potatoes are sorted at harvest. iStock.com/bluebird13 image
DEPARTMENTS: ALI’S KITCHEN................... 65 EYES ON ASSOCIATES....... 60 MARK YOUR CALENDAR..... 6
14 WATER EFFICIENCY Potato physiologist Yi Wang covers irrigation technologies & strategies
18 AUXILIARY CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE Board holds a banquet and awards night to remember
26 SPUD SEED CLASSIC The WSPIA event attracted 149 golfers and raised $9,000 for potato research
MARKETPLACE.................. 56 NEW PRODUCTS............... 47 NOW NEWS...................... 30 NPC NEWS........................ 54
FEATURE ARTICLES:
PEOPLE ............................ 42
22 RHINELANDER FIELD DAY Drew an Enthusiastic Crowd
PLANTING IDEAS................ 6
48 BADGER BEAT: Impact of Innate Potatoes on the Market
POTATOES USA NEWS...... 45
62 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MobilePack Event a Huge Success
WPIB FOCUS .................... 64
4
BC�T August
Field day Wednesday, August 24th
11am - 3pm • On Kennedy, between Hwy 54 and Cty B • Plover, WI
You’ll see the best varieties for central Wisconsin that these companies have to offer.
Lunch will be served • Watch for the signs!
Please RSVP to 715-341-3445 or info@jay-mar.com WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Mark Finnessy Vice President: Eric Schroeder Secretary: Gary Wysocki Treasurer: Josh Mattek Directors: Steve Diercks, Rod Gumz, Ron Krueger, Wes Meddaugh & Andy Wallendal 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 Andy Diercks WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Wayne Solinsky Vice President: Zach Mykisen
Secretary: Cathy Schommer Treasurer: Casey Kedrowski Directors: Dale Bowe, Nick Laudenbach, Sally Suprise & Joel Zalewski Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Eric Schroeder Vice President: Bill Guenthner Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Fassbender Directors: Dan Kakes & Charlie Mattek
WPVGA Staff Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan Managing Editor: Joe Kertzman 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 Assistant Spudmobile Driver: Doug Foemmel
Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Paula Houlihan Vice President: Ali Carter Secretary/Treasurer: Gabrielle Okray Eck Directors: Kathy Bartsch, Deniell Bula, Marie Reid & Jody Baginski
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) 630-6213, or email: Joe Kertzman: jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com. The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands.
BC�T August
5
MARK YOUR
Calendar AUGUST 9
COMMUNITY AG DAY 12-4 p.m., Okray Family Farms Storage Bldg. County Road F, Plover, WI
13
ANTIGO TATER TROT Antigo City Park Antigo, WI
20
WAUPACA AREA TRIATHLON South Park Waupaca, WI
20
POINT DUATHLON UW-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI
25
NORTHERN PLAINS POTATO GROWERS ASSN. FIELD DAY Larimore, Inkster, Hoople, ND
26-27
BARNESVILLE POTATO DAYS Barnesville, MN
27
SILVER LAKE TRIATHLON Silver Lake Park Portage, WI
29
PRECISION AG INNOVATION SERIES Des Moines Marriott Downtown Des Moines, IA
SEPTEMBER 7-9
INTERDRONE 2016 Paris Hotel Las Vegas, NV
9-10
SAN LUIS VALLEY POTATO FESTIVAL Monte Vista, CO
12-17
POTATO BOWL USA Grand Forks, ND
JANUARY 2017 4-6 POTATO EXPO 2017 & NPC ANNUAL MEETING San Francisco, CA
FEBRUARY 2017 7-9 WPVGA GROWER EDUCATION CONFERENCE & INDUSTRY SHOW Holiday Inn, Stevens Point, WI
Planting Ideas It’s not easy growing healthy food and feeding the world, much more difficult than the average person uninvolved in agriculture could ever imagine. It’s not even the rock picking, machinery fixing, bank borrowing, early milking, hot sun, weed picking or watering and fertilizing that’s the true stress—though they are certainly burdensome in their own right. From a novice’s standpoint, it’s the outside forces—Mother Nature, pests, disease, drought, blight, fungus, rot, insects, uninformed and nonneighborly neighbors, politicians with agendas and other conditions and influences that keep farmers awake at night. This August “Sustainable Ag & Research/Technology”-themed issue drove home the facts to me that constant/continuous research, development, technology and advancements in agriculture are the norm. They are necessary parts of the potato and vegetable growing equation in order to put and keep food on the table. Farmers cannot rest on their laurels. I spent a pleasant and informative day at the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station learning about just such challenges and initiatives aimed at keeping potato and vegetable plants healthy and bountiful. And I reported on such in this issue. One feature story within, written by Yi Wang, a potato physiologist, and Howard Neibling, a water management engineering specialist, focuses on water use efficiency for potatoes. Another article is penned by UW researchers Paul D. Mitchell, Fengxia Dong and Paul Bethke about how Innate potatoes impact market prices and farmer incomes. The featured interviewee is Paul Fowler, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology. Paul explains how peels, stems and other non-food parts of potatoes, fruits and vegetables are a valuable source of chemicals and extra income in the agriculture industry. No, agriculture isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes tough stock to grow healthy potatoes and vegetables, much more so than the average office dwelling editor like myself might think. 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.
Joe Kertzman Managing Editor jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com
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Interview
Paul Fowler, Executive Director Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, UW-Stevens Point By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor
NAME: Paul Fowler TITLE: Executive Director DEPARTMENT: Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology UNIVERSITY: UW-Stevens Point LOCATION: Stevens Point, WI HOMETOWN: York, England CURRENT RESIDENCE: Stevens Point YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: 6 PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Director, BioComposites Center, Bangor, Wales SCHOOLING: University of East Anglia, Norwich, England FAMILY: Wife—Barb, children—Ellie (4), and twins, Luke and Polly (1) HOBBIES: Mexican food, beer, cocktails Top: Justin Hall, a Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) project specialist, inserts a sample of material for analysis by a High Performance Liquid Chromatography machine. Inset is this issue’s interviewee, Paul Fowler, executive director of WIST at UWStevens Point. Image of Justin by Tom Charlesworth, UW-Stevens Point 8
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The concept is simple:
Peels, stems and other non-food parts of potatoes, fruits and vegetables could be a source of valuable chemicals and extra income for the agriculture industry in Wisconsin. Such was the premise when the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) of UW-Stevens Point began a collaboration with Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers and processors, in March 2016, on a project to explore new opportunities for revenue from residual materials left after harvesting and processing operations. Wisconsin is the largest producer of green beans, carrots, red beets and lima beans in the United States, while ranking third for potato production. Other key processing crops include sweet corn, green peas, cucumbers, cranberries and onions. Wisconsin grows 40 percent of all green beans in the U.S., 20 percent of all sweet corn and 20 percent of
all green peas. As a result, the state ranks second among U.S. states for harvested acreage and total production of processing vegetables, and third for production value. Production and processing of these crops contributes more than $6 billion in economic activity in Wisconsin and supports nearly 30,000 jobs. It also generates large amounts of residual material such as peels, stems and liquid material. In fact, an estimated 15 percent of all vegetable material brought to a processing plant does not become finished product. When and how did WIST develop and form? WIST was launched officially in September 2010 but was developed in concept several years before. It was a result of numerous discussions at UW-Stevens Point around meeting a need for biomass and paper research and services for local and regional businesses. Start-up funds were secured by
then Congressman Dave Obey with the goal of becoming an important resource for those local and regional businesses. Beginning in March 2016, WIST began a collaboration with Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers and processers. What is the project, and what are its ultimate goals? The collaboration sets out to understand the feasibility of removing and commercializing certain natural chemicals from the processing residues of fruits, potatoes and vegetables. Such chemicals have important properties that could be put to use in industrial applications if they can be isolated in an economically efficient way. Who is funding the research? The research is a public/private partnership supported in part by the Federal Economic Development Administration, WIST, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), the Midwest Food Processors Association, Heartland Farms and Pavelski Legacy Partners. What have you found out about stems, peels and other non-food parts of potatoes, fruits and vegetables, their chemical makeups and breakdowns, and how the chemicals can be used and in what ways since you started the study nearly six months ago? Our first round of study has focused on potato peel and cranberry residues. We’ve found out that different peeling techniques affect the amount of target chemicals present in the residuals. For example, residues obtained by abrasion peeling contain far fewer target chemicals than those obtained by steam peeling. This is different from what we had expected because we had thought that the steam may have a detrimental effect on the chemical
quality than abrasion, but this does not seem to be the case. We are intending to further study and try to understand the reason why. Which fruits and vegetables are you concentrating on and why? We are concentrating on the most commonly grown and processed vegetables [and berries] in Wisconsin.
N V S
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continued on pg. 10
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Above: The WIST study sets out to understand the feasibility of removing and commercializing certain natural chemicals from the processing residues of fruits, potatoes and vegetables. Such chemicals have important properties that could be put to use in industrial applications if they can be isolated in an economically efficient way. The first round of study has focused on potato peel and cranberry residues. Seen here, the cranberry harvest operation is quite impressive. iStock.com/ nano image
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 9
That’s to say: potatoes, snap beans, red beets, carrots, green peas, cucumbers, onions, sweet corn, sweet potato and cranberries. We have selected these vegetables because they have the largest quantities of residuals associated with them. Why is the study valuable and to whom? Our goal is to generate new revenue streams for Wisconsin growers and processors. The chemicals contained in the residuals could substitute existing high-value specialty chemicals already in the market. End users include industry sectors such as home and personal care, resins, coatings and plastics, and lubricants. The outcome of the study will be valuable to all players in the supply chain.
handling infrastructure, chemical processing capability and a potential end-user community right here in the state. What kind of volume of potato and vegetable residues does Wisconsin produce a year? And what can that equate to in non-perishable goods that are made up of similar so-called green chemicals? For all vegetables, we roughly estimate on average 15 percent of all crops processed enters a residual stream. If we say annually there’s a million tons of vegetables processed and a further 1.25 million tons of potatoes, that gives a total residual supply of 337,500 tons.
Is Wisconsin an ideal place for such research, and why or why not?
Obviously, we are not proposing that we would process all of that material, but it tells us there is a plentiful supply. The chemicals are typically used at less than 1 percent addition in the end-use applications.
Yes, because the materials we are studying are right on our doorstep. And there is significant biomass
What are those non-perishable goods and products that can be made from the chemicals obtained
10 BC�T August
from residuals? Target applications include home and personal care, and resins, coatings and plastics. The chemicals provide both manufacturing and shelf life stability in applications such as face creams and moisturizers, but also plastic goods such as siding, guttering, lawn chairs, packaging and crude-oil based products such as fuel and lubricants. Is it all about chemicals, or are there also vitamins, compounds, sugars, proteins or other elements that can be repurposed? This project is all about those natural chemicals that have specific properties that make them valuable to users of specialty chemicals in nonfood applications. It’s true, there are also other vitamins, sugars, proteins and minerals present but they’d be target for another piece of work. Are you collaborating with any large corporations, and if so, which ones, and in what manner or why? We are. An essential component
of the project is the involvement to date of Del Monte, Frito Lay and McCain. Each is providing access to residual streams that we will characterize and evaluate for feasibility of commercialization. The project is open to other entrants that wish to become involved. What happens to the plant, potato and vegetable residues now, aside from the study? As we understand it, a number of things. Depending on the residue, it may be used as a component of animal feed, it could be land spread or in the worst case be disposed of at a cost to the processor. Is disposing of the residues a problem for farmers? Not really … more so for processors when it becomes a cost issue. If the results of your study are eventually implemented, could that have an economic impact on the
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 11
industry or other industries? Any idea of numbers? Most definitely. In terms of growers, there’s the prospect of using produce that might otherwise be deemed “out of spec” by food processors— because it may be too big, too small, the wrong shape—as a feedstock for chemicals. And for processors, there’s the prospect of mitigating waste handling costs for existing residual streams. Downstream customers in those sectors previously mentioned— home and personal care, resins, and coatings and plastics—would benefit from access to new chemicals with desired performance functionality. Are there farmers and food wholesalers on board with the project? Absolutely. We are delighted to have such strong support from WPVGA as well as Heartland Farms and the Midwest Food Processors Association. Does WIST have any other projects 12 BC�T August
or work studies in progress with farmers, and if so, briefly tell me what they are? It does. We are currently in the middle of a multi-year project with Okray Family Farms in Plover, evaluating cold climate tolerant grapes for the production of a health and wellness supplement called resveratrol. Our goal in this case is to identify harvest and processing conditions that are optimum for the production in the plant of resveratrol. Resveratrol is receiving a lot of attention for its evident health and wellness benefits and our aim is the ultimate commercial production of locally produced, consistent high quality material. What other markets is WIST involved in? WIST works closely with the specialty paper and packaging sectors. WIST has day-to-day management responsibility for UW-Stevens Point’s pilot paper machine, runs trials for customers on the machine and
provides testing services through associated laboratories. Regarding packaging, WIST hosts an annual conference that targets executives and technologists involved in paper-based food packaging and service ware. Attendees travel from all over the US to this event. Does Sustainable Technology equate to environmental stewardship and friendliness? Are you an environmental group? “Sustainability” means many different things to many different people and groups. My position is Above: WIST project specialist Justin Hall works in one of the institute’s laboratories in the Science Building at UW-Stevens Point. Image of Justin by Tom Charlesworth, UW-Stevens Point OPPOSITE PAGE Right: Lindsey Hoffman, WIST laboratory and papermaking project specialist, guides a student during a professional training course on coating and laminating in packaging applications. The institute provides courses for paper and packaging professionals that include hands-on experience on the university’s pilot paper machine and pilot coating and lamination line. Tom Charlesworth, UW-Stevens Point, image
that true sustainability cannot be achieved without economic return. Environmental stewardship is clearly a component of sustainability, but we are not an environmental group in the sense that people often use that term. Our goal is to promote economic development through sustainable technology development. That means finding ways to make better or more efficient use of natural resources and using resources in ways that help preserve a healthy environment, but in a manner that achieves economic gains as well. Otherwise these technologies won’t be adopted. What is your ultimate hope for the use of potato and vegetable residues in the future? Good question: my hope is that residuals become as important a part of the industry as are potato and vegetables right now. Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable industry
is strategically important to the nation’s domestic food security, and I think that importance is only set to increase. With potentially more residuals coming into play as a result, then the opportunities to derive more natural chemicals for industrial uses become greater.
