Badger Common’Tater
August 2017
THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
RESEARCH ISSUE
Volume 69 Number 8 $18.00/year $1.50/copy
INTERVIEW: PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF Potato Growers Join Study ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE Passes Veterans Farm Bill
John Bamberg U.S. Potato Genebank
RETAIL STORES Open “Grocerants” ECONOMIC IMPACT Of Specialty Crops
Jeff Fassbender plants Gold Rush seed potatoes during a picture-perfect sunrise on Seidl Farms. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Fassbender
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On the Cover: The gorgeous cover photo, taken during sunrise on June 1, 2017, shows Jeff Fassbender of Seidl Farms, Inc. planting Gold Rush seed potatoes using a Case IH 225 CVT and a Spudnik 8040 four-row planter set up for 34-inch rows. Seidl Farms works with a CPS Great Lakes fertilizer program and also sprays band insecticide/fungicide, as well as a nematicide in furrow. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Fassbender
8 Badger cOMMON’TATER
INTERVIEW: john bamberg A significant part of his job, says John Bamberg, project leader of the U.S. Potato Genebank (USPG) in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is collecting potato species growing wild in Latin America. The USPG has about 5,000 populations of approximately 100 potato species. Bamberg, standing in the background, second from left with hands on hips, is pictured while visiting a Peruvian potato plot in 2014.
Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN................... 65 BADGER BEAT................... 32 EYES ON ASSOCIATES....... 61
28 VETERANS FARM BILL GAINING MOMENTUM Goal is to help veterans transition into farming
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Feature Articles:
PLANTING IDEAS................ 6
16 PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF study conducted by AgSource Labs on Antigo Flats 50 “GROCERANTS” PROVIDE options for where consumers spend food dollars 62 IN-SEASON CROP MANAGEMENT saves growers/agronomists time and money
POTATOES USA NEWS...... 54
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Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Bill Guenthner Vice President: Charlie Mattek Secretary/Treasurer: J.D. Schroeder Directors: Jeff Fassbender, Dan Kakes
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 Spudmobile Assistant: Doug Foemmel
Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Kathy Bartsch Vice President: Devin Zarda Secretary/Treasurer: Deniell Bula Directors: Jody Baginski, Brittany Bula, Paula Houlihan & Marie Reid
WPVGA Office (715) 623-7683 • FAX: (715) 623-3176 E-mail: 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 subscription rates: $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
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Mark Your
Calendar
august 3-13
WISCONSIN STATE FAIR Milwaukee, WI
7-11
POTATOES USA SUMMER MEETING JW Marriott Austin Austin, TX
12
ANTIGO TATER TROT City Park, 8:30 a.m. Antigo, WI
12 WEST MADISON ARS HORTICULTURE FIELD DAY 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Verona, WI 19
WAUPACA AREA TRIATHLON South Park, 7 a.m. Waupaca, WI
25-26
BARNESVILLE POTATO DAYS Barnesville, MN
26
SILVER LAKE TRIATHLON Silver Lake Park, 7 a.m. Portage, WI
september 5-9
POTATO BOWL USA WEEK Grand Forks-East Grand Forks, ND
17 DEVIL’S CHALLENGE TRIATHLON North Shore of Devil’s Lake Baraboo, WI 23
SPUD BOWL Community Stadium at Goerke Park Stevens Point, WI
October
Planting Ideas What a hub of activity the state of Wisconsin is during the potato and vegetable planting, growing and harvesting seasons. Until a person is immersed in the field of agriculture, it might be easy to miss the number of farm vehicles, four-wheel drive trucks displaying ag-related logos, box trucks and semis, all having to do with farming, crops and their transportation, that are tooling down the road, tires humming. The “Badger Beat” feature in this issue summarizes a fascinating undertaking by Associate Professor Paul D. Mitchell and Professor Steve Deller, both from the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Robert Smail, a Department of Natural Resources hydrogeologist. It was the goal of Mitchell, Deller and Smail (sounds like a law firm, doesn’t it?) to measure the economic impact of specialty crops and irrigated agriculture in Wisconsin. The three found that specialty crop production by farmers generates more than $1 billion annually in economic activity for the state and more than 7,500 jobs. Once combined with specialty crop processing, the full industry generates more than $5.8 billion in economic activity and almost 25,000 jobs. No wonder there are so many ag vehicles on the road! Irrigation, of course, is crucial for specialty crop production in Wisconsin, especially potatoes, vegetables and cranberries. In addition, commodity crops such as corn, soybean and dairy forage (alfalfa) are also significant users of irrigation, with these crops actually constituting more than half of the irrigated acres in the state.
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Scientific analysis by Mitchell, Deller and Smail shows that eliminating irrigation (heaven forbid) would imply a loss of $224 million per year in direct revenue losses to farmers, with most of this loss to the potato and vegetable growers—$157 million, or 70 percent of the total.
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This is a story that needs to be told. And what’s touched on above is only a small fraction of their findings. See “Badger Beat” in this issue for the full, detailed and information-packed article. You won’t be disappointed.
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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.
30-31 RESEARCH MEETING West Madison Ag Research Station Madison, WI
Joe Kertzman Managing Editor jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com
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Interview
John Bamberg, U.S. Potato Genebank By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
NAME: John Bamberg TITLE: Project leader, U.S. Potato Genebank (USPG) COMPANY: USDA / Agricultural Research Service LOCATION: Sturgeon Bay, WI HOMETOWN: Rural Freeport, IL YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: 29 PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Assistant to project leader SCHOOLING: Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, UW-Madison ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS: Potato Association of America AWARDS/HONORS: Professor, Horticulture Dept., UW-Madison FAMILY: Wife, Ingrid, and children, Marie, Ben, Paul and Joe HOBBIES: Bicycling, gardening
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There is only one facility designated to support the germplasm needs of the U.S. potato industry, and it is in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
The U.S. Potato Genebank (USPG) coordinates all aspects of importation, classification, preservation, multiplication, documentation and distribution of germplasm. It is the most comprehensive and active collection in the world. Often cited as a top vegetable and one of the three most important food crops, the potato nevertheless remains susceptible to pests, diseases, environmental stresses and quality problems. Fortunately, there is a great wealth of wild and cultivated potato varieties with genes that mitigate the problems, and they are relatively easy to hybridize. To efficiently keep that diversity in genebanks, researchers need to understand the diversity in the wild. In 2016, the genebank staff of the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station (PARS) in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin completed 25 years of expeditions in the southwest United States, mapping and prioritizing hundreds of collection locations for their diversity, and conducting numerous DNA marker studies on the factors that predict patterns of diversity.
EXOTIC GERMPLASM Potato cultivars have more exotic germplasm in their pedigrees than any other major crop. Of the last eight cultivar releases from the Wisconsin breeding program, six have parents of at least one wild species from the PARS genebank, the only site in the country from which breeders can obtain these resources. Also in 2016, Simplot got clearance for its second generation of Innate potatoes with reduced bruising, reduced asparagine, resistance to late blight and enhanced cold storage capability. These advances promise huge savings in increase processed quality, reduced pesticide use and reduced acrylamide. Above: John Bamberg, project leader of the U.S. Potato Genebank, says his job involves helping breeders move genes for tuber quality, and pest, disease and environmental stress resistance from the little inedible wild species tubers (in his left hand) to productive new varieties (in his right hand).