Do you have anything you want to add? I would like to extend an invitation to any of your readers to contact me for further information, or should anyone wish to visit our facility, they are more than welcome.
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Water Use Efficiency for Spuds New irrigation technologies and strategies reduce groundwater pumping and increase efficiency By Yi Wang, potato physiologist, and Howard Neibling, water management engineering specialist, Kimberly R&E Center, University of Idaho When growing potatoes, water management is always important. Growers had to carefully schedule their irrigation to meet the increased evapotranspiration (ET) demand during a hot nine-day period in late June and early July of 2015 in southern Idaho. In addition to that, early in that year, they were asked to reduce their groundwater pumping by 12-14 percent to help stabilize the declining Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer. This is affecting about 1 million irrigated acres in southern and eastern Idaho. “It needs some work to manage it,” a grower said. There are various ways that people have suggested to increase water use efficiency and 14 BC�T August
prepare for the upcoming reduction in ground water pumping. This issue is even more critical given the forecast for increasing drought due to climate change. A general strategy is to implement new irrigation technologies and pay closer attention to maintenance of the existing system, which includes: • Fixing leaky pivot pressure regulators and nozzles, which can reduce water use by 5-25 percent; • Setting up an efficient irrigation schedule, which can reduce water use by 10-15 percent. This can be more easily achieved by installing soil water sensors with data loggers in the field or using an online scheduling tool;
• Using Low Elevation Spray Application (LESA), which has the potential to reduce water use by 15-25 percent; • Turning off pivot end guns and leaving those areas of the field fallow because yield and quality under the end gun is not great anyway. Or using solid set sprinklers instead of the end gun, making sure the pivot and solid set don’t overlap; • Installing newer nozzles that can produce larger size water drops during irrigation to reduce water evaporation loss; • Applying variable rate irrigation. However, this is challenging and continued on pg. 16
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Water Use Efficiency. . . continued from pg. 14
can be cost-prohibitive, especially if there are different soil types on the farm. Some production practices that can also increase water use efficiency are: • Implementing new crop rotation strategies to increase soil organic matter and water holding capacity; • Utilizing cropping system practices that can reduce soil and canopy evaporation, such as growing cover crops, reducing cultivation and decreasing the presence of bare soil. Among these options, LESA is considered to be a promising approach. It is used to water crops by lowering nozzles very close to the soil surface with suspended spray heads. It was originally designed for center
Equipment Labor/Maintenance Annual Pumping Costs Pump Rework Total / Year
pivot irrigation in areas with short water supply and high energy costs. A preliminary three-year study conducted in the Pacific Northwest has shown that LESA works well on flat, sandy soils. It can improve the irrigation application efficiency by reducing direct evaporation from the sprinkler and by requiring less pumping pressure to operate (as low as 6 psi), compared to the high pressure system and the most commonly used system—Mid Elevation Spray Application (MESA).
Results of the three-year study are: • LESA can provide many benefits
such as the ability to uniformly irrigate a new planting for good crop emergence and flexibility
LESA $902.16 $617.72 $3,333.31 $462.34 $5,315.53
MESA $768.85 $284.15 $5,115.60 NONE $6,168.60
on a variety of crops, row spacing and orientations. • Except for removing old
galvanized steel plugs in the top of the pivot pipes, conversion to LESA is simple and doesn’t take long. • The sprinkler heads dragging
through the crop, even in corn, isn’t a problem. It doesn’t cause any damage to the crop canopy. • Infrared images were taken and
no uniformity issues or streaking problems in crop appearance were found, even when the spray heads were below the top of the canopy. • Because of the limited wetted
radius of LESA sprinklers, there is more control over keeping wheel tracks drier to reduce pivot Above (L-R): The images show comparisons between high-pressure pivots, mid-elevation spray application (most commonly used) and low-elevation spray application. Photos courtesy of Dr. Howard Neibling OPPOSITE PAGE
Difference / Year
$853.07
Shown is the total annual cost difference between ¼-mile LESA and MESA systems. 16 BC�T August
Far Right: The results of the three-year study show that, even in corn, the dragging of sprinkler heads through a crop doesn’t cause damage to the canopy.
wheel track rutting. • The top part of the crop will
be drier under LESA, which will likely reduce disease pressure (e.g. late blight). • There will likely be less nitrogen
conducted on a commercial potato farm in eastern Idaho to compare LESA with MESA. The table on the preceding page shows that, although the upfront equipment costs of
LESA are higher than standard irrigation, this can be repaid by power cost savings over time, not taking into account the potential improvements of crop yield and quality.
volatilization during fertigation due to the increased application efficiency. • Because of the increased
application efficiency and less sprinkler distortion by the wind, there will be less issues with dry field edges and less variations in applied water depths. • Growers liked it! All of the
growers who collaborated in this study have expressed interest in expanding the use of LESA on their farms and many have already converted multiple pivots to LESA without prompting. So far LESA has been tried on alfalfa, mint, corn, grass seed and seed potatoes. It has shown the potential of 15-20 percent seasonal water saving and 20-50 percent in-canopy water saving. An ongoing study is being BC�T August 17
40 Years of Excellence: Auxiliary Celebrates Anniversary By Paula Houlihan, President, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary June 23, 2016, was a night of celebration for the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA), heralding the end of its 40th year. More than 150 attendees joined in the festivities held at Sentry World in Stevens Point. The WPGA has a lot to be proud of and many awards were
18 BC�T August
presented that evening in recognition of the women who have made the organization what it is today! Special tribute was given to our founding members, Avis Wysocki and Dianne Somers. Dianne shared her excitement for what the Auxiliary has become and how it got its start.
Outstanding Leadership Awards were presented to each of the former board members who attended, including several of the original board members. These awards and a packet Above: Forty years and going strong! Wisconsin Potato Auxiliary Board members past and present gathered to celebrate a night heralding the Auxiliary’s 40th anniversary. Bottom Left: Dianne Somers (wearing yellow flower) celebrates with her husband, Nick, son, Douglas (right), and daughter, Heidi Somers (left). Bottom Right: Current Auxiliary Board member Kathy Bartsch (left) is honored for her 13 years of dedicated service with a plaque presented by Board President Paula Houlihan (right).
of 40th Anniversary Commemorative Auxiliary Newsletters were given in recognition of their outstanding leadership and dedicated service while on the Auxiliary’s Board of Directors. An Honorary Lifetime Membership and Auxiliary Appreciation Award were presented to Lori Gunderson for her many years of dedicated service to the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary as our mascot Penelope Potato. Lifetime Membership Awards and plaques for Distinguished Service were presented to Auxiliary members who have dedicated 10 years or more of service on the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors.
Recipients were: Lynn Isherwood (18 years) Kathy Bartsch (13 years) Gerri Okray (12 years) Arlene Malek (11 years) Brenda Bula (11 years) Patty Hafner (11 years) Sheila Rine (11 years) Kathie Baginski (10 years) Certificates of Appreciation were presented by current Board President, Paula Houlihan, to the WPGA board members in recognition of their dedicated service and leadership while on the board of directors. Recipients were: Lynn Isherwood, Kathy Bartsch, Jacquie Wille, Patty Hafner, Sheila Rine, Gabrielle Okray Eck and Deniell Bula.
The President’s Award was presented to immediate past president Jacquie Wille by Paula Houlihan in grateful appreciation for her time, service and mentorship. This award was given in the form of a marble clock inscribed continued on pg. 20 Left: Distinguished Service Award recipients Patty Hafner (left), Sheila Rine (second from right) and Lynn Isherwood (right) celebrate with Penelope Potato. Sheila and Patty were honored for each having served 11 years on the board of directors. Lynn was honored for her 18 years of service and exemplary leadership as an Auxiliary Board member. All three received Lifetime Membership Awards for their many years of service. Right: First Auxiliary Board President Dianne Somers (left) and current Board President Paula Houlihan celebrate a night of recognizing the women who have made the organization what it is today.
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BC�T August 19
40 Years of Excellence. . . continued from pg. 19
with the quote: “The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.” The newly elected and incoming board of directors was introduced. They are: Paula Houlihan (president), Ali Carter (vice-president), Gabrielle Okray Eck (secretary/treasurer), Kathy Bartsch, Deniell Bula, Marie Reid and Jody Baginski. The evening’s festivities ended with
a celebratory group photo of the attending current and former board members followed by entertainment by Piano Fondue, a dueling piano group. All in all, it was a fabulous ending to a year of reflection, recognition and celebration for this amazing organization and what these women have accomplished for the Wisconsin potato industry these past 40 years!
WPVGA Executive Director Sings High Praise WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan provided the following remarks at the Auxiliary’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Banquet: “Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary: You are brilliant. Your ideas? Incredible. Your questions? Insightful. Your vision? Spot on. Your work? Tireless and tremendous! I am proud to be associated with brilliant women like you, with powerful ideas to contribute, important businesses and organizations to build, and years of experience, knowledge and wisdom to share. 20 BC�T August
Women have unique ways of communicating—ways that tend to be more collaborative, consensus-building and inviting. The world needs your ideas. I’m so pleased that 40 years ago you decided that it was time to start sharing them fully, loudly, boldly, without diminishment or apology. On behalf of the entire Wisconsin potato industry: Thank you for 40 years of outstanding work promoting, educating and telling the story of the wonderful potato. The benefits to our industry made by you—intelligent, hardworking women—are more than words can say. Thank you, thank you.”
Top Left: Immediate past president Jacquie Wille receives the President’s Award for her service, mentorship and leadership in the WPGA. Top Middle: Former board member Brenda Bula (left) receives a Lifetime Membership and Distinguished Service Award for her 11 years on the board of directors. Top Right: Happy retirement Penelope Potato! Lori Gunderson dons the Penelope costume one last time. Middle: Former Auxiliary Board members Sharon Yeska (left) and Chris Anthony (right) enjoy the evening. Bottom: Harriet Wysocki (front) and Audrey Worzella are two of many past board members who came to join in the celebration.
40 Years ~ Members of the Auxiliary Board of Directors
Avis Wysocki Dianne Somers * Sue Zalewski Arlene Malek (11) * Mavis Bushman Gerri Okray (12) * Francis Gallenberg Judy Bacon Mary Lou Sargent Helen Wanca * Sue Baginski Mary Guenthner Patricia Diercks * Connie Schmiege Barb Pavelski Audrey Worzella Debbie Wolter Harriet Wysocki Kathie Baginski (10) * Mary Rine Midge Tatro Elaine Kizewski
Anita Polzin * Ruth Danczyk Pat Jilek Ellen Wysocki Barb Bushman Jane Zdroik * Caroline Wild * Chris Anthony * JoAnne Chilewski Gina Schroeder Jeanne Jensen Annabelle Fenske Theresa Hartman Linda Bacon Judy Schroeder* Sharon Wysocki Sharon Yeska Lori Erdman Lynn Isherwood (18) * Karen Spychalla Ellen Brilowski Kathy Bartsch (13) *
Brenda Bula (11) Sara Stelter Carole Gagas * Gay Seidl Liz Ourada Marsha Mattek Terri Devore Erin Baginski Jill (Zalewski) Croker Deb Bacon * Diane Wysocki Patty Hafner (11) Sheila Rine (11) Jessica Bonnel Mary Gallenberg Jacquie Wille * Ali Carter Paula Houlihan* Gabrielle Okray Eck Deniell Bula
Top Left: Original board member and Distinguished Service Award recipient Gerri Okray (left) is honored for her 12 years of service and exemplary leadership on the Auxiliary Board. Top Right: Jerry and Barb Bushman (a former WPGA board member) enjoy the festivities. Middle: Past Auxiliary Board member Gay Seidl (far right) is all smiles at the 40th anniversary party. Bottom: Proud mom, Joan Sage (left), mugs for the camera with daughter, Lori Gunderson, recipient of the Auxiliary Appreciation Award for her years of service as mascot Penelope Potato.
Members listed in order of service * Denotes service as board president ( ) Denotes a decade of service or greater BC�T August 21
Rhinelander Field Day Drew Enthusiastic Crowd Important agricultural studies conducted at the Rhinelander Research Station were on display for a day By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater It threatened rain all day on July 14, and as we climbed aboard the trailer for a hay wagon ride out to the test fields, Casey Kedrowski of Roberts Irrigation said to me, “We’re going to get wet.” But the rain held off, and it was an information-packed day in the Wisconsin north woods. Becky Eddy, an associate UWMadison researcher at the
Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station (RARS), also known as the UW Lelah Starks Potato Breeding Farm, welcomed us and gave attendees a facility overview. RARS, which has been a home for university potato breeding research for over 50 years, was made possible through a gift of stock from the estate of Lelah Starks, a pioneer Wisconsin
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seed potato grower. In time, the university exchanged a portion of the stock for the parcel of land that is now the Rhinelander station. The university has used the property for potato breeding since before Starks’ death in 1951, and it remains a primary site for ongoing research related to potato production. Many studies mapping the basic nature of the genetics of the potato have been carried on at the facility, resulting in national and international recognition through numerous publications and the release of new and improved potato varieties, including Antigo, Red Beauty, Superior, Wischip, Oneida, Opposite Page: It was a good day for a hay ride on July 14, 2016, during the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station Field Day that included informative presentations from UW researchers and professors and a visit to the potato breeding fields.
The newest member of the potato family— W5955-1, also known as “Hodag.” Rhinered, Snowden, MegaChip and, most recently, Lelah, Tundra, Nicolet, Accumulator, Oneida Gold, Red Endeavor and Hodag. POTATO VIRUS EVOLUTION Alex Crockford, program director for the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program, talked next about how viruses are changing potato breeding and seed certification, including Potato Virus Y (PVY), also known as “common mosaic” or “potato severe mosaic.” Crockford discussed factors influencing grower success, what drives PVY reemergence, the virus evolution, strain changes and more. Jennifer Oestreich, an inspector and environmental enforcement specialist for the Wisconsin Bureau of Agrichemical Management, discussed changes to the Worker Protection Standard and what is expected of farmers in keeping their workers safe from pesticide exposure.
An agronomist with T.I.P. (Tatro Irrigation & Potato), Kenton Mehlberg allowed his fellow ag engineer, Andy Verhasselt, to talk about
AgroSolutions by T.I.P. and new technologies for soil fertility. Such included Redox, a calcium and silicon continued on pg. 24
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Rhinelander Field Day. . . continued from pg. 23
product designed to increase potato mass and uniformity, module and root development, and overall yield increase. The wagon ride to the potato breeding fields featured guest speakers Russell L. Groves from the Department of Entomology at UWMadison, Amanda Gevens, a UW Extension vegetable pathologist and associate professor, and Jeff Endelman, an Assistant Professor of Horticulture specializing in potato breeding and genetics in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW-Madison. NEWEST SPUD—“HODAG” Groves gave a presentation on managing aphids and the viruses they vector, Gevens updated the crowd assembled before the test fields on potato diseases, and Endelman
talked about new potato varieties from the breeding program, including the newest member of the potato family—W5955-1, also known as “Hodag.”
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A surprise speaker, Felix Navarro, superintendent of the Hancock Ag Research Station, invited everyone in attendance to the Hancock Field Day & Centennial Celebration, which took
Top: A Russet potato field at the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station is just one of many test plots that UW researchers have planted in an attempt to learn more about the effects of viruses, diseases, insecticides, fungicides and more. Bottom: Russell L. Groves from the Department of Entomology at UW-Madison gave a presentation on managing aphids and the viruses they vector.
place July 28, 2016, where, among other topics, presenters talked about four generations of researchers. To top off the day, Insight FS, a division of GROWMARK, Inc., provided a lunch of grilled hamburgers and bratwurst, complete with potato chips made from Wisconsin chipping potatoes, salads, beverages and deserts. Central Wisconsin has a proud history of ag research and takes pride in its potato breeding programs. See the next issue of the Badger Common’Tater for coverage of the Antigo Field Day at the Langlade County Research Station and the Hancock Field Day & Centennial Celebration, each taking place on July 21 and July 28, respectively. Right: Alex Crockford, program director for the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program, explained what is driving Potato Virus Y (PVY) reemergence and more late-season infections, which are often asymptomatic.
BC�T August 25
Seed Piece
All images by Tim Gaffney, T.J. Gaffney Photography
Spud Seed Classic a Resounding Success By Eric Schroeder, President of the WSPIA We couldn't have had better weather for the 2016 Spud Seed Classic, formerly the Tony Gallenberg Memorial Golf Tournament. Mid 70’s with sun and a nice breeze made for perfect conditions for the outing, which took place June 24 at Bass Lake Golf Course in Deerbrook, Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association (WSPIA) event was full with 149 golfers, which along with our many generous sponsors helped raise $9,000 this year! The major sponsors were Syngenta, Bayer CropScience, CPS Great Lakes, Kretz Truck Brokerage LLC and Volm Companies.
Since 1998, the tournament has raised well over $50,000, which was donated to Wisconsin potato research. The event was a definite success, especially if you were Julia Barnes who netted $500 for her hole in one on the Tony Gallenberg Memorial Hole. After the outing, a delicious dinner was put on by Lyndon Swartzendruber at the Bass Lake Supper Club. Special thanks to Jim Pukall at Bass Lake Golf Course, Lyndon and especially Karen Rasmussen from the WPVGA for putting together the entire event! Another huge thanks to all of our sponsors as well! Look for the event to continue another year at Bass Lake Golf Course in 2017. Above: The 2016 Spud Seed Classic had moments of high drama and stiff competition, as well as a lot of cheering and fun, particularly when, from left to right, John and Debra Wolter, and Ben and Carrie Zelazoski took to the greens. Bottom: Capturing second place with a score of 59 are, from left to right, Ross Riemer, Justin Riemer, Mike Quinn and Dustin Quinn.
26 BC�T August
Top Left: With the tournament being a four-person scramble (best ball position), taking first place with a score of 56 included, from left to right, Brian Blink and Dave Cofer. Not shown from the winning team are Bill Bockes and Mike Kaster. Middle Left: Julia Barnes (all smiles at left) netted $500 for her hole in one on the Tony Gallenberg Memorial Hole. Holding her card and giving her a congratulatory handshake is Jim Pukall of Bass Lake Golf Course. Bottom Left: Despite what the image may suggest, no potatoes were bruised or harmed in any way during the 2016 Spud Seed Classic, June 24th, at the Bass Lake Golf Course in Deerbrook, Wisconsin. Right: Proving that putting could be a team effort, or at least that good karma can help the ball into the hole, are, from left to right, Andy Verhasselt, Kyle Hibbard and Steve Tatro, the man behind the putter. continued on pg. 28
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Left: In seventh place, with a score of six under par, were, from left to right, Casey Kedrowski, Dale Bowe, Tamas Houlihan and Ron Krueger. Golfers in Action: Golf swings were on full display at the 2016 Spud Seed Classic, and some of them quite textbook, particularly, (Above) Joe Bushman, (Below) Julia Barnes and (Opposite Page) Tom Grall.
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Above: Third-place finishers, with a score of 11 under par, are, from left to right, Jim Okray, Nate Hofmeister, and Charlie and Alex Okray.
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Now News
All images courtesy of Alicia Pavelski, Heartland Farms
Heartland Farms Hosts Elementary Students Adams-Friendship 4th graders also visit a tree farm and cheese factory Working together with Full Cycle Tree Farm and the Rudolph Cheese Factory, Heartland Farms hosted more than 60 Adams-Friendship 4th graders, with a few parents and teachers as chaperones, May 6, as part of an agriculture field trip.
After the field trip was cut from the school budget a few years ago, Heartland Farms offered to donate money for busing students, in this case to the farms and cheese factory, and the students brought sack lunches. Julie Wysocky, a teacher in
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Top: Tom Prasalowicz, farm manager at Heartland Farms, holds court, and a seed potato, for an enthralled group of Adams-Friendship 4th graders as part of an agriculture field trip to the potato farm. Jeremie Pavelski, president of Heartland Farms, looks on (left). RIght: The students got down and dirty on a recently hilled potato field, where they learned firsthand about spuds and how they’re grown.
the Adams-Friendship School District, organized the field trip this year. “It’s such a great opportunity to teach children where their food comes from and about other forms of agriculture, like tree farming,” says Alicia Pavelski of Heartland Farms, Inc. “As more people move into cities and towns, it is greatly important to reach out and offer every opportunity available to educate our communities, especially our youth, about agriculture.” On the field trip, students visited the Heartland Farms potato farm where they were able to see planting in action, learn about potatoes and how they’re grown, gain firsthand knowledge of tractors and other equipment, and ask questions directly to tractor operators over CB (Citizens Band) radios. At the Full Cycle Tree Farm—a red pine plantation owned by Nancy Livingston—the kids took part in planting trees for Arbor Day and learned how trees are milled. The students also toured the Rudolph Cheese Factory facility, learned how cheese is made and sampled the goodies. continued on pg. 32
Top: Lucky 4th graders also gained firsthand knowledge of farm machinery and trucks on their May field trip to Heartland Farms. Bottom: How many grade school students can you fit onto a tractor? Apparently about 25, which had to be a highlight of their visit to Heartland Farms. Julie Wysocky, a teacher at Adams-Friendship Elementary School who organized the field trip, is seated at bottom center.
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Now News. . . continued from pg. 31
USDA Grants More Than $14.5 Million for Plant Research Money tagged to help farmers grow more resilient, stress tolerant crops On June 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded more than $14.5 million in grants to support research into plant health, production and resilience. These grants were made through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational program, authorized by the 2014
Farm Bill and administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). "As global temperatures rise, we are already seeing that our crops and native plants are increasingly threatened by pests, diseases and invasive species," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Research into growing more resilient, stress tolerant crops that use water and nutrients more efficiently will offer farmers new tools to produce crops sustainably, and will benefit consumers with food security in the face of climate change and the loss of agricultural land," Vilsack added.
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The grants were awarded through AFRI's Plant Health and Production and Plant Products (PHPPP) area, which supports basic and applied research in the following areas: understanding plant-associated microorganisms and plant-microbe interactions; controlling weedy and invasive plants; and plant-associated insects and nematodes. Understanding Plant-Associated Microorganisms and Plant-Microbe Interactions: • University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $483,700 • University of California, Riverside, Calif., $500,000
• USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colo., $472,400 • University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $499,830 • University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign, Ill., $499,938 • Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., $500,000 • North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., $150,000 • Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $499,980 • Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $499,970 • Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore., $498,780 • Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore., $15,000 (conference) • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $499,990 • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $498,310 • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va., $15,000 ontrolling Weedy and Invasive C Plants: • Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., $500,000 • Chapman University, Orange, Calif., $69,178 • Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan., $430,882 • USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, Miss., $500,000
• Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $158,744 • Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $272,078 • Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore., $500,000 • Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $500,000 • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $500,000 • University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo., $500,000 Plant-Associated Insects and Nematodes: • University of California, Berkeley, Calif., $454,000 • USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Athens, Ga., $480,000 • University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., $468,527 • Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $385,100 • University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.C., $149,800
• North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., $133,000 • Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, N.Y., $379,000 • New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y., $499,900 • Gordon Research Conference, West Kingston, R.I., $15,000 (conference) • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $499,500 • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $454,000 • University of Houston, Houston, Texas, $150,000 • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va., $500,000 • University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $485,000 • USDA Forest Service, Madison, Wisc., $15,000 (conference) To date, PHPPP has awarded more than $68 million to further
progress and solve challenges in plant production through research, education and extension. For example, University of Pennsylvania researchers are currently using funding to work to aid the pollination of plants by producing improved honey bee strains. Science funded by AFRI is vital to meeting food, fiber and fuel demands as the world's population is projected to exceed nine billion people by 2050, and natural resources are stressed under a changing climate. In addition, AFRI programs help develop new technologies and a workforce that will advance our national security, our energy self-sufficiency and the health of Americans. President Barack Obama's 2017 budget request purposes to fully fund AFRI for $700 million; this amount is the full funding level authorized by Congress when it established AFRI in the 2008 Farm Bill.
continued on pg. 34
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Now News. . . continued from pg. 33
Late Blight Found in Michigan Potatoes Conditions remain conducive for late blight in irrigated potato crops By Noah Rosenzweig, Saltanat Mambetova, Robert Schafer and Luke Steere, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Late blight was found in a potato plant near Bronson, Michigan, in Branch County, on July 5, 2016. Initial genotyping confirmed isolates as US23 by GPI isomerase testing. Mating type and Ridomil sensitivity were underway at the time. The source of the inoculum is volunteer potato plants in a sweet corn field. Late blight has also been confirmed in Franklin County Washington on potatoes as well. US-23 is sensitive to mefenoxam/metalaxyl in most cases, which is the type that has predominated in potato-producing regions in recent years. Volunteer potato plants emerge from tubers left in the field at harvest. Tubers can over-winter in fields when winter soil temperatures are not low enough to kill the tubers. Volunteer potatoes that emerge from the surviving tubers can harbor the late blight pathogen as well as other pests and diseases. Due to changing climatic conditions over the past three growing seasons, the over-winter soil thermal conditions have been conducive
for volunteer potato survival and thus acting as potential sources of inoculum in the spring. INFECTED VOLUNTEER POTATOES Epidemics of potato late blight are initiated from mycelium of Phytophthora infestans that survive in tubers over winter, which then give rise to infected volunteer potatoes. Recommendations for late blight treatment remain the same as in previous reports posted at Michigan State University Extension, and include treating with one of the translaminar fungicides listed at the Michigan Late Blight Risk Monitoring website. Conditions remain conducive for late blight in irrigated potato crops. Forecasts and disease severity value (DSV) accumulations can be checked daily at the Michigan Late Blight Risk Monitoring website, www.lateblight. org/forecasting.php. Dr. Rosenzweig’s work is funded in part by Michigan State University’s AgBioResearch. continued on pg. 36
Above: From top to bottom are examples of a sporulating late blight lesion with white, velvety mycelial growth; expanding brown-to-black lesions in a lower plant canopy; and volunteer potato plants growing among sweet corn.