This technology developed by Simplot scientists was made possible by adapting genes from wild and cultivated potatoes from the PARS potato genebank.
If, having gotten this information, and he settled on a species to study, could he organize an expedition to Latin America to collect samples for himself?
The USPG is a cooperative effort between the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and all 50 SAES (State Agricultural Research Stations), with special support from the University of Wisconsin.
Then, too, potato is a “prohibited” quarantined plant, which means it is illegal to import except by special APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) permit. He would have to determine how to efficiently preserve, grow and crossbreed the species, all while keeping it disease free.
John Bamberg has been the project leader for nearly 30 years. With a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, he is the Editor in Chief of the American Journal of Potato Research and serves as chairman of the Potato Crop Germplasm Committee. Why do we need a genebank, and how has the USPG contributed to potato progress over the years? The current breeding pool is strong, but there are lots of ways we could benefit from “new blood.” Imagine the delays, inefficiency and duplicated effort there would be if there was no genebank and every scientist in the United States who wanted to pursue new genetics in exotic potato relatives had to start from scratch. How would he get taxonomic information on species boundaries and relatedness to cultivars?
The potato crop depends on a lot of different inputs, but these are often available from several brands and vendors. In contrast, for unique genetic tools outside of the current breeding pool, U.S. breeders have only one practical source—our own Wisconsin genebank.
Above: Potatoes are planted in a U.S. Potato Genebank (USPG) greenhouse to multiply the seed lots. Tina Wagner is shown hand pollinating for “seed increase.”
How many potato species does the genebank have? USPG has about 5,000 populations of approximately 100 potato species. Almost all are not cultivated—they were collected from plants growing wild somewhere in Latin America. Although wild, many of these species can be incorporated into the crop with fairly simple techniques. For several reasons, it is more efficient to keep these stocks as seed populations, which involves hand pollination of thousands of plants each year in the greenhouse. Of course, cultivated potato is a clonal crop, so USPG also has a collection of about 1,000 cultivars continued on pg. 10
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 9
from around the world, plus breeding and genetic stocks. These are kept and distributed in sterile test tube culture. All these stocks are subject to a rigorous virus testing program, have extensive associated information in an online database, and can be ordered free of charge. How is it possible to genetically improve the potato? What do you look for and what does your research entail? USPG supports advances in potato genetics and breeding by providing raw materials. Our main responsibility is to acquire, classify, preserve and distribute the germplasm. But to get maximum impact from that service, we also need to do research and development. How and where is the most genetic diversity to be had, and how do we avoid losing it once we get it into the genebank? We are answering such questions with DNA markers. We also study how to keep improving our techniques for producing plenty of seeds and storing them in a way that maintains high viability and avoids contamination with viruses. The germplasm is not much good if genebank staff doesn’t also discover and provide information on how to grow and crossbreed with it. The staff must keep accurate, detailed and organized records on everything known about the history and qualities of the stock. The genebank collection is just a sample of what is in the wild. We need to know if it is a good one. So for the past 25 years, we have collected and studied the two potato species native to the southwest United States as models. We screen for new traits. We want to dabble in research in as many uses of germplasm as possible, so we will have a bit of experience from which 10 BC�T August
to help customers from all disciplines. Since it is not practical to attempt to research all traits wholly in-house, we do joint research projects with many different specialists across the country and world, including pathologists, physiologists, breeders, entomologists and food scientists. While we don’t usually interact directly with growers or processors, we are keen to keep abreast of their needs. Finally, USPG germplasm ultimately originated in Latin America, so we are engaged in close collaboration with our counterparts there, particularly in Peru. I understand the U.S. Potato Genebank (USPG) is a cooperative effort between the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and all 50 SAES (State Agricultural Research Stations), with special support of the University of Wisconsin. What is the role of the USPG in Wisconsin? The USPG was started in the state because the
Above: Two acres of potato seedlings were transplanted at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station, involving many USPG research projects.
University of Wisconsin has long been a powerhouse of research on potato germplasm. Stan Peloquin used our stocks to discover how to bring exotics and cultivated forms to the same level for breeding. He figured out how to manipulate crossing, directly resulting in the Yukon Gold potato variety. Others contributed pioneering techniques to overcome crossing barriers, like Bob Hanneman’s discovery of inbreeding and genetic cross-ability factors, and John Helgeson’s somatic fusions. Jiming Jiang and John Helgeson isolated a key gene that provides durable resistance to late blight from a wild species that had been collected in Mexico and preserved and studied continued on pg. 12
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 10
in the genebank long before its potential was recognized. Jiang is also studying chromosomal and genome evolution between potato and various wild species. Jiwan Palta used genebank stocks
to study and improve tuber calcium to combat tuber defects, and similarly advanced frost hardiness with USPG exotic species. Dave Spooner extensively collected in Latin America, and organized all of our species into logical groups,
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and Shelley Jansky, Dennis Halterman and Paul Bethke continue to build on Wisconsin know-how by releasing breeding stocks that put valuable traits like resistance to verticillium, early blight, late blight and scab from USPG germplasm into cultivated background. It would likely take several issues of the Badger Common’Tater to cite all the Wisconsin researchers who have helped collect, study and deploy USPG germplasm, not to mention the many professionals who have been trained at the University of Wisconsin and are now using USPG germplasm for potato improvement in many other states and countries around the world. What has the practical impact of the USPG been? The USPG is not just a potato museum or a place to get weird potatoes for theoretical research projects. At least 70 percent of named U.S. cultivars have our exotic germplasm in their pedigrees. In Wisconsin, of the past eight cultivar releases from the breeding Left: Big tuber mutants of the wild diploid Mexican species Solanum cardiophyllum are shown next to typical little wild tubers.
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Right: Alfonso del Rio collects wild potatoes in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona.
program, six have USPG wild species germplasm as parents. We now distribute about 10,000 samples each year, an increase of more than 25 percent over the previous five-year project term. Who is consistently our biggest customer? Our own Wisconsin scientists. Why is gene diversity so incredibly important? The sports model illustrates why genetic diversity kept in a genebank is important. In sports, you often depend on just a few highly specialized elite players to win the game. It’s the same with the cultivars in commercial potato production. But in sports as in a potato crop, you are smart to hedge by having backups ready to take the field quickly if the stars are injured or demands of the game change. Similarly, genebanks keep genetic alternatives “on the bench,” and study and groom them so they are fit to be quickly deployed when needed.
after 16 years of storage, or survive being frozen. All these traits have practical application. We need multiple genetic options to address known problems from multiple angles. But we also need general diversity to increase the odds that we will have solutions to unpredictable new problems. Genetics from USPG can touch just about every aspect of how the crop can be more efficient and profitable—more disease, pest and stress resistant. This allows growers to make better use of water and fertilizer for improved processing quality. They can identify better nutrients to impress the consumer and generate more demand. And genebank stocks can be useful even before they become parents of new cultivars. Consider a trait like tuber calcium, where some species have six times as much as cultivars. Such extreme stocks make great tools for studying the physiological and genetic basis of a trait.
Top: A primitive potato species is cultivated in Peru. USPG germplasm ultimately originated in Latin America, so the staff of the genebank is in close collaboration with their counterparts there, particularly in Peru.
Having and studying genetic diversity also expands our horizons. I believe the Peninsular Ag Research Nobody recognized the potential Station (PARS) is the state farm of a backward high jump until Dick Bottom: A close-up view shows germination testing where you do your research, is that Fosbury demonstrated his “flop.” in a USPG greenhouse. correct? Where is it located, and Similarly, until such things were site for USPG. what research and development noticed and studied in diverse Client: is Creative specifically doneAccount at PARS? InCompeer the germplasm DEPARTMENT: from theDesktop genebank, Project Art Proofreader Copywriter Production This site near Sturgeon Bay was Artist Manager Director Director Manager Service Media Type: Badger Common Tater late 1940’s, PARS, a 120-acre fruit nobody expected some potatoes APPROVAL: Color: 4C expected to be relatively cool Trim: 7.25x2.25 research farm owned by UW-CALS could be chilled and not make black | in summer, thus allowing better Live: (College of Agricultural and Life chips,CorO that they could be exposed Bleed: No bleed continued on pg. 14 NOTES: NEWSPRINT Job Title: host Sciences), was selected as the to light and OUTPUT notSIZE:get green, sprout Ad/Lit Number: CF05172269Board
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 13
botanical seed production (the form of preservation for 90 percent of the collection). It was thought to be less prone to virus spread. Finally, it is isolated from the state’s production region (Central Sands), and research (Madison and Hancock) and breeding (Rhinelander) sites, so there would be a buffer just in case some pest or disease was accidentally imported with foreign germplasm. It would be interesting to calculate, on a per-acre and per-budget dollar basis, the impact of PARS over the past 70 years just resulting from its serving as a host site for USPG. PARS has been the source of materials for potato improvement that were not available from anywhere else in the nation. PARS supplied the raw material that made it possible for USPG staff, associates in Madison and other scientists across the country and around the world to generate a lot of potato progress, many hundreds of useful research studies published, graduate students trained and new cultivars bred. Potato researchers, breeders and 14 BC�T August
germplasm specialists around the world recognize the name of the small Wisconsin town of Sturgeon Bay only because PARS has provided a long-term home base for the world’s premier source of potato germplasm, technology and information. Imagine how much better you can navigate after the first detailed map of some place is available. We now have such a map for potato. And where did the specialized stock that allowed the potato genome to be sequenced originate? It was right here at PARS. Leadership of five national and international programs is based at PARS—the two national genebank partners, which are USDA/ARS and the multi-state cooperative project NRSP-6, the federal crop advisory committee (CGC) for potato and the world’s premier potato research journal, American Journal of Potato Research published by the Potato Association of America. PARS genebank staff also instigated the international Association of Potato Intergenebank Collaborators with USPG staff serving as U.S.
Top: This issue’s interviewee, John Bamberg, project leader of the USPG, collects wild potato samples at Mormon Lake (northern Arizona) in 2015. Right: A Criolla (egg yolk) specialty type potato is type selected for eating quality.
representatives. Are there always genetic answers to problems like potato bruising or tuber defects, hollow heart, diseases, pests and acrylamide? We realize that fighting diseases, pests and stress-related problems like bruising, sugar end and hollow heart also depends on non-genetic innovation. Improvements in IPM (Integrated Pest Management), chemicals, water and fertilizer management, machinery, seed certification, etc., are also needed. But we want to find out how germplasm options can best
interact with and maximize such nongenetic advances. How are the U.S. Potato Genebank and PARS funded? USPG is mostly supported by federal revenue. About 80 percent of that is provided directly by USDA/ARS, and about 20 percent comes through the aforementioned national multi-state cooperative project, NRSP-6, originally famous as IR-1. USPG staff members are disciplined enough to have the mindset of the genebank being like a big business that is being pressed by a tough competitor. We aim to provide the maximum service we can, always finding a way to say “yes” and go the extra mile for the customer, operating as frugally and efficiently as we can, and rejecting the idea of charging the taxpayer again for germplasm services he or she has already paid for. We welcome Badger Common’Tater readers to visit us in Sturgeon Bay and learn what we’re all about. Are you addressing late blight and other fungal, bacterial and viral diseases? When new problems arise, we prepare specialized samples and hybrids for testing with cooperators. 07-17blight Badger crisis Common'Tater For the late in the1-3page AD
early 1990’s, we sponsored testing in multiple U.S. states, Mexico, Canada, and Russia—finding new sources of resistance in the species microdontum and okadae. For Zebra Chip, we helped screening efforts in Washington State and Texas that identified the species verrucosum as particularly psyllid resistant. We are currently coordinating a project to screen germplasm for resistance to Dickeya and welcome advice from Badger Common’Tater readers. What does the future hold for growing and crossing potato stocks, and what do you hope for the USPG in the future? Genetic information and manipulation is rapidly advancing, and we are looking forward to how that will help us improve genebank technology and service. Of course, as researchers and breeders get these better tools, demand for USPG raw materials will also increase, so we need to be ready. Some business coaches say that if you keep doing something the same way for long enough, it will eventually be wrong. So how can we innovate? We are looking into how germplasm could improve the feasibility of specialty cultivars, and even potato alternatives to grain in noodles, (7x3).v1.outlines.pdf 1 2017-07-11breakfast 8:17 AM bread, beer and sweetened
Above: As part of its diversity initiative, the staff members of the USPG discovered a floral mutant, Coronita, with multiple pistils but no anthers.
foods. Farming for potato protein extract already has commercial application. As the most consumed vegetable, potato is already familiar, popular, and affordable, giving it tremendous potential to expand if we can provide consumers with new selling points of improved taste, convenience and quality. It is intriguing to think about how USPG germplasm could be deployed to expand potato into such alternate outlets, increasing the demand, profitability and positive nutritional impact of potato on society.
BC�T August 15
Phosphorus Runoff Study Conducted on Antigo Flats
Potato growers take lead in controlling and monitoring phosphorus runoff By Chuck Bolte, precision ag/nutrient management planning manager, AgSource Laboratories Potato growers in the Antigo Flats area of Wisconsin are taking a leadership role in an effort to control phosphorus runoff in the Spring Brook and Eau Claire River watersheds.
The Antigo Flats is designated by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) as an area with unique characteristics that best represent the state soil, Antigo silt loam.
The project of controlling and monitoring phosphorus runoff started in early 2016 when the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association awarded AgSource Laboratories a grant to build a spatial database of the PI (Phosphorus Index) for all the potato growers in the area. Now, the project is growing from that into something much bigger. In 2010, the Antigo Flats was designated as an “Ag Enterprise Zone” within the state’s Farmland Preservation Program (FPP), and Top: Erosion is evident in an Antigo potato field, May 2017, after 3-plus inches of rain doused the area. Many Wisconsin growers experienced similar rainfall and resulting erosion. Above and Left: In January, Chuck Bolte of AgSource Laboratories spoke at the 57th Annual Seed Meeting of the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association. The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association awarded AgSource Laboratories a grant to fund a study on controlling and monitoring phosphorus runoff in the Antigo Flats.