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. 34 BC�T August
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Now News. . . continued from pg. 34
The Little Potato Company Breaks Ground in DeForest Potato processing, washing and packaging plant brings jobs to Wisconsin Executives from The Little Potato Company and Ryan Companies U.S., Inc., along with community officials, celebrated the first phase of construction of a $20 million, 132,730-square-foot U.S. processing facility for The Little Potato Company in DeForest, Wisconsin, northeast of Madison. The project celebration occurred on June 29 at the 15.9-acre construction
site of the company’s first facility in the United States. The Little Potato Company, based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is the world’s leader in Creamer potatoes. The company sells its specialty potatoes in the U.S. and Canada through a variety of retail outlets. The celebration of construction follows the acquisition of the DeForest land parcel by Ryan
Above: From left to right at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Little Potato Company’s newest and only U.S.-based potato processing facility are: Ryan Marks, managing director of Ryan Companies U.S., Inc. (developer and builder of the facility); Tim Hennelly, president of Ryan Companies; Susan Vann, vice president of human resources for The Little Potato Company; Sanford Gleddie, vice president of operations and global business development, The Little Potato Company; Angela Santiago, CEO and co-founder, The Little Potato Company; Matt Havertape, vice president of finance, The Little Potato Company; Secretary of Agriculture Ben Brancel, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection; and Tom Stacey, associate of the Workplace Studio for Eppstein Uhen Architects. 36 BC�T August
Companies last month. Construction officially began on the site in May. When completed the building will include 11,730 square feet of office space and 121,000 square feet of cooler, dry warehouse and processing space. The cooler space is expandable. Other features of the project include 30-foot clear ceiling heights in the warehouse area, nine dock doors, two overhead drive-in doors and 130 stalls for employee parking. FORTY CONSTRUCTION JOBS The facility, which is being developed and constructed by Ryan Companies through its Great Lakes Region, will open in early 2017. During the construction of the facility it is estimated that approximately 40 construction jobs will be created. The Little Potato Company has already begun to hire core team members and will expand recruitment to about 50 people prior to opening. The Company anticipates
employing approximately 130 people when the facility is fully operational. “We were delighted to partner with Ryan Companies, who has extensive experience in developing food processing and distribution facilities across the country. We look forward to working with them to create a world-class facility that helps meet strong and growing demand for our unique and delicious Creamers,” said Sanford Gleddie, vice president of operations and global development, The Little Potato Company.
“The jobs this project will create— during construction and when it is fully operational—are important to the community, as important as The Little Potato Company will be as it continues to grow and expand its presence,” Marks added. WORKING WITH WISCONSIN GROWERS
The Little Potato Company’s new facility is located along the western edge of US Hwy. 51 in the DeForest Business Park.
Five Wisconsin potato growers are producing the little potatoes on a total of about 450 acres this year. They planted the potatoes in late May and will be harvesting in September. The Little Potato Company expects to work with additional Wisconsin potato growers next year.
“It is exciting for Ryan Companies to be part of a project that will have a positive and significant impact on a client and the neighboring community,” Ryan Marks, managing director, Ryan Companies U.S., Inc., said.
The company pays premiums for the little potatoes because they yield about one-third to one-half the amount of potatoes traditionally grown in Wisconsin. The Little Potato Company also seeks potatoes with high-quality skin.
Above: Sanford Gleddie, vice president of operations and global business development of The Little Potato Company, left, discusses the company’s Creamer potatoes with Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of the WPVGA (center), and Steve Diercks of Coloma Farms, Inc. (right).
Steve and Andy Diercks, who operate Coloma Farms, Inc., near Coloma, Wisconsin, are growing about 100 acres of the little potatoes this year. Their acres include two of the continued on pg. 38
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Now News. . . continued from pg. 37
company’s four varieties, “Baby Boomer,” which has yellow skin and pale yellow-white flesh and “Blushing Belle,” with reddish-pink skin and yellow flesh. The company’s other two varieties are “Perline,” with light yellow skin and flesh and “Purple Prince,” with purple skin and yellow flesh and purplish lines. The little potatoes are planted between 4 and 6 inches apart, compared to other potato varieties
that are planted between 12 and 17 inches apart, Steve said. He was able to use an existing planter to plant the little potatoes, but this fall will use a special harvester made in Europe and supplied by The Little Potato Company. Gary Bula Potato Farms, Inc., of Grand Marsh, Wisconsin, is growing 120 acres of the little potatoes this year. The Bula family also owns Heartland Potato Farms near Benton,
Missouri. The Missouri farm has littlepotato varieties in test plots this year, Lynda Bula said. REPUTATION PRECEDES THEM Wisconsin’s reputation for highquality potato production, plus the state’s business climate and tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation were some of the reasons why The Little Potato Company was attracted to the state, said Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association. The Little Potato Company is investing more than $20 million in the new facility, equipment and other initiatives, $11.7 million of which Above: From left to right in front of the construction project are Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA); Pat and Steve Diercks of Coloma Farms, Inc.; Rod and Michelle Gumz of Gumz Muck Farms LLC; and Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Ben Brancel. Left: The new processing facility is being constructed of steel beams and columns, and insulated precast concrete wall panels.
38 BC�T August
qualifies for tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
the United States,” Santiago said. “This is a big dream come true.”
But what also attracted The Little Potato Company was the warmth and generosity of the DeForest and Madison communities, said Angela Santiago, the company’s cofounder and CEO. “The connections with Wisconsin’s growers and the community at large made us feel at home,” she said.
The Little Potato Company passionately focuses only on little Creamer potatoes. These highly nutritious, fully mature and naturally delicious small specialty potatoes are coveted by foodies and chefs alike. Their exclusive and colorful little potato varieties are available in produce sections across Canada and the U.S., where 240 million servings will be enjoyed this year alone.
Santiago and her father, Jacob van der Schaff, established The Little Potato Company near Edmonton in 1996. A Dutch immigrant, van der Schaff was unable to find the small creamer potatoes of his youth. So he and his daughter began growing them. They bought their first washing and packing plant in 2000 in Edmonton, and expanded five years later into their current production plant in Edmonton.
About Little Potato Company
The popular little Creamers are sold pre-washed and can be cooked in less than 5 minutes. They’re also available in convenient Oven Grill and Microwave Ready packs combining Creamers, tasty seasoning mix and specialty trays for even easier preparation and a delicious dining experience. The Little Potato Company believes in feeding the world, better. This extends beyond their focus on creating specialty Creamers to helping parents and kids cook together through their “Little Chef” program at http://www.littlepotatoes.com/en/ littlechefs/. They also support food banks and related programs to help at-risk families access healthy food, and other food and family-based community programs. The family-owned company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016.
“I never dreamed we’d expand into
continued on pg. 40
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Above: Angela Santiago, CEO and co-founder of The Little Potato Company, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new processing plant in DeForest. Santiago started the company with her father outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 20 years ago.
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Now News. . . continued from pg. 39
Agrometrics Holds Grand Opening Company provides technology solutions to improve productivity for farmers Agrometrics held its grand opening in the Portage County Business Park, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, on Monday, July 25. The open house included light refreshments and beverages, and a tour of the new operations that also serve as the office for AgroPermits. Customers of Agrometrics and
AgroPermits, Members of the Portage County Business Council’s (PCBC) Ambassadors Club, PCBC staff and the Agrometrics team joined together for a ribbon cutting ceremony, conducted by Louis Wysocki of Wysocki Produce Farm Inc. Agrometrics and AgroPermits Founder and CEO Madhu
Jamallamudi said he asked Louis to cut the ribbon because he has such respect for Wysocki and his contributions to local business and agriculture. Agrometrics provides state-of-the-art analytical and technological solutions to businesses worldwide with a focus on the agricultural sector. The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and Agrometrics are working together Top: Louis Wysocki of Wysocki Produce Farm, Inc., performed the ribbon cutting honors during the grand opening ceremony for Agrometrics and AgroPermits at the new office in the Portage County Business Park on July 25. From left to right are Dorothy Pientka, a Portage County Business Council ambassador, Vinaya Jamallamudi, Madhu Jamallamudi, Founder and CEO of Agrometrics and AgroPermits, Sharon Wysocki of Wysocki Farms, Rich Wilcox of BMO Harris Bank, Brian Wysocki of Heartland Farms, Louis Wysocki, three members of the Portage County Business Council and Sarah Agena, second from right, a registered dietician working with the WPVGA Promotions Committee.
40 BC�T August
Left: Dorothy Pientka, a Portage County Business Council ambassador, presents Founder and CEO of Agrometrics and AgroPermits, Madhu Jamallamudi, with a plaque commemorating the grand opening event and welcoming his companies to their new offices in the Portage County Business Park. Above: It took a state-of-the-art building to house Agrometrics, which offers analytical and technological solutions to businesses worldwide, with a focus on the agricultural sector.
to develop an information system for potato growers in Wisconsin.
India. For more information, visit www.agrometrics.com.
The system is close to completion and will be made available to process potato growers in the near future. It is expected to make valuable information and analyses available to the growers and WPVGA in improving grower profitability.
AgroPermits helps Wisconsin townships, counties and vehicle operators in complying with the
Implements of Husbandry (IoH) regulations by offering Web-based technology solutions and smart phone apps. Visit www.agropermits. com for more information.
Services include technology solutions in combination with advanced analytical techniques in promoting effective decision making that would reduce operational costs, improve productivity, quality and profits. Currently, Agrometrics has customers in the United States, Canada and Right Madhu Jamallamudi (rear, center), founder and CEO of Agrometrics, presents analytical and technological solutions for improving productivity, quality and profits for potato and vegetable farmers at a past WPVGA Board meeting.
July 2016
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People
Syngenta Scientist Honored with University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award Mary-Dell Chilton, Ph.D., a distinguished science fellow at Syngenta, is the 2016 recipient of the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award. The award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the university’s alumni association, honors Chilton for her outstanding success in her life’s work as a groundbreaking researcher in plant biotechnology.
that produced the first genetically engineered plants.
Chilton is one of the principal founders of modern plant biotechnology. While a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Chilton led a collaborative research study
“The University of Illinois was the place I first became interested in plant genetics, which laid the foundation for my career,” Chilton said. “The university professors and colleagues I made here pushed me to work harder and pursue excellence
42 BC�T August
At Syngenta, she earned a reputation as a legendary mentor of young laboratory scientists and worked with many others to successfully transform corn, cotton and other crops. She is recognized for her pioneering research and its continued impact on agriculture.
in what was an emerging field at the time, and I am forever grateful for their guidance. I am incredibly honored to receive this award.” Chilton received her undergraduate degree from the university in 1960 and doctorate in 1967, both in chemistry. The association honored her during commencement weekend activities on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. PART OF A PROUD LEGACY “On behalf of nearly 700,000 University of Illinois alumni, we are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of incredible individuals who inspire all of us and Above: Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton was recognized by the University of Illinois for her groundbreaking work in biotechnology. The Illinois Alumni Achievement Award is the highest honor conferred by the university’s alumni association.
enhance the proud legacy of the University of Illinois,” said Association President and CEO Loren R. Taylor. The honor adds to a number of recent accolades for Chilton, who continues to research plant genetics and biotechnology from the Syngenta lab in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. In 2015, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hall of Heroes. In 2013, she was named a World
Food Prize laureate, the foremost international award recognizing individuals who positively impact the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The Alumni Achievement Award was presented at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center during commencement weekend, on the evening of Friday, May 13, 2016. Awardees were also honored as part of the platform party during the campus-wide commencement
ceremony on Saturday, May 14, at the university’s campus in ChampaignUrbana, Illinois. About Syngenta Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world-class science and innovative crop solutions, 28,000 people in over 90 countries work to transform how crops are grown. Syngenta is committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www. syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow the company on Twitter® at www.twitter. com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.