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many growers have developed nutrient management plans to gain the tax breaks associated with the FPP and Ag Enterprise Program. With this base set, growers have shown the initiative to improve their operations and meet Wisconsin administrative codes ATCP 50 and NR 151, which regulate best management practices (BMP’s). Soon, a Wisconsin River “Total Maximum Daily Load” (TMDL) will be
released, and with that, the bar will be raised as what is expected from growers. A TMDL is typically used as a framework for water quality improvement. The phosphorus runoff project intends to take the growers’ nutrient management plans to the next level by mapping areas on the Antigo Flats that are key contributors to phosphorus loads entering the Eau Claire and Spring Brook watersheds, and then finding solutions. Those
Above: Runoff and the resulting sediment that carries phosphorus is evident on the Eau Claire River (left) after 2 inches of rain. The river is shown again three days later (right) carrying far less sediment.
watersheds, in turn, drain into the Wisconsin River Watershed. GROWER COOPERATION All but two potato growers provided data to create the database of over 25,000 acres and more than 500 fields. Fields were aligned based on
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 17
the PI groups of 0-2, 3-4, 5-6 and those above 6. Fields were then placed back on maps showing the distribution by PI and where sediment loading is happening and needs to be addressed in the future. What showed up was expected, as the fields with higher PI’s were along either the Spring Brook or Eau Claire River drainages. The average PI was 3.4 for all fields in the database. This means approximately 85,000 pounds of phosphorus came from the 25,000 acres in the database, but what was really alarming was that just 58 fields represented over 35 percent of that total. AgSource Laboratories met with all growers involved to go through the results individually with them. The high priority fields were looked at and possible BMP’s initiated to reduce the impact of those areas and reduce sediment loads into the watershed. Some growers have changed practices on fields, and many others are considering what they can do. 18 BC�T August
With that came the question of “where do we go from here?” Growers met in August, and out of that meeting came the next phase. They are voluntarily donating $1 per planted acre to create a fund for research projects. Dairy and cash crop growers on the Antigo Flats were encouraged to join in the effort and have been very supportive. To date, over $45,000 has been committed by growers. CURRENT & FUTURE PROJECTS In connection with GZA Environmental, Inc., streamflow monitoring equipment has been installed on Spring Brook. The information gathered from the monitors will be used to gauge the impact irrigation is having on the stream. A research trial is being conducted at the Langlade County Agricultural Research Station in Antigo to test the efficiency of fertilizer products. Retail ag suppliers provided 10 products to be tested at four different fertilizer rates to determine the level of fertilizer that is made available to
Above: Potatoes are planted for a fertilizer trial at the Langlade County Agricultural Research Station in Antigo. Kevin Gallenberg, a scouting manager for AgSource Laboratories, drives the tractor while Andy Koss, who helps with field work at the station, walks alongside.
plants and whether the plants can utilize the products. A late summer/fall cover crop trial is being conducted to test the timing of several varieties and when they can be planted and still provide effective cover. A future goal would be to install edge-of-field monitoring equipment to test the effectiveness of different cropping schemes on runoff. The projects outlined above will cost up to $200,000 to complete over the next three to five years. The group is now in the process of seeking funds and partnerships, both private and public, to conduct all projects. As water quality issues continue to make headlines, the phosphorus runoff project will become more important to the long-term success of farming on the Antigo Flats, and growers are showing the way!
AgSource Laboratories Celebrates 50 Years of Soil Testing While AgSource Laboratories is not “older than dirt,” the organization does have a 50-year history of analyzing soil and contributing to the overall health and productivity of thousands of acres of land. What started as a county extension milk lab has grown into a full-service agronomy lab, complete with nutrient management planning and GPS soil sampling services. AgSource Laboratories, in Bonduel, Wisconsin, became a part of AgSource (then called ARC, Agricultural Records Cooperative) in August 1967. That first year, the lab processed just 5,301 soil samples. Today, the lab can analyze that many samples in under two days.
“We’re very proud of the lab’s long history,” notes Steve Peterson, vice president of laboratory services. “Bonduel has been a great community to work in. Thank you to our friends in Bonduel and thank you to our customers for 50 terrific years!” Over the years, the laboratory has specialized in forage, soil, plant tissue and manure testing. While forage testing is no longer offered, agronomy services have expanded to include VRT (Variable Rate Technology) fertilizer recommendations, GPS soil sampling and nutrient management planning. “Every day in the lab is different, which keeps things fun,” Peterson
comments. “It should be interesting to see how we continue to adapt and grow in the future.” AgSource Laboratories officially celebrates 50 years of soil testing services in the month of August 2017. Customers, friends and community members are welcome to attend an anniversary celebration and open house at the laboratory, located at 106 North Cecil St., Bonduel. Anniversary Celebration Open House Wednesday, August 16, 2-5 p.m. AgSource is a leader in agricultural and environmental laboratory analysis and information management services. A subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International, AgSource provides services to clients in the United States and across the globe. Learn more at www.AgSource.com.
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BC�T August 19
Auxiliary News By Ali Carter, past vice president, WPGA
At times, those in agriculture
are the stewards of our waters and of our land. You feed our communities and beyond. You grow our local economies, and you invest the necessary time, energy, products and services to create something virtually from nothing that is vital to us all. I have often heralded the generosity of this industry and have repeatedly witnessed your giving spirit.
“When you give without expecting anything in return, you have mastered the art of living.” - Jon Mead You have truly mastered the art of living! Your humble generosity is highlighted each year through the partnership with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) and your support of the Wisconsin Potato MobilePack Event. You offer the needed monies and time necessary for this event, all while knowing that the families and children who are fed through your efforts will most likely never see your face or know your name. You may never receive the thanks that you all deserve. Throughout the weekend of July 22, 2011, with the very first Potato MobilePack event at the Noel Hangar in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, you offered an impactful experience
20 BC�T August
to over 560 volunteers from our community and provided the means to create 201,744 meals for malnourished children around the world. 864,864 MEALS /SEVEN YEARS On Saturday, June 17, 2017, nearly 300 volunteers gathered for the seventh Potato MobilePack event and packed 108,864 potato-based meals before the day came to a close. In those seven years, through the dedication of volunteers and organizers, and the important financial support of growers, board members and associates, we have together provided a total of 864,864 Above: Volunteers pack potato-based MobilePack meals for the FMSC organization. From left to right are Elise Jakusz, Angie Jakusz (sister of John Eckendorf of Bushmans’ Inc.) and Carolyn Iwanski (in red), who has volunteered at the event for several years. Left: Paula Houlihan, immediate past president of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA), welcomes volunteers to the Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) Potato MobilePack Event, held June 17, 2017, and thanks them for their volunteer efforts.
meals for children who without that food often perish. The Feed My Starving Children organization says it so well: “We want to reach everyone, until ALL are fed. Because no one deserves to go hungry, especially when we can do something about it. Hope begins with nutritious food. FMSC exists to provide this hope in the name of Jesus. Nutrition allows children to grow, thrive and develop to their full potential so that they can become productive members of their communities.” As a part of the potato industry, and because of your generosity, you have had an irreplaceable hand in offering that hope and nutrition. Depending on the need of the FMSC organization, volunteers assemble one of two different formulas of the potato meals at the annual Left: Rachel Rine, center in the blue Feed My Starving Children shirt, and Jake Reif, left in the camouflage shirt, are two of the younger volunteers helping out at the MobilePack event. Right: Wisconsin Sen. Patrick Testin (center) showed his support for the FMSC MobilePack event, posing with Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Tamas Houlihan (left) and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Immediate Past President Paula Houlihan (right).
MobilePack events. MannaPack Potato-D. Created to help those suffering from diarrhea and dehydration, this fortified formula complements and assists in replenishing lost nutrients. Its smooth texture makes it appropriate for all ages, even children 6-24 months old. MannaPack Potato-W. Designed specifically as a weaning food to meet the nutrition needs of babies
N V S
Both of the fortified potato formulas offer necessary nutrients and are well tolerated by the very sick and the very young. continued on pg. 22
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BC�T August 21
Auxiliary News. . . continued from pg. 21
Often the rice-based meals that are also offered by FMSC are not easily digested by those who have compromised systems due to illness, or are too young to have developed the ability to handle the rice. Even in giving we must have a desire to be responsible with the funds donated. As an organization, FMSC devotes more than 90 percent of total donations to feeding children, the main expense being the purchase of raw ingredients: dehydrated potato, soy, vegetables and vitamins. Less than 10 percent goes to the combined cost of fundraising, administration and overhead. Through the potato industry/FMSC partnership and your dedication, many lives have been saved and that all important hope has been offered to families.
Thank you for your humble generosity!
Above: Carole Gagas (front and center in white) of Gagas Farms volunteers at the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event.
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SEED PIECE Super Turnout for Spud Seed Classic By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, Badger Common’Tater
The rain gods gave golfers a break,
during the 2017 Spud Seed Classic held on Friday, June 23 at the Bass Lake Golf Course in Deerbrook, Wisconsin. In fact, the sun shined for most of the day, though clouds and wind did threaten the fun at one point. Still, it was a hearty set of foursomes that couldn’t be daunted. In all, 154 golfers enjoyed the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association (WSPIA) event, which, thanks to the generosity of sponsors and golfers alike, raised $13,100 dollars, well above last year’s total.
Formerly known as the Tony Gallenberg Memorial Golf Tournament, 2017 marked the 20th year of the classic event. Since 1998, the tournament has raised over $75,000, with proceeds donated toward Wisconsin potato research. The major sponsors were Bayer CropScience, Bushman’s Riverside Ranch, CPS Great Lakes, Kretz Truck Brokerage, Roberts Irrigation, Syngenta, Volm Companies, WilburEllis Company and, of course, the WSPIA. The fun didn’t stop at golf, with hole sponsors giving out souvenirs, gifts and beverages, a nice dinner put on by the Bass Lake Golf Course and Above: As Ryan Fassbender (right) putts, Bobby Parilek welcomes the ball into the hole with open arms. The two were part of the Seidl Farms foursome of golfers. Left: With the tournament being a four-person scramble (best ball position), taking first place in the 2017 Spud Seed Classic with an impressive score of 58 was, from left to right, Ross Riemer, Mike Quinn, Justin Riemer and Dustin Quinn. Justin also won a 55-inch Samsung Smart TV as part of a raffle later that evening.
24 BC�T August
Above: It went that way! Charlie Husnick (left) and Cory Chrudimsky (second from left) help Wally Eagle out with his ball location after Eagle made an impressive drive. The three were part of the Baginski Farms foursome.
raffle prizes presented the night of the event. It was apparently Justin Riemer’s day on the course, not only for being a member of the foursome who took 1st place in the golf tournament, but also because he won the coveted 55-inch Samsung Smart TV raffle prize. Greg Raymakers of Riesterer & Schnell didn’t fare too badly himself, winning $500 for being closest to the
pin on the par 3 eighth hole. Special thanks to Jim Pukall at Bass Lake Golf Course, and of course Karen Rasmussen and helper Julie Braun of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association for putting together the entire golf outing. Another big shout-out to all the sponsors, and thanks in large part to them, look for the event to continue at Bass Lake Golf Course in 2018.
Top: Jerry Pilecky showed fine form on a chip shot during the 2017 Spud Seed Classic. Pilecky was part of a foursome, along with his wife, Wendy, and Marc Stalter and Keith Wolter, representing Hyland Lakes Spuds. Bottom: Three generations of the Kretz family represented Kretz Truck Brokerage LLC at the Spud Seed Classic. At far left is Rod Zupon, who works for the company, and then, youngest to oldest, left to right, are Ty, Pete and Terry Kretz. Kretz Truck Brokerage sponsored the golf tournament. continued on pg. 26
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BC�T August 25
Seed Piece . . . continued from pg. 25
Left: There was no taking the wind out of these ladies’ sails—despite having the unenviable distinction of finishing last in the Spud Seed Classic, they were all about having fun. Representing Wild Seed Farms, Inc., from left to right, are Kay Quinlan, Colleen Krivoshein, Caroline Wild and Bev Sikora. Right: With prizes awarded for first, second and seventh places, coming in seventh wasn’t such a bad thing at the Spud Seed Classic. With a score of 62, the team is, from left to right, Andy Wherritt, Brian Lee, Alex Okray and Mike Barker.
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Top: With a parting shot, it truly was a beautiful day and a great time at the 2017 Spud Seed Classic. The WSPIA looks forward to seeing everyone again next year! Middle: Finishing in second place with a score of 60 in the best ball tournament were, from left to right, Steve Tatro, Andy Verhasselt and Kenton Mehlberg. All wearing Redox shirts, the threesome made up the T.I.P. team. Bottom: As Mike Baginski of Baginski Farms swings a club, a Bass Lake Golf Course employee takes a break from driving the beverage cart to strike a pose for the camera.