Wada Retires from WPC Board David Thompson, president and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC), announces the retirement of Albert Wada after an eight-year term as an active member on the board of directors. “Mr. Wada has contributed significantly to World Potato Congress,” says Thompson, “and we fully appreciate his commitment while a director and wish Albert well in the future.” The vacancy created by Wada’s retirement gave the organization an opportunity to bring a new international perspective to the table with the appointment Douglas Harley of Scotland, a well-recognized potato industry player from the United Kingdom. The board also approved the appointment of two international
advisors, Frank Mulcahy of Australia and Kaiyun Xie of China. All three appointments come at an ideal time for the organization, which is in the process of implementing a new strategic plan designed to encourage a more proactive role for the WPC in the global potato industry. In particular, the board wishes to facilitate growth and development in regions where opportunities emerge from challenges. The U.S. will continue to be represented on the WPC board of directors by Dr. Nora Olsen of Idaho. Dr. Olsen joined the board in 2014 and has recently been reappointed to a third term.
Above: World Potato Congress Board of Directors member Albert Wada recently retired after an eight-year term as an active member.
According to Thompson, “The three new appointees will strengthen the board and the International Advisory Committee while WPC strives to achieve objectives set out in the new strategic plan.” continued on pg. 44
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People. . . continued from pg. 43
CERTIFIED CEREAL SEED GROWER Harley is managing director of Alexander Harley Seeds Ltd., a privately owned business founded by his grandfather in 1947. It started and continues to produce certified cereal seed, but now deals in a range of crops, including soft fruit, oil seeds, oats and potatoes. It funds the largest oat breeding programs in the U.K. and is involved in the introduction, processing and marketing of new varieties. Its potato activities are coordinated by Cygnet Potato Breeders, the largest potato breeders in the U.K., with popular varieties such as Saxon and Cabaret. The vertically integrated potato company produces its own mini-tubers and is made up of highgrade seed growers and exporters
in Scotland. Additional production is carried out by other licensed contract growers in Scotland. These protected varieties are then marketed and licensed to over 35 countries worldwide. Harley gained a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and crop science from Aberdeen University. He is a past member of the British Potato Council and past chairman of the Seed Sectoral Group of the British Potato Council. Harley is also a past president of the Scottish Potato Trade Association and currently represents the British Society of Plant Breeders at the European Seed Association (seed potato section) meetings in Brussels.
Above: Douglas Harley, a well-recognized potato industry player from the United Kingdom, takes Albert Wada’s place on the Board Of Directors of the World Potato Congress.
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POTATOES USA NEWS Research Committee Observes National Chip Processor Trials On June 9, Potatoes USA Research Committee members traveled to Bakersfield, California. The meeting was the first for the committee outside of the Potatoes USA summer, winter and annual meetings. It was held with the dual purpose of allowing members to observe the National Chip Processor Trials (NCPT) and the Snack Food Association (SFA, now SNAC International) variety trials conducted as part of Potatoes USA’s National Chip Program. The Bakersfield trials conducted annually on Kirschenmann Farms are unique because they provide breeders, growers and processors the season’s first glimpse of how the new varieties will do under somewhat commercial growing conditions. Observers saw about 150 varieties in the NCPT and an additional 15 in the SFA trials. Following the variety trial
observations, the committee conducted its first meeting since its members were named to the panel in March. In addition to learning about the National Chip Program, the committee also reviewed other research programs, including the National Fry Processor Trials and the Alliance for Potato Research and Education. They also got a sneak peek at the soon-to-be-live Variety Data Management System, which will put variety trial data and photos at the fingertips of supporting growers, processors and breeders. Although the trip was mostly business, committee members were able to take time away from the field and conference table to experience some of the region’s Basque influence and culinary tastes, including pickled cow’s tongue. continued on pg. 46
Above: As part of Potatoes USA’s National Chip Program, Research Committee members gathered in Bakersfield, California, on June 9, to observe the National Chip Processor Trials and the Snack Food Association variety trials. BC�T August 45
Potatoes USA News. . . continued from pg. 45
U.S. Potatoes Take Korea by Storm Samlip is the biggest packaged wholesale bread manufacturer in Korea, under SPC Group, and it launched Golden Potato Pizza Bread using U.S. frozen and seasoned wedge potatoes. This new product is available in most online and offline retail stores nationwide.
fries, to its menu: Honey Butter Fries, Dirty Fries, Pulled Pork Fries and Pizza Fries.
E Mart Pizza launched a big-sized burger that incorporates U.S. frozen hash brown potatoes as a patty, offering the burger in 146 E Mart stores across the country.
A vacuum-fried potato snack product, Jagabee is made from U.S. frozen julienne cuts and has been on the market for several years. The manufacturer, Haitai Confectionery, added two new flavors—Savory Jagabee and Baked Corn-flavored Jagabee—in most online and brickand-mortar retail stores nationwide.
Double Trouble is a newly opened American-style dining restaurant chain located in the super trendy Gangnam area, which just added four French fry entrees, all using U.S.
A popular taco place, Sentimental Taco & Grill, located on a restaurant street named Garosugil, launched Gorgeous Buffalo Fries as the kick-off of a new loaded French fry menu.
Potato Chip Retail Store Opens in Hong Kong The Japanese potato chip company, Calbee, opened its first overseas retail store in Hong Kong. There are 10 Calbee Outlets in Japan, with the first one opening in December 2011 in Harajuku, Tokyo. The United States is the main supplier of chipping potatoes to Hong Kong. At the store, freshly fried chips served in different flavors are available for HK$29 to HK$45 a package ($3.75$5.80 U.S.). McDonalds’s restaurants in China and Hong Kong have added potato chips to their menus. The new potato chips sell for $1.75 per order (U.S.) and can be ordered as a single item, but they are also included in three of the meal deals. McDonald’s restaurants primarily use U.S. frozen potato products in Hong Kong and China. About Potatoes USA Potatoes USA is the marketing organization for the 46 BC�T August
2,500 commercial potato growers operating in the United States. The organization promotes five main potato products: fresh table-stock potatoes, fresh chipping potatoes, seed potatoes, frozen potato products and dehydrated potato products. The National Potato Promotion Board, dba Potatoes USA, was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. Today, as the largest vegetable commodity board, Potatoes USA is proud to be recognized as an innovator in the produce industry. For more information on Potatoes USA’s mission to “Strengthen Demand for U.S. Potatoes” by creating positive change in the industry through innovative and inspiring approaches, please visit www. PotatoesUSA.com.
New Products Standen Engineering Launches Uni-PLUS Destoner
for reaching high levels of output, precision and efficiency in stone and clod separation. Standen Engineering debuts its very latest destoner at Cereals 2016. The new Standen Uni-PLUS has been developed to offer higher levels of output, precision and efficiency of stone and clod separation with an updated chassis design, improved drive systems and upgraded component set based on proven design elements. Uni-PLUS will be available in different versions to suit all growing conditions and bed specifications, with a choice of the company’s unique doubleaction Stars over UnderWeb system and the option of a Front Web or as an All Web machine including four separating webs. All Uni-PLUS models are available in 1,700mm or 1,500mm working widths. Star-UnderWeb models have heavyduty shares, a powered intake roller followed by 10 rows of the company’s large diameter (320mm) aggressively angled stars, manufactured for the Uni-PLUS from an upgraded and highly durable polymer compound (PolyDure 856).
The UnderWeb sieving web has been extended for additional separating capacity and is offered with the option of an adjustable scrubbing web. Uni-PLUS All Web models are fitted with four large area sieving webs, with webs 1, 2 and 3 at equal lengths and interchangeable to help keep running costs low. ALL-NEW STEEL CHASSIS The Standen Uni-PLUS is based on an all-new steel chassis to allow increased efficiencies and improved serviceability with lower operating costs. The machine is set at an optimum, slightly steeper operational angle that has been shown to enhance performance. Uni-PLUS’s axle steering angle has been increased from 24 degrees to 30 degrees to enhance maneuverability. Standen engineers have also focused on driveline efficiency and ease of servicing, resulting in the new UniPLUS being equipped with heavyduty, long life “V”-belt drives capable of transmitting high power loadings,
improved efficiency and a significant built-in safety margin. Easy access to areas requiring servicing is provided through large gas strut supported doors. Uni-PLUS destoners create high precision seed beds for potato and root vegetable growers to plant into, using accurate depth control and soil conditioning techniques to maximize the amount of fine tilth soil available. Standen Uni-PLUS destoners promote higher quality, more uniform crops, with improved skin finish and shape. Uni-PLUS options include a revised design VariFlow web for enhanced clod breakdown and downhill operation. A hydraulically activated boulder box is also offered. For further information, please contact: David Wilson, sales director, Standen Engineering Limited, Hereward Works, Station Road Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4BP England, telephone: +44 (0) 1353 661111, www.standen.co.uk. BC�T August 47
Badger Beat
Can Innate Potatoes Impact Market Prices and Farmer Income? By Paul D. Mitchell, Fengxia Dong and Paul Bethke
The commercialization of Roundup Ready® and Bt crops beginning in the mid-1990s transformed production of corn, soybean and cotton in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that 92-94 percent of corn, soybean and cotton planted acres in 2016 were genetically engineered. However, with the market failure of the NewLeaf™ (Bt) potato, it seemed that the biotech revolution was leaving potatoes behind. Nevertheless, Simplot Plant Sciences continued to work on genetically engineered potatoes and recently released Innate™ potato, with the first commercial plantings beginning with 400 acres in 2014. Innate Generation 1 silenced polyphenol oxidase to the point of tubers being bruise resistant and anti-browning, and it reduced tuber asparagine content, which leads to less acrylamide when the potatoes are cooked at high temperatures. Unlike the NewLeafTM potato with traits that directly benefited farmers, these traits are intended primarily to benefit consumers. Innate potatoes have been marketed in the U.S. as the White Russet™. Beginning with 400 acres in 2014, 2,000 acres of Generation 1 were planted in 2015, and anticipated plantings in 2016 were for 5,000 acres. Simplot has also developed Innate Generation 2, which has the Generation 1 traits plus late blight resistance and silenced vacuolar invertase, which reduces sugarend defects. The USDA-APHIS approved Generation 2 in August of 2015, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed suit in January of 2016, but regulatory approval is still pending at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TECHNOLOGY TREADMILL The revival of biotechnology applications for potato raises interesting economic questions. Technologies of this sort increase supply by decreasing waste and reducing percentage of off-grade product. Increased supply leads, eventually, to reductions in the market price, so that farmers must rush to adopt the newest yieldenhancing technologies to maintain profits and stay ahead of falling prices. The first to popularize this phenomenon was Willard Cochrane, agricultural economist at the 48 BC�T August
University of Minnesota, and so it is often called “Cochrane’s Treadmill,” though he used the term “Technology Treadmill.” Here we use Simplot press releases on the supply impacts of Innate Generations 1 and 2 to estimate impacts on aggregate potato prices and farmer income. First we summarize the conceptual model of the U.S. potato market and how new technologies such as Innate affect supply and possibly demand. Next, we summarize the supply impacts of Innate Generations 1 and 2 based on Simplot press releases and derive the market-level impacts on supply. Finally, we combine the model and these impacts to estimate
Figure 1: This is a standard model of supply and demand determining the market price.
the effect on grower prices and income over a range of reasonable assumptions. In brief, we find that Generations 1 and 2 of Innate potato are unlikely to have a large price effect, at most a 30 to 40 cents per hundredweight decrease in the long-term potato price. The big uncertainty is the consumer response. These estimates assume no change in consumer demand, but less than a 1 percent increase in consumer demand due to Innate would be more than enough to offset this price decrease. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The economic model is a simplified description of a market using supply and demand curves. Making a standard plot with price on the vertical axis and quantity on the horizontal axis means demand is downward sloping and supply is upward sloping. This market is plotted in Figure 1, with the initial demand labeled D0 and the initial supply labelled S0. Where the supply and demand curves cross is the equilibrium price labelled P0, which is the price that clears the market. Econometric methods are used to estimate potato supply and demand elasticities based on historical USDA data for potato production and the price. All potato types are aggregated
into a single “potato” commodity without differentiating by end use (fresh, frozen, chip, dehydrated, etc.) or type (russet, white, red, organic, fingerling, etc.), and a single national price is developed that averages All these types over the whole marketing year. These models estimate supply and demand relationships that are nonlinear curves as illustrated in Figure 1, since such curves fit the actual data better and are parametrized to estimate the elasticity directly. Estimation results using 38 years of data from 1977 to 2014 give a supply elasticity of 0.19 and a demand elasticity of -0.25. These elasticities are measures of the responsiveness of quantity to changes in price. A potato supply elasticity of 0.19 means that a 10 percent increase in price leads to a 10 percent x 0.19 = 1.9 percent increase in the quantity supplied by farmers. Similarly, a –0.25 potato demand elasticity implies that a 10 percent increase in price leads to a 2.5 percent decrease in the quantity demanded by consumers. ELASTICITY ESTIMATES Next, the economic model combines these elasticity estimates with shifts in the supply and/or demand curves as a result of the commercialization of Innate potato. First, the bruise resistant and anti-browning traits for Generation 1 Innate potatoes imply less waste along the supply chain, which implies an increase in the potato supply since there are more sellable tubers per acre of potato planted. Late blight resistance and reduced sugar-end defect provided by Generation 2 will also have a supply increasing effect. In terms of the conceptual framework, these supply enhancing effects are modeled as an outward shift in the supply curve, from S0 initially to the new supply curve S1 as illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Illustrated is the price decreasing effect of supply increasing technology change.