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BC�T August 27
Assembly Committee Passes Veterans Farm Bill of 2017 Goal is to help military veterans transition into farming and replenish an aging ag workforce By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater Wisconsin has a strong tradition of military service and agricultural excellence. Now, a bi-partisan group of legislators is trying to bring the two traditions together with the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Bill of 2017. The Wisconsin Veterans Farm Bill aims to bolster the state’s agricultural workforce by creating a program at
the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to assist military veterans seeking to transition into farming. With the input of military veteran farmers from across the state, the bill’s authors, Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), along with
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co-authors Rep. Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) and Sen. Janis Ringhand (D-Janesville), crafted a bill with broad bi-partisan political backing. The bill, which also has support from the veteran and agricultural communities, continues to move forward. It was unanimously passed by the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs, and had its first hearing in the Senate in the last week of June. Momentum for the bill is building. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to work with DATCP to establish a Veteran Farmer Assistance and Outreach Program in consultation with the Department of Military Affairs, the University of Wisconsin Extension and the federal Department of Agriculture. The DVA and DATCP are charged with developing a logo for veteranproduced agricultural goods so that consumers can have the opportunity to support veterans with their purchases. Above: On a national level, the Farmer Veteran Coalition helps veterans who wish to transition into agriculture after serving their country in the military. An Army paratrooper who served with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province in 2012, Sean Carnahan works for the Stoller Family Estate, a family-owned and operated vineyard and winery in Oregon’s Dundee Hills. Photo courtesy of the Farmer Veteran Coalition
The bill’s text says the mission of the program is designed to “integrate veterans into the field of agriculture and support veterans currently working in agriculture.” It addresses two problems—replenishing an aging agricultural workforce and aiding in veterans’ transitions back to civilian life. “We have 69,000 farms in Wisconsin, but the average age of our farmers is over 55 years old,” Sen. Testin says. “Because of the strenuous work that agriculture demands, it’s a 24-7 job.” “I can’t think of a better group of individuals than the men and women who served in our armed forces to work in agriculture,” he adds. GOOD POLICY “This legislation is pro-veteran, proagriculture and pro-workforce,” says Rep. Goyke. “It makes investments in both the future of agriculture and the futures of our veterans—it’s good
policy, and I’m proud to author it.” The legislators drew on other states to craft the proposal. Sen. Ringhand commented on that process: “There are several states that have similar programs. We looked very closely at West Virginia’s successful program when putting together the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Bill of 2017.”
Above: Rep. Evan Goyke (seated, left) and Sen. Patrick Testin (seated, right) testify on the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Bill of 2017 before the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism. The bill’s text says the mission of the program is designed to “integrate veterans into the field of agriculture and support veterans currently working in agriculture.” Photo courtesy of Greg Anderson
continued on pg. 30
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Assembly Committee Passes Veterans Farm Bill of 2017 . . . continued from pg. 29
“Many veterans return from war with scars,” says Sen. Testin. “Some are visible, others aren’t. Studies show that rigorous physical work like the type that farmers do every day can have a therapeutic effect for those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD].” Rep. Brooks, who served in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked for decades as a dairy farmer, believes that the bill will help solidify the future of Wisconsin agriculture. “Farming has been a rewarding career for me, and I want others to have the opportunities that I’ve had,” he comments. “The average age of a farmer in Wisconsin is 58 years old,” Brooks continues. “We need young people with new ideas to usher in the next
Above: Army veteran Jon Darling logged six deployments, including two in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and three in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Through the help of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Darling, from McClellanville, South Carolina, raises pigs and sheep for local meat markets, restaurants and community members under the Homegrown By Heroes label. Photo courtesy of the Farmer Veteran Coalition
generation of advancements in agriculture. This bill helps move us forward.” As proposed, the bill should not cost the state any additional money. The DVA and DATCP would be tasked with tracking how many veterans enter the agriculture industry. “It’s my intention to come back to the Legislature next year, show how great this is working and ask for some more money to ramp it up,” Goyke concludes.
National Help for Veteran Farmers Nationally, the movement to mobilize veterans to feed America is growing. In December 2016, the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) hosted its third conference in Michigan, where 250 farmer veterans (up from 100 in 2014) enjoyed educational sessions, farm visits and panels on resources available to them through government and nonprofit groups. The FVC has grown steadily over the past 18 months, with 3,400 veteran farmers joining the coalition for a total of 8,000 members. A non-profit organization launched by Michael O’Gorman in 2008, the FVC has given out $1.2 million in grants to veterans who want to start farms. In turn, combined crop and livestock sales of those veteran farmers equates to $50 million and counting to date. Following the lead of the FVC, and in an attempt to acknowledge and thank veteran farmers, Successful Farming magazine created the “Fighter to Farmer Contest,” which is sponsored by Grasshopper Mowers. Information about the military service, farming operations and community involvement is all considered for veteran farmers entered in the annual contest, and one winner is selected on those attributes. The winner receives $6,000 toward the purchase of a new Grasshopper mower and $4,000 cash. Additionally, the same monetary prizes go to a second veteran who has a servicerelated disability, and along with the money, the disabled vet receives an AgrAbility consolation and $5,000 from Grasshopper Mowers to purchase adaptive equipment or other services to enhance his or her quality of life.
Above: Sen. Patrick Testin (right) talks with Tony Kurtz, a 20-year Army veteran and organic farmer from Wonewoc, Wisconsin. With input from veterans, Sen. Testin and Rep. Evan Goyke, along with co-authors Rep. Ed Brooks and Sen. Janis Ringhand, authored the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Bill of 2017. Photo courtesy of Jeff Schultz 30 BC�T August
The contest runs from the beginning of March through April, and out of the winners, a grand champion is also chosen. Visit www.agriculture.com/fightertofarmer for more information.
Badger Beat
Economic Impact of Specialty Crops and Irrigated Agriculture in Wisconsin
every other Wisconsin industry. For example, growers purchase equipment and fertilizers from local suppliers, hire crop scouting and accounting services and invest earnings in local banks.
By Associate Professor Paul Mitchell and Professor Steve Deller, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW-Madison, and Robert Smail, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
In turn, these farm workers and the input and service providers use their earnings to pay for housing, groceries and other personal expenditures in their local economies.
Wisconsin is home to nationally significant production and processing of specialty crops, chief among them potatoes, but also vegetables such as sweet corn and green beans, fruit like cranberries, plus several other fruits and vegetables. Irrigation is important for growing most of these specialty crops, and Wisconsin’s abundant water and rich soil resources are among the reasons why these specialty crops are grown and processed here into food. Irrigation is also important in Wisconsin for growing commodity crops as well, particularly field corn, soybeans and alfalfa, important crops for the state’s dairy industry. Many people know that specialty crops and irrigation are important to Wisconsin, but the key for communication with stakeholders and the public is to document specifically how important. The task is a common request, and economists have developed standard methods and metrics to document the importance of an industry or a technology.