Figure 3: Shown here is the price increasing effect of a demand enhancing technology change.
shift from S0 to S1 depends on the technology change. Figure 2 illustrates a parallel shift, but other changes are possible, such as a rotation around a point or a shift and a rotation.
potatoes by developing new products. The anti-browning trait might increase sales of fresh, precut and peeled potatoes that can be cooked right out of the bag, but not have to be frozen. Also, the reduction in acrylamide may have the same effect—increasing consumer demand for potatoes.
Also, the demand curve does not change, and so the market-clearing equilibrium price decreases from P0 to P1 as a result of the technology change, and the overall size of the market in terms of the quantity sold increases. The White Russet may increase overall consumer demand for
As a result, Generation 1 Innate potatoes could also shift the demand curve. Figure 3 illustrates this effect as a shift from the original demand curve D0 to the new curve D1. The supply curve does not change, and so continued on pg. 50
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The magnitude and nature of the BC�T August 49
Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 49
the market-clearing equilibrium price increases from P0 to P1 as a result of the technology change, and the overall size of the market in terms of the quantity sold increases. NET EFFECT ON PRICE Though not illustrated, potentially Innate potatoes may cause a shift in both the supply and the demand curves, so that the net effect on price is unclear. The final effect on price and quality sold depends on the size and nature of the shifts (which depends on the technologies) and the slope of the two curves (which depends on the elasticities). As a result, empirical analysis is needed to estimate the effect of the commercialization of Innate potatoes on grower prices. Two additional economic measures are derived from the supply and demand curves—farmer profit and consumer surplus. Based on economic theory, in Figure 1 the area Assumed Supply Change (%)
Assumed Farmer Cost Change ($/A)
Estimated Price Change ($/cwt)
0.9
0
6.8
below the price line P0 and above the supply curve equals farmer income (ignoring fixed costs). Similarly, the gain consumers derive from buying potatoes or other goods is called consumer surplus—the differences between the amounts they actually pay and they would be willing to pay. In terms of Figure 1, consumer surplus is the area above the price line P0 and below the demand curve. The economic impacts of a new technology such as Innate potatoes can then be measured by the change in price, as well as the changes in farmer income and consumer surplus once the supply and/or demand curves shift and the price moves to the new equilibrium. This type of model is fairly standard in economics. Given the supply and demand elasticities and the current price and quantity, equations exist that give the price change and the changes in producer income and consumer surplus based on the ---- Estimated Aggregate Changes ---Farmer Income ($M)
Consumer Surplus ($M)
Net Social Benefit ($M)
-0.03
2.1
14.2
16.3
0
-0.25
12.1
104.9
117.1
7.7
0
-0.29
13.1
118.4
131.6
0.0
15
0.02
-8.4
-6.4
-14.8
0.9
15
-0.02
-6.3
7.8
1.5
6.8
15
-0.24
4.0
98.7
102.6
7.7
15
-0.27
5.0
112.2
117.2
0.0
30
0.03
-16.9
-12.7
-29.6
0.9
30
0.00
-14.6
1.4
-13.2
6.8
30
-0.22
-2.9
91.5
88.6
7.7
30
-0.25
-1.7
104.9
103.3
0.0
45
0.05
-25.4
-19.0
-44.4
0.9
45
0.01
-23.0
-5.0
-28.0
6.8
45
-0.21
-11.2
85.3
74.1
7.7
45
-0.24
-9.9
98.7
88.8
Table 1: Results for impact of Innate™ Generation 1 – assumed supply and cost changes and estimated impacts on price, farmer income and consumers. 50 BC�T August
percentage increase in supply and/ or demand and the change in the average cost of production as a result of the new technology. Hence for the empirical analysis, all we need are reasonable assumptions for the impact of Innate potatoes on the potato supply and/or demand in terms of percentage changes and the farmer cost of production in dollars per acre. IMPACTS OF INNATE GENERATION 1 POTATO For Generation 1, Simplot provides an online product overview page: http:// www.simplotplantsciences.com/ index.php/generationone/overview. From this page, we have pulled the following statements: 1. Innate potatoes in the retail market channel (growers, packers, retailers) could reduce potato waste by 240 million pounds. 2. The marketing chain for food service and restaurants could realize savings from 160 million pounds annually of peel, trim, shrink and waste disposal. 3. Consumers will throw away fewer fresh potatoes—up to 28 percent by some estimates in the U.S. alone, representing 3 billion pounds per year. 4. Innate will reduce acrylamide by up to 70 percent, addressing Prop 65 requirements in California. With 100 percent adoption, statements 1 and 2 imply a supply increase of 4 million cwt (hundredweight), while statement 3 implies a supply increase of 30 million cwt. Each September, the USDA publishes the annual summary of the potato market for the following year, and so the most recent data available is for the 2014 production season, for which total U.S. potato production was 442 million cwt.
Thus a 4 million cwt increase from less bruise loss along the supply chain implies a 4/442 = 0.9 percent supply increase, while a 30 million cwt reduction in loss due to less consumer waste implies a 30/442 = 6.8 percent supply increase. The final parameter needed is how Innate affects the farmer cost of production. Since these traits provide post-harvest benefits, the only cost impact we consider is the “technology fee” for the higher seed potato cost. We found no information on this technology fee and so we derived a simple estimate of $15/A as follows. INCREASE DUE TO LESS BRUISE We assume farmers and Simplot split the benefit generated by Generation 1, specifically the 0.9 percent supply increase due to less bruise. Based on the 2014 USDA data, the U.S. average farmer price was $8.88/cwt and the
U.S. average yield was 421 cwt/A, thus the surplus value generated due to less bruise was 0.9 perecent x 421 cwt/A x $8.88/cwt = $33.65/A. Assuming farmers and Simplot share this benefit roughly equally, the technology fee would be about $15/A. This calculation does not consider the benefit generated by the 6.8 percent supply increase due to less waste, but only focuses on the production side. It also ignores any segregation costs and other additional management costs. Finally, we emphasize that this technology fee assumption is quite uncertain, as we found no information. Therefore, we also use technology fees of $30/A and $45/A to determine the robustness of results to this assumption. Table 1 summarizes the economic results. Four levels of supply increases are assumed: first no supply
change (i.e., only a cost change), then a 0.9 percent increase for the impact of reduced bruise, then 6.8 percent for the impact of less consumer waste, and then 7.7 percent for assuming that both effects occur. Cost assumptions also use four levels: no cost change, a $15/A technology fee, then $30/A and $45/A. Price changes are all less than $0.30/cwt, with the largest changes occurring when no cost changes are assumed. With no fee for access to technology, aggregate farm income increases as much as $13 million, or about $13/A on average, since about 1 million potato acres are planted annually. However, once farmers have to pay a fee for access to the technology, the farm income benefits decline and in some cases aggregate farm income may decrease, as much as $23 million continued on pg. 52
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Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 51
with a small supply benefit of 0.9 percent and a technology fee of $45/A. Farmers can gain from this technology if supply impacts are larger (6.8 or 7.7 percent) and the technology fee is in the range of $15/A. Note that these farm income effects are estimates of the industry average—there will still be a distribution around such outcomes, with some farmers doing better and some doing worse.
7-8 percent, consumers still gain $85 to almost $100 million. Interestingly, if the supply increases are small, both farmers and consumers lose, with the overall social benefit still negative. The consumer response to Generation 1 is the big uncertainty. All the price effects in Table 1 can be offset by a 1 percent or smaller increase in consumer demand. Statement 4 from the Simplot overview page indicates that there are consumer benefits.
Thus the negative averages in Table 1 imply increased competitive pressure among farmers to maintain profitability. Finally, as is often the case with supply enhancing technologies, consumers are the big beneficiaries.
A recent paper by Katie Lacy and Wally Huffman (http://ageconsearch. umn.edu//handle/230777) used consumer auction experiments to see if people would be willing to pay more for Generation 1 potatoes that had lower acrylamide once cooked.
CONSUMER GAINS With larger supply increases, consumer gains are in the range of $100 to $120 million, but as the technology fee increases to cover the cost of developing and distributing the technology, consumer benefits decline modestly.
They found a small increase in willingness to pay once consumers were informed of the benefits. Given the current general lack of consumer concern about acrylamide, it seems unlikely that significant shifts in demand are likely due to acrylamide reductions.
Even with a large technology fee of $45/A, with larger supply increases of
Hence, it seems that the way Generation 1 could increase demand
Assumed Supply Change (%)
Assumed Farmer Cost Change ($/A)
Estimated Price Change ($/cwt)
2.2
0
9.0
0
0.0 2.2
---- Estimated Aggregate Changes ---Farmer Income ($M)
Consumer Surplus ($M)
Net Social Benefit ($M)
-0.08
5.3
34.2
39.4
-0.33
16.4
136.6
153.0
10
0.01
-5.6
-4.2
-9.9
10
-0.07
-0.3
30.0
29.6
9.0
10
-0.32
10.9
132.5
143.4
0.0
20
0.02
-11.3
-8.5
-19.8
2.2
20
-0.06
-5.9
25.8
19.8
9.0
20
-0.31
5.4
128.4
133.8
0.0
30
0.03
-16.9
-12.7
-29.6
2.2
30
-0.05
-11.5
21.5
10.0
9.0
30
-0.30
0.0
124.2
124.2
Table 2: Results for impact of Innate™ Generation 2 – assumed supply and cost changes and estimated impacts on price, farmer income and consumers. 52 BC�T August
is by the development of new potato products based on the anti-browning trait, such as pre-peeled and cut fresh potatoes. However, we have seen no data on the marketing performance of the White Russet upon which to base any statements about the likelihood of a consumer demand shift that would offset the price effects reported in Table 1. IMPACTS OF INNATE GENERATION 2 POTATO For Generation 2, Simplot posted a press release online: http://www. simplot.com/news/innate_second_ generation_potato_receives_fda_ safety_clearance. From this page, we have pulled the following statements: Innate late blight resistance trait can result in a 25-45 percent reduction in fungicide applications annually to control late blight. [I]f 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. Based on statement 5, we assume a 35 percent reduction in fungicide costs. Using potato budgets for Colorado, Idaho, Washington and Wisconsin, we estimate fungicide costs that range from about $80 to $220/A. Thus a 35 percent reduction implies savings of $29 to $78/A. These cost reduction estimates are aggregated to a national average, but weighted by the potato planted acres in each region. This process gives an average cost savings of $56/A, but these range from a low of $29/A in some regions to as much as $78/A in other regions. Note that we assume no yield change as a result of the late blight resistance from Generation 2, only a cost reduction benefit.
Statement 6 implies a supply increase of 9.86 million cwt with 100 percent adoption. However, this 9.86 million cwt already includes the 4 million cwt (0.9 percent) from the Generation 1 reduced bruise supply chain impact, but does not include the 30 million cwt (6.8 percent) from postretail consumer savings from antibrowning. Thus, based on production of 442 million cwt in 2014, we assume a supply increase of 9.86/442 = 2.2 percent due to reduced bruise and sugar-end defect and an additional 6.8 percent due to anti-browning for a total supply increase of 2.2 percent + 6.8 percent = 9 percent. ESTIMATED TECH FEE Developing an estimate for the technology fee is more complicated since Generation 2 contains Generation 1 traits as well. First we assume the $15/A technology fee for Generation 1 is used. Next, assuming Simplot and farmers again share any surplus generated by the technology evenly, half of the $56/A fungicide savings implies an additional technology fee of $28/A for late blight resistance. Finally, the net yield increase for Generation 2 over Generation 1 is 2.2 percent – 0.9 percent = 1.3 percent. Using the national average yield and price in 2014, 1.3 percent x 421 cwt/A x $8.88/cwt = $48.60/A, and then assuming Simplot and farmers divide this surplus evenly gives $24.30/A, which we round downward to $23/A. Thus the total technology fee is $15 for Generation 1, plus $28 for late blight resistance, and $23 for reduced sugar-end defects, or $15 + $28 + $23 = $66. Based on this technology fee, the net increase in average cost for farmers is $66/A for the technology fee, minus the $56/A average cost savings from reduced fungicide use, or $66 – $56 = $10/A. Again, no information was available
regarding the technology fee, and so we also use $76/A and $86/A, implying average cost increases of $20/A and $30/A once fungicide cost savings are taken into account. Table 2 summarizes the economic results. Three levels of supply increases are assumed: first no supply change, then a 2.2 percent increase for the impact of reduced bruise and sugar-end defect, then 2.2 percent + 6.8 percent for the combined effect of Generation 1 and 2 traits. Cost assumptions use four levels: no cost change, then $10A, $20/A and $30/A. Price decreases are again modest, at most $0.33/cwt for the 9.0 percent supply increase case with no net cost effect on farmers. Farmer gains are in the range of $5 to $15 million (or roughly $5/A to $15/A) when there is no cost impact for the technology, but once net costs increase, these gains decline to become negative except in the case of a 9 percent supply increase. Thus not surprisingly, farmers gain from this technology if the supply impacts are large and the net cost impact is small. Again, consumers are the big beneficiaries. With larger supply increases, consumer gains are in the range of $125 to $135 million, with consumer benefits declining modestly as technology costs increase. The only case in which consumers lose is if there is no supply increase, just a cost increase. In this case, farmers are able to pass about half of the cost increase to consumers as higher prices, and so they roughly share the cost increase evenly. Just as with Generation 1, the greatest uncertainty is the shift in demand. Again, a demand shift of around 1 percent is enough to offset these price declines and increase farmer income. CONCLUSION We built a standard economic model
to assess the impacts of Innate potatoes on market prices and farmer income. In general, we find modest price decreases in the range of $0.35/ cwt are possible if the technology is adopted on 100 percent of potato acres and it provides large supply increases. As a result, net impacts on farm income are also likely to be modest, either small increases or decreases depending on the specifics of the technology fee, supply enhancement and farmer adoption rate. Though not reported, we also looked at scenarios with different but potentially realistic supply and demand elasticities and the results remain largely unchanged. Only with large technology fees, small supply enhancements and 100 percent farmer adoption will Innate generate estimated price effects and farmer income impacts outside the range in Tables 1 and 2. The main issue from a farm management perspective then is for farmers to look carefully at the technology, estimate the benefits it can have for their operation and then weigh these benefits relative to the cost. Larger, industrywide impacts on the supply side seem unlikely. The key to the market and farm income impacts of Innate™ is the consumer response. Small positive shifts in consumer demand, usually less than 1 percent, are more than enough to offset the price declines due to supply increases. If Innate allows the development of a pre-peeled and cut fresh potato market or similar new uses, the benefits could potentially be large for farmers and the industry. However, if Innate generates consumer backlash that affects overall potato demand, the opposite could occur. BC�T August 53
NPC News GMO Labeling Bill Approved by Congress The Bill Topples Vermont’s and any State-Level Labeling Laws On July 7, the U.S. Senate voted 6330 to approve the Roberts-Stabenow GMO Labeling bill (S. 764), drafted by Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and the House followed suit in a 306-117 vote on July 14, passing the compromise federal bill that will override statelevel labeling policies. The bill establishes federal preemption for labeling foods that contain GMO ingredients and provides the option of labeling those foods with either an on-package disclosure, a symbol to be developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or an electronic label. On July 23, 2015, the House of Representatives, on a vote of 275 to 150, approved the "Safe and Accurate
Food Labeling Act 2015," introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.). The Pompeo bill included federal preemption but made product labeling a voluntary decision. Most ag supporters approve of
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the new labeling compromise that establishes federal preemption as the best legislative solution. The National Potato Council (NPC) encouraged letters and calls from state potato groups to respective House delegations in support of the bill and asked for a vote. The bipartisan agreement not only preempts all state labeling laws related to genetically modified food, but also uses a definition of genetic engineering that potato growers support. “This bipartisan bill is a win for consumers and families,” Sen. Stabenow said. “For the first time ever, consumers will have a national, mandatory label for food products that contain genetically modified ingredients. Above: U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS, shown at left), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, reached a bipartisan agreement with Debbie Stabenow (DMI, shown at right), ranking member of the Senate Committee, on legislation that will require the first mandatory, nationwide label for food products containing genetically modified organisms, more commonly known as GMOs. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee
WIN FOR NATION’S FARMERS “This proposal is also a win for our nation’s farmers and food producers,” Stabenow continued. “Throughout this process I worked to ensure that any agreement would recognize the scientific consensus that biotechnology is safe, while also making sure consumers have the right to know what is in their food.” “I also wanted a bill that prevents a
confusing patchwork of 50 different rules in each state,” she noted. “This bill achieved all of those goals, and most importantly recognizes that consumers want more information about the foods they buy.” Meanwhile, Vermont's labeling law went into effect July 1, as no timely legislation was approved by the House and Senate to preempt it. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of Vermont was outspoken in his
opposition to the Roberts-Stabenow legislation. In other GMO news, more than 100 Nobel Laureates asked Greenpeace to end its opposition to genetically modified foods. The letter called on the United Nations and governments around the world to reject Greenpeace's campaign against Golden Rice, a crop genetically engineered to fight Vitamin A deficiency.
NPC Comments On Aldicarb The NPC submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Pesticide Programs pertaining to its consideration of reregistration of Aldicarb.
expressed its desire that the reregistration process for currently registered uses should lead to consideration of registration for use on potatoes.
The NPC reiterated its strong belief that Aldicarb can be used safely and effectively on potatoes, and
Since 2011 growers have been forced to adapt to the loss of access to this product. Over that time period
the loss of Aldicarb has forced growers to rely more heavily on other chemistries than is desirable. This has disrupted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and increased the application of foliar products.
Zika Funding Delayed by Pesticide Rules The delay on an agreement to provide funding to fight the Zika virus is reportedly due in part to a longrunning fight over how the use of pesticides is regulated and who can be sued if pesticides pollute streams or wetlands. The fight picked up momentum after a court ruled in 2009 that the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) covered pesticide applications in or near waterways. NPC has been working toward a comprehensive fix of the Clean Water Act and permanent removal of the CWA permitting requirements as pesticides are already regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Agriculture groups had hoped to use the Zika-related provision in the bill to eliminate the permitting requirement entirely. Senate
Senate Democrats filibustered a bill to provide funding to fight the Zika virus because they say Republicans are using the bill to gut the Clean Water Act. Photo courtesy of Heart to Heart International
Democrats filibustered the Zika bill because they say Republicans are using the bill to gut the Clean Water Act. As currently drafted, the bill would only temporarily block EPA from requiring a permit to spray
over streams and wetlands for mosquitoes, which carry the birth defect-causing virus and would not eliminate any permit requirements for agriculture applications. A new vote on this spending bill is likely after the holiday break. BC�T August 55
Marketplace
By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education
WPVGA Features its Harley at United Fresh Show Once again, Chicago welcomed United Fresh exhibitors and attendees for the 2016 United Fresh
Show at McCormick Place in June. And this year, there’s no doubt that WPVGA’s booth was Powered by
Wisconsin Potatoes. The 2015 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob decked out with the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo was a main feature and conversation piece in the WPVGA booth during the show. The motorcycle will be given to the retail store with the best and most creative Wisconsin potatoes display during the state’s Potatopalooza month in October 2016. Contest criteria can be found here: http:// wisconsinpotatoes.com/retail/. The United Fresh show continues to be a valuable outlet for Wisconsin shippers and marketers with its Midwest location. WPVGA looks forward to returning in 2017. Above: The WPVGA featured the 2015 Fat Bob Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the 2016 United Fresh show in Chicago June 21-22. Left: A main conversation piece at the June United Fresh show in Chicago, the Fat Bob is decked out with the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo and will be given away to a retail store come fall.
56 BC�T August
Kantner & Bula Outgoing Potatoes USA Board Members Wisconsin is once again conducting elections to fill four of its five seats representing the state on the Potatoes USA Board. Two of the current candidates have completed their first 3-year terms and are running for a second. The incumbents in this election are Mark Finnessy of Okray Family Farms in Plover and Eric Schroeder of Schroeder Brothers Farms in Antigo. There are also two outgoing board members, namely Rick Kantner of Katz Produce in Rosholt and Adam Bula of Bula Potato Farms in Antigo. Kantner says it seems like yesterday that he was elected to the board and had the opportunity to learn about the industry from “Field to Fork.”
He reminisces, “It’s been a great six years with numerous opportunities to meet our industry leaders and learn the importance of potatoes to our continued on pg. 58
Left: Rick Kantner, of Katz Produce in Rosholt, Wisconsin, is finishing his second 3-year term on Potatoes USA, formerly known as the United States Potato Board. Right: Adam Bula of Bula Potato Farms in Antigo has completed his first 3-year term as Wisconsin’s representative on Potatoes USA.
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Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 57
food supply and nutrition on both a national and global basis. The supply chain is truly a complex science that impacts our environmental resources while appealing to desires for good tasting recipes that are healthy and nutritious at a good value.” “Potatoes are among the very best at accomplishing these goals,” Kantner says. “The science of farming is essential to our global food supply by using technology to increase supply and efficiency for today and future generations.” “It has been great meeting and working with all the talented and
dedicated potato farmers in Potatoes USA and especially in Wisconsin,” he adds. Kantner is finishing his second 3-year term and says he looks forward to continuing to work with all farmers and educational members of Wisconsin’s industry. Adam Bula is finishing his first 3-year term, and although he is not running for a second, Bula says his experience on Potatoes USA has been valuable. “I learned a lot about what Potatoes USA does not just in the states, but globally,” Bula explains. “I met a lot of new people and learned about other
growing areas.” “Over the past three years the board has undergone quite a few changes, from the name change to the restructuring of the committees, to the salad bars and food trucks. So all in all I would recommend any young farmer to give it a try. You’ll learn a lot about the industry,” he proposes. The WPVGA thanks Kantner and Bula for their service and dedication to the Wisconsin potato industry within the state as well as on a national level. It’s been a pleasure to have you serve as Wisconsin’s representatives.
Volm Companies a Finalist for 2016 Produce Innovation Award Also at the 2016 United Fresh show was Volm Companies of Antigo. This year, the company received the honor of being a finalist in the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2016 Produce Innovation Awards after entering its Volmpack AutoPack machine. One of 49 new products, the Volmpack AutoPack is a fullyautomated machine that places bags and fills them with up to 100 pounds of produce, therefore reducing the need for manual labor. Volm Companies Communications Manager Marsha Zerwiebe says it’s hard enough to lift 50- and 100-pound bags of potatoes on a regular basis, much less to find someone willing to do it. “It’s so understated—the need for automation,” Zerwiebe says, “due to labor costs, shortages, and safety. Right: The Volmpack AutoPack is featured on a TV screen at the Volm Companies United Fresh booth during the 2016 show in Chicago in June. 58 BC�T August
�The AutoPack sits 18 feet long by 7 feet high and can run up to 19 bags per minute.�
That’s really what drove this.” The AutoPack sits 18 feet long by 7 feet high and can run up to 19 bags per minute. Zerwiebe says Volm Companies is marketing AutoPack heavily as a bulk-bagging solution given its ability to run mesh or paper bags, a convenience that offers large cost and time savings for the organizations that use both.
According to Zerwiebe, there are two Volmpack AutoPack machines on the market currently, one in the south and one out west, with plenty more candidates in between. For now, she says Volm Companies appreciates the exposure and recognition by United Fresh in making it to their final list, and looks forward to the innovations that lie ahead.
Left: The Volmpack AutoPack was created in the Fall of 2015 and serves as a fully automated bag placer and filler for packing organizations. The product is one of 49 that were part of the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2016 Produce Innovation Awards at the June show in Chicago. Right: The Volmpack AutoPack is capable of handling mesh or paper bags between 10 and 100 pounds, and has a speed of up to 19 bags per minute.
WPVGA Promotions Committee Hires Spudmobile Assistant Doug Foemmel joins WPVGA’s team part time as the Spudmobile assistant. He will work with Coordinator of Community Relations Jim Zdroik on Spudmobile-related activities and events. As the Spudmobile approaches its third year in operation, there are several words that come to mind to describe the experience of the first two. The ride has been exciting, fun, surprising, spontaneous and everything in between. The vehicle has also met the demands of a busy schedule that
continues to grow. Given that fact, the promotions committee decided to look for a part-time assistant to help Zdroik. On June 24, Foemmel received his initiation into the Spudmobile’s world. A Central Wisconsin native, Foemmel grew up in Neillsville and attended UW-La Crosse. There he studied psychology and photography before settling in Stevens Point. Foemmel founded Foemmel Photography Studio where he has specialized in classic portraiture, marketing and community relations.
He and his wife, Carol, enjoy boating, motorcycling and traveling in their free time. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Foemmel says he is excited to be part of WPVGA and looks forward to meeting everyone who is part of such a valuable industry. BC�T August 59
Eyes on Associates By WPVGA Associate Div. President, Wayne Solinsky, Jay-Mar, Inc.
Greetings Everyone, Everything is looking awesome out in the fields, and most of the plantings are complete with just the last rounds of snap beans and maybe a few more cucumbers left to go. The harvest is already underway as I write this column. Potatoes are sizing up great, and by the time the August issue hits your locations, there will be potatoes coming out of the ground. It truly is amazing how fast the season comes and goes, and before we know it a new season arrives. We recently held and enjoyed the PUTT-TATO Open golf outing, and I feel what others have said—it was a great success. The weather held off for us and a great time was had by all. I think the raffle generated a good amount of money for the organization but will know more later. I will expand more on the golf outing next month, as the August issue has coverage of the Spud Seed Classic golf tournament. We had the opportunity to showcase our new mascot, Spudly, at the golf outing. For any of you who have not 60 BC�T August
seen or met Spudly, he is lean, mean and ready to rumble. Spudly is a fit potato mascot, and ready to show everyone just how being Powered By Potatoes is a great part of your daily routine, and healthy and wholesome, too. By the time this August issue comes out, the Hancock Field Day &
Centennial Celebration will be behind us as well, so I will talk more on that in the September issue. ENTERTAINMENT ANYONE? We are currently looking at entertainment ideas for the February Education Conference banquet, and, yes, already! There is a lot of planning that goes into all of the events that we the WPVGA Associate Division put on. So if any of you have ideas that you want to be heard, talk to any of the Associate Board and let us know. After all, this is all for you, so voice your opinions and we will use these ideas to help make the best decisions we can to bring a great conference to you. I try to always put a positive twist on everything, and one thing that comes to mind is happiness. The secret to happiness is contentment, finding joy where you are. I think happiness starts with how you look at any and all situations. When you see the blessings that surround you each and every day, one can’t help but feel good and happy. When you display happiness, it is like a ripple effect; it extends continually well beyond what
you can see. So greet with a smile and show happiness to people you meet. Since I am the President of the Associate Division and I get to write this column, I can also share some of my views with you as well. I hope you enjoy what I have to say and thank you for reading the “Eyes On Associates” column. We the WPVGA Associate Division are here to help the Industry, so if you have any questions, comments, ideas or concerns, please contact me or any of our board members so we can better try to assist and best represent you our members. As always, thank you, and from me to all of you,
Wayne Solinsky
WPVGA Associate Division President
Above: The Putt-Tato Open proved the perfect venue for introducing the new WPVGA mascot, “Spudly,” a lean, mean, totally tuber machine, and a fine representative of Powered By Potatoes, and eating and being healthy and wholesome.