Industry Specialty Crop Production Potatoes Vegetables Cranberries Other Fruit Specialty Crop Processing Total Impacts
This article will update an older estimate of the economic impact of specialty crops in Wisconsin (Keene and Mitchell 2010), plus expand it to include more broadly the economic impact of irrigated crop production in Wisconsin. ECONOMIC IMPACT Farmers growing specialty crops benefit the Wisconsin economy in multiple ways. In a direct sense, they create economic activity and jobs within their respective industries. Potato growers hire and pay people to work on their farms. However, crop production also benefits nearly
Total Revenue ($ million) $695 $271 $228 $158 $38 $2,822 $3,517
In this way, one dollar received by a Wisconsin farmer for producing and selling a specialty crop creates more than one dollar in value as the dollar is spent and re-spent in the statewide economy. The total economic impact of specialty crop production in Wisconsin captures this ripple effect in statewide spending. INCOME SPENDING Specialty crop processing has a similar ripple effect—processors hire and pay people and buy numerous inputs and services (including raw products from farmers), and this income is spent and re-spent in the statewide economy as well. The total economic impact of specialty crop processing in Wisconsin captures this ripple effect in statewide spending. Economists call this “ripple effect” for each industry its economic multiplier effect, and they have developed
Total Economic Activity ($ million) $1,059 $413 $348 $241 $58 $4,781 $5,835
Table 1: Total economic and employment impacts of the specialty crop production and processing in Wisconsin (2013-2015 average) 32 BC�T August
Total Jobs 7,567 2,922 2,497 1,735 413 16,981 24,538
the data and methods to estimate these economic multipliers for many industries, including specialty crop production and processing. The most commonly used system is IMPLAN (IMpact analysis of PLANning) developed by the IMPLAN Group after moving out of the U.S. Forest Service in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the system was originally developed. Based on IMPLAN, the economic impact of specialty crop production and processing in Wisconsin is estimated for this article to update the work of Keene and Mitchell. The key variable is the “economic footprint” of the industry as measured by the total revenue or sales it generates. This is the revenue that is spent and re-spent in the statewide economy and generates the employment. FARMGATE VEGGIE SALES Production and processing of
specialty crops in Wisconsin are important to both state and national agricultural and manufacturing industries. Wisconsin ranks seventh among U.S. states for farmgate vegetable sales and eighth for farmgate fruit and tree nut sales. The figures include both fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. A portion of these sales enter fresh markets (grocery stores, restaurants, farmers markets, etc.), with potatoes the leading fresh market specialty crop in the state. However, most of Wisconsin farmgate sales go to processors for freezing, canning, drying and pickling. As a result, Wisconsin ranks second among U.S. states for both harvested acreage and total production of processing vegetables and third for production value. Key processing crops in Wisconsin include potatoes, sweet corn, green beans, green peas, carrots, cabbage
and cucumbers, with cranberries by far the leading fruit. Table 1 summarizes the economic impact of specialty crop production and processing in Wisconsin. The reported total revenues are the three-year average for 20132015 based on USDA NASS data (Vegetables Annual Summary, Crop Values Annual Summary). The three-year average is used to reduce the impact of annual variation in prices and yields, and ending in 2015 because USDA NASS data collection changed in 2016. The total farmgate revenue generated by specialty crop production in Wisconsin was almost $700 million. Potatoes is the largest single crop, and together, potatoes and vegetables total $500 million of this $700. The processing of these specialty crops generates more than $2.8 continued on pg. 34
BC�T August 33
Badger Beat . . . continued from pg. 33
billion in direct revenues, so that, in total, specialty crop production and processing in Wisconsin generates more than $3.5 billion annually in direct revenues. The economic multiplier effect expands the indirect and induced economic impacts of this revenue through indirect and induced impacts on the state economy.
Another measure of the economic impact of an industry cluster is the employment generated. The jobs numbers in Table 1 show that specialty crop production creates almost 7,600 jobs in the state, while processing creates almost 17,000 jobs. As a result, specialty crop production and processing create more than 24,500 jobs in Wisconsin.
currently irrigated sandy soils would likely leave row crop production without irrigation. Nevertheless, the scenario serves as a useful benchmark to establish an upper bound for the benefits of irrigated crop production to the state economy.
The data on the extent of irrigated cropland in the state is from the IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE poster “Irrigated Lands and Irrigation The total economic impact of Irrigation is important to Wisconsin’s Rates in Wisconsin” presented at specialty crop production is more Bob Smail—Wisconsin Department of Natural agricultural economy. It is crucial the 2016 WPVGA/UWEX Grower Resourc than $1 billion annually, with for specialty crop production in Education Conference by Robert potatoes the single largest crop Wisconsin, especially potatoes, Wisconsin Irrigated Crop component, and together,Using potatoes Multiple Data Sources to Estimate Irrigation Rates Smail. vegetables and cranberries. and vegetables constituting Multiple datamore sources were combined to estimate field scale irrigation rates in Wisconsin. Totalthe actively irrigated la TheThe map in Figure 1 shows of thiseconomic effort will be used to set conservation benchmarks, validate models and estimate than 70 percent ofoutput the total In addition, commodity crops such location water budgets. Accuracy of this dataset will continue to improve as it is used and refined and as of the state’s irrigated impact. as corn, dairy forage the quality of thesoybean underlying and data improves. acres and the estimated average (alfalfa) are also significant users of Similarly, the total economic impact water application rates for 2011of specialty crop production is almost irrigation, with these crops actually 2014. The map and crop acres were Parcels were assigned to irrigation sources constituting more than half of the $4.8 billion annually. As a result, the estimated by combining data from within a radius of expected coverage. irrigated acres in the state. total properties economic impact of specialty Contiguous under the same multiple sources, including the USDA ownership were identified. crop production and processing in Cropland Data Layer on the location This analysis estimates the economic Wisconsin is more than $5.8 billion. and cropping history and DNR well ofyielded irrigated production This map coverage crop of WI Irrigation rates were calculated by USDA cropland data layers were usedimpact applying each source’s location reported agricultural properties with irrigation to identify agricultural parcels from and withdrawal information. Processing generates most of this in Wisconsin. Specifically, thewater analysis sources assigned to individual parcels. withdrawals to the agricultural 2011-2014. Non-agricultural parcels Parcels covered multiple irrigation acres in its assigned parcels. Specific weregrow excluded. the Primary crops and examines impact, but farmers must thebyimpact on the state The Central Sands is clearly visible, sources were divided proportionally by crops were identified from the USDA agricultural acreage for each parcel potatoes and vegetables to the allofthe irrigated crop cropland data layer. the if capacity each well. weredrive recorded for each year. economy where much of the state’s potatoes industry. Not acres in the state were converted and processing vegetables are grown. to dryland production and continued Other smaller potato and vegetable Average to growIrrigation the sameRates crops.2011-2014 Annual Irriga regions are noticeable as well, such Irrigations rates vary considerably across the state depending on Max This assumption is somewhat Each bar shows annua as around Antigo and the lower crop rotations, local weather and grower practices. DNR is 17.2” unrealistic, since much of the irrigation rates statew Wisconsin River Valley, as are the currently working to integrate this data with satellite peaked at 11.9” in 2012 due evapotranspiration and precipitation areas of western and southern below 7” in 2014 w observations to calculate field level Wisconsin dominated by corn, water budgets. soybean and alfalfa production.
Irrigated Lands and Irrigation Rates in W
Mean Irrigation Rate by Parcel
Mean Irrigation Rate by Section
Figure 1: Location of irrigated crop acres Presented at the WPVGA/UWEX Growers Conference 02/2/2016 and average irrigation rates 2011-2014 34 BC�T August
Max 12.5” Max 300,000+ IRRIGATED ACRES 11.9” irrigated acres in The average
Max 11.3”
Wisconsin for 2011-2014 was 332,182, ranging from a low of almost 317,000 acres in 2011 to Potatoes almost 355,000 acres in 2013. 12.9” Sweet Interestingly, 15 Average in any given year, Snap Corn to 30 percent All Crops of the wells remain Beans idle, so potentially irrigated9.7” acres 8.7” 8.3” in the state easily exceed 400,000. Also, note that cranberries are not included in this total. The average annual harvested acres for the state for 2011-2014 was almost 20,000.