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BC�T August 61
Auxiliary News By Ali Carter, Vice President, WPGA
For six consecutive years,
you have all come together as an industry and as a community to fund and support the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event in Stevens Point. This year, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA) combined efforts June 18 at the Noel Hanger at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport to pack 100,000 servings of MannaPack™ Potato meals. In six years you have helped to create a total of 756,000 potato-based meals for hungry children and have donated and raised over $160,000!
62 BC�T August
The potato MannaPacks that are produced at the event were created through the assistance of Potatoes USA (formerly the U.S. Potato Board) to offer a food that very young children could tolerate since the ricebased meals often cannot be digested by babies needing nourishment. ONLY POTATO-BASED MEALS Our Wisconsin Potato MobilePack event here in Central Wisconsin is quite unique. Not only are we the only MobilePack event through Feed My Starving Children that packs potato-based meals, but we are also the only organization hosting a MobilePack event with a local and international focus tied together
by something as simple and as wonderful as a potato. Many of the meals packed over the years have made their way to orphanages and clinics in Nicaragua, Above: The Feed My Starving Children committee stands proud, including, from left to right, Mike and Ali Carter, Paula Houlihan, Jacquie Wille and Tamas Houlihan. Bottom Left: In attendance and hard at work packing meals were, from left to right, Nikki Larson, Tom Rine and Heather Dietz of Feed My Starving Children. Tom is based in the Minneapolis office, and the others are from Aurora, Illinois. Bottom Right: All part of the potato-based meal packing operation, facing the camera in back, from left to right, stand Bill Page, Dan Zalewski, Joel Zalewski and Jodi Zalewski, and Kris Page, blue shirt, foreground, making sure the meal meets the container.
the Philippines and Haiti. These are areas of the world often affected by natural disasters and all are enduring economic despair. Often the children receiving these meals are parentless and doing what they can to raise themselves. Through the MobilePack events, you as an industry are impacting others on a global scale as well as in our own community. Each year
volunteers walk away from the event knowing that they have been a part of something really special. Through your generosity, both financially and with your time, you have filled the tummies of the littlest ones in need and you are showing the world the full and giving hearts of our Central Wisconsin community. Wisconsin potato growers truly are feeding the world!.
Left: Displaying a MannaPack box and how-to information for packaging the meals are, from left to right, Kirk Wille, Patrick Testin, currently running for the Wisconsin State Senate, and Ashley Czaja, Testin’s campaign manager. Right: It’s not all work at the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event, with time to take a break and wander inside the SpudMobile where iPads and games, such as the Bug Game, are on permanent display for learning and fun. Below: The hairnet crew included, from left to right, Jim, Tammy and Samantha Beach; Lauren, Sheila and Rachel Rine; and Maverick and Mitch Bushman.
Left: Mike Carter, CEO of Bushmans’ Inc., addresses the volunteers of the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event. Right: Showing that volunteering is ultimately rewarding and gratifying are Stacy and Kevin Groshek. Stacy is the daughter of Bill Zelinski of Big Iron Equipment and the granddaughter of WPVGA Hall of Fame inductee Charles Cofer. BC�T August 63
WPIB Focus Zeloski Honored with Outstanding Service Award Andy Diercks takes place of, but can’t replace, Dennis Zeloski as grower at large on WPIB The focus of the June 16, 2016, WPIB meeting was the board voting to allocate $250,000 from the 20152016 budget and increase the current Wisconsin potato assessment by 1 cent/cwt. (hundredweight) to dedicate $500,000 annually for the next 10 years to a Wisconsin Potato Research Fund. Other talking points included the number of Healthy Grown growers increasing from six to nine (8,800 acres certified as Healthy Grown) for the 2015-2016 season, the Auxiliary celebrating its 40th anniversary and Andy Diercks replacing Dennis Zeloski as grower at large on the WPIB. Ali Carter will be taking on a larger role as not only vice president but also spokesperson for the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary, having
already been doing many radio and television interviews, guest spots and appearances, including Channel 7 news spots, cooking demonstrations, community outreach and events. Zeloski was presented an award for his many years of service on the board, with the plaque “Presented to Dennis Zeloski In Grateful Appreciation For Many Years Of Outstanding, Dedicated Service To The Wisconsin Potato Industry While
Serving On The Wisconsin Potato Industry Board.” Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions, Communication and Consumer Education, and Chris Brooks, Chairman of the Promotion and Consumer Education Committee, updated the board on promotional efforts, including hiring Doug Foemmel as an assistant Spudmobile driver to assist Jim Zdroik, and the Promotion Board’s partnering with Sara Agena, a registered dietician, to promote Wisconsin beef and potatoes. Above: At the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB) meeting on June 16, WPIB President Heidi Randall (right) presented Dennis Zeloski (left) with an award for his many years of dedicated service to the Wisconsin potato industry while serving on the board.
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
1,632,134.39
2,314,996.35
1,657,022.61
2,227,004.05
1,764,186.27
3,185,614.36 24,187,513.77
Assessment
$97,295.75
$35,049.99
$64,101.70
$188,748.83
$175,821.97
$123,346.96
$97,909.10
$138,906.57
$99,470.40
$133,643.78
$105,821.29
$191,136.75 $1,451,253.09
Jul-15
Aug-15
Sep-15
Oct-15
Nov-15
Dec-15
Jan-16
Feb-16
Mar-16
Apr-16
May-16
Jun-16
Month
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
2,598,955.03
2,196,655.93
2,195,537.41
2,518,493.48
2,731,815.46
3,271,497.38 27,096,066.30
Assessment
$100,717.55
$33,240.32
$48,851.85
$163,910.77
$214,454.02
$134,565.79
$155,926.56
$131,803.69
$130,977.86
$150,127.66
$163,866.90
$196,367.92 $1,624,810.89
64 BC�T August
Ali's Kitchen Column & Photos by Ali Carter, WPVGA Auxiliary Member
Roasted Rosemary Potato Salad with Berries INGREDIENTS: Ingredients for the salad: 2 cups of mixed salad greens of your choice (I used baby kale and spinach) 1 cup blueberries, washed and dried 1 pint strawberries, washed, dried and sliced ¼ cup honey roasted pecans, roughly chopped
My family and I were recently invited to the home of friends for a cookout. When we inquired about what we could contribute to the meal, they of course asked that we bring the potatoes. This is always exciting for me as I take it as an excuse to get extra creative and use my friends as taste-testers for new recipes. Sometimes this goes badly and my poor friends are left less than dazzled by the culinary experiments that I come traipsing into their homes with. And other times we come up with
something delicious! For this particular cookout I knew that I wanted to bring a salad, and I really wanted to use some pretty summer berries. While sitting in the living room with pen and paper in hand, thinking up just how I might pull these flavors together, I announced to my husband and daughter that I was going to create a rosemary roasted potato salad with strawberries continued on pg. 66
Ingredients for the roasted rosemary potatoes: 1½ lbs. small red potatoes, washed, dried and cut into small pieces 1½ tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Ingredients for the orange balsamic thyme reduction: 1 cup balsamic vinegar ¼ cup honey 3 large sprigs of fresh thyme Juice from ½ an orange Sa lsa and extra plain Greek yogurt for garnish before serving BC�T August 65
Ali's Kitchen. . .
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continued from pg. 65
and blueberries, and a balsamic reduction drizzled over it all. My daughter wrinkled up her nose, and my husband didn't hesitate even a moment before saying, “No. Uh uh.”
with my cart at the deli counter to purchase some potato salad to bring to the cookout as well. You know, just in case.
The looks of horror they gave me actually had me feeling just a tad insulted and for the briefest of seconds I hesitated. Was my recipe idea really that awful?
I needn’t have worried, though. We forgot all about that just-in-case-thisexperiment-is-a-flop store-bought potato salad.
TRULY BRILLIANT IDEA I insisted to them that this was a truly brilliant idea and that they, and our friends, would love it. They were not convinced. Still, I was committed to the idea and took a trip to the grocery store to assemble all of the necessary ingredients for this unique potato salad. And I made a quick stop
This salad was wonderful! The mix of flavors was light and unique, and created the perfect salad for an end of summer cookout. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this recipe, and the others featured in the Common’Tater. Visit me at my website: www. LifeOnGraniteRidge.com, and let me know what you think!
AG Systems-Spreaders...................57 AG Systems-Sprayer Parts.............39 Allied Cooperative.........................28 Badgerland Financial.....................23 Big Iron..........................................11 Bushman’s Inc..................................3 Crop Production Services..............29 Fencil Urethane Systems...............31 J.W. Mattek....................................51 Jay-Mar............................................5 Jesse Teal (grower)........................30 Mark Motors/Mark Toyota............32 Mid-State Truck.............................43 Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems Inc......................................9 North Central Irrigation.................37 North Wind Renewable Energy.....25
Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your potatoes: • Cut them into bite-size pieces and place into a mixing bowl. To the bowl add the rosemary and thyme, and a generous sprinkle of salt and some pepper to your potatoes. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and toss to coat potatoes evenly. • Spread the potatoes out in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, until they are a golden brown and tender when pierced with a fork. • Remove the potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool to nearly room temperature.
Prepare the orange balsamic thyme reduction: • Add all ingredients except thyme into a small sauce pan and stir until all the honey has dissolved. Add the thyme sprigs and place over medium-high heat. Stir often, and reduce to about ½ a cup of liquid.
Oak Ridge Foam & Coating Systems, Inc...................................33 Oasis Irrigation..............................68 Paragon Potato Farms...................49 Roberts Irrigation............................2 Ron's Refrigeration........................27 Rural Mutual Insurance.................44 Sand County Equipment................24
• Remove the sauce pan from the heat and discard the thyme sprigs.
Sand County Equipment-Logan.....35
Assemble the salad:
Spiegl Construction.......................54
• Lay the salad greens out onto a pretty platter, top with the roasted rosemary potatoes, the strawberries and blueberries. Drizzle the salad with the warm balsamic reduction and then sprinkle with the chopped pecans. Enjoy!
Syngenta........................................15
Schroeder Brothers Farms...............7
T.I.P................................................13 Vine Vest North.............................22 Volm Companies............................19 Wick Buildings LLC.........................17 WPVGA Spud Seed Classic.............67 WPVGA Subscribers.......................41 WPVGA Support Our Members.....34 WSPIA............................................61
66 BC�T August
WE EXTEND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE 2016 SPUD SEED CLASSIC GOLF EVENT! DINNER SPONSOR WSPIA SILVERTON SPONSORS
GOLDRUSH SPONSOR Syngenta SUPERIOR SPONSORS
Bayer CropScience Kretz Truck Brokerage LLC
CPS Great Lakes Volm Companies
OCCUPIED HOLE SPONSOR BMO Harris Bank
BASIC HOLE SPONSORS Ansay & Associates LLC Arlen’s TV & Appliances Big Iron Equipment Brettingen, Smits, Novak & Bastle Brickners of Antigo
CoVantage Credit Union Draeger Oil & Draeger Propane Gallenberg Technologies Insight FS J W Mattek & Sons Jay-Mar, Inc. Langlade Ford Mt. Morris Mutual Insurance Co. Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems Parsons of Antigo Roberts Irrigation Co. Ron’s Refrigeration & AC, Inc. Schroeder Bros. Farms TH Agri-Chemicals TIP, Inc. United FCS, Antigo Warner & Warner
DONATIONS
bb Jack’s Badger Common’Tater Bass Lake Golf Course Culver’s of Antigo Fifth Avenue Lounge Holiday Inn, Antigo Karl’s Transport Langlade Springs Lil’Hummer’s Hideaway Pepsi Pomp’s Tire Service Quinlan’s Equipment Rev’s Rick’s 45 Roadhouse Riesterer & Schnell Rural Insurance, Antigo Salon 731 Schroeder’s Gifts Swartzendruber’s Supper Club, Antigo & Bass Lake Three Jokers Lounge WPVGA
P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409
Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Stevens Point, WI 54481 Permit No. 480
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