Figure 2: Proportion of irrigated acres by crop in Wisconsin 2011-2014
Figure 2 shows the distribution of these acres by crop. Field corn dominates with almost 141,000 acres, or more than 42 percent of the total. Potatoes, sweet corn and snap beans are the next three crops in terms of irrigated acres, and then soybeans and alfalfa. If cranberries were included in Figure 2, they would have a slightly larger share than alfalfa, which averaged about 18,500 irrigated acres during this period. To construct Figure 3, the annual cropping patterns from the Cropland Data Layer were classified into crop rotations. Over the four-year 20112014 period, any irrigated field that had potatoes at least once, or only vegetables, was classified as a potato and vegetables rotation.
Figure 3: Proportion of irrigated acres by rotation in Wisconsin 2011-2014
gross revenue loss when converting irrigated crops to dryland production, which will depend on the yield loss. This yield loss is the converse of the yield benefit when switching from dryland to irrigated production, and so the analysis requires estimating the average yield benefit of irrigation for these crops. The basic model is Irrigated Yield = Dryland Yield x (1 + % Benefit/100).
YIELD BENEFITS The analysis of yield benefits of irrigation requires estimating the
The key to using this model is to estimate the yield benefit of irrigation as a percentage. The University of Wisconsin has continued on pg. 36
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Note that some of these fields had corn or soybeans in a few of the years. Similarly, an irrigated field that had alfalfa for at least one year was classified as dairy forage. Again, some of these fields had corn in some years and possibly even soybeans. Any irrigated field that had corn in all four years was classified as corn, even though some of these acres were likely silage production for dairy forage. Finally, “Corn-Soy” was used for any fields that had only corn and soybeans over the four years.
For example, if the dryland yield is 100 bushels per acre and irrigation has a 50 percent yield benefit, then the Irrigated Yield = Dryland Yield x (1 + % Benefit/100) = 100 x (1 + 50/100) = 150 bushels per acre.
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Badger Beat . . . continued from pg. 35
conducted corn and soybean variety trials for several years with and without irrigation at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station. For the years 2007 to 2013, the average yield benefit was 58.7 percent for corn and 38.9 percent for soybeans, which will be used for this analysis. Similarly, the University of Wisconsin has conducted alfalfa variety trials at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station, showing yields that are roughly twice the state average alfalfa yield. As a result, this analysis uses a 100 percent yield benefit for irrigated alfalfa. For comparison, the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture includes average yields for irrigated and dryland corn, soybeans and alfalfa. In 2012, the U.S. average yield benefit of irrigation relative to dryland production was 54 percent for corn, 31.4 percent for soybeans, and 109.1 percent for alfalfa. IRRIGATED POTATO YIELDS For potato, analysis of yield trial data from North Dakota was available.1 The analysis included linear regressions of dryland and irrigated potato yields from 1994 to 2009. Based on the plotted figure, the
Crop Alfalfa Corn Soybean Potato Sweet Corn Snap Beans Green Peas Carrots Onions Cucumbers
State Average Yield 2011-2014 3.35 tons 144.0 bu 43.0 bu 426 cwt 8.26 tons 4.68 tons 1.95 tons 27.7 tons 399 cwt 5.99 tons
dryland yield was 190 cwt./A (hundredweight per acre) and 400 cwt./A with irrigation, implying a yield benefit of 110.5 percent. No yield data was available for the vegetables, and so the yield benefits for agronomic crops were used as proxies. For sweet corn, the analysis used a benefit of 58.7 percent, just as for field corn, while snap beans and green peas used 38.9 percent, just as for soybeans. Finally, carrots, onions and cucumbers used 110.5 percent, the same yield benefit as potato. Based on the irrigated acres summarized in Figure 2 for each crop, the percentage share of planted acres that were irrigated in Wisconsin was calculated for each crop. Next, the observed state average yield for each crop for 2011-2014 was determined based on USDA NASS data. The observed state average yield is the average of the dryland and irrigated yields, weighted by the share of acres that are irrigated or dryland, and Irrigated Yield = Dryland Yield x (1 + % Benefit/100). Finally, the implied dryland and irrigated yields were determined for Share of Acres Irrigated 0.9% 4.4% 2.3% 77.0% 52.3% 64.6% 64.6% 100% 100% 100%
each crop based on the following equation: Observed Average Yield = % Irrigation Share/100 x Dryland Yield x (1 + % Benefit/100) + (1 – %Irrigation Share) x Dryland Yield. All variables in this equation are known except the implied dryland yield, which can be solved for algebraically, and then the associated irrigated yield determined. Table 2 summarizes these data and results. Note that the yield results in Table 2 do not estimate any changes in yield quality, just quantity. YIELD BENEFITS Impacts on gross revenue in the local economy drive the economic impact analysis. The yield results in Table 2 are combined with the crop acreage data in Figure 2 to estimate the total lost production for each crop if growers switched all currently irrigated crop acres to dryland production. The farmgate revenue impacts of this lost production are then valued using the state average prices for each crop for 2011-2014 from USDA-NASS. These prices were $5.19/bushel for corn, $12.30/bushel for soybeans and $166/ton for alfalfa. For the specialty crops, these prices were $9.95/cwt. for potatoes, $118/
Yield Benefit
Dryland Yield
Irrigated Yield
100.0% 58.7% 38.9% 110.5% 58.7% 38.9% 38.9% 110.5% 110.5% 110.5%
3.32 140.4 42.6 230 6.32 3.74 1.56 13.2 189 2.84
6.63 222.8 59.2 485 10.0 5.19 2.16 27.7 399 5.99
Table 2: Average yield and acreage share data, and irrigation yield benefit data and calculated yields for dryland and irrigated crops in Wisconsin. 36 BC�T August
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ton for sweet corn, $240/ton for snap beans, $463/ton for green peas, $90/ ton for carrots, $15.28/cwt for onions and $269/ton for cucumbers. Table 3 summarizes these results.
Revenue Generated Revenue Loss in State ($ million) w/o Irrigation With Without ($ million) Crop Rotation Irrigation Irrigation Corn $44 $27 $16 The results in Table 3 show that eliminating irrigation would imply Corn-Soy $91 $61 $31 a loss of $224 million per year in Forage $45 $25 $20 direct revenue losses to farmers, with Potato & Vegetable $197 Gallons $157 most of thisVertical loss toTanks: the potato and to 16,000 Cone Tanks:$354 70 Gallons to 12,000 16 Gallons Gallons vegetable growers—$157 million, Total • Tanks $534 $310 come standard with total drain bolted fitting $224 • UV inhibitors molded or in for longer tank life 70 percent of the• total. • Conical bottom with flat spot for total drainage Easy to read molded in gallonage indicators
Table 3: Revenue generated by irrigated crop production in Wisconsin by crop rotation and estimated losses
• 18” lid is standard on all large tanks • 2” or 3” outlets available on larger tanks Note that the analysis assumes that if these acres switched to dryland production of the same crops • Molded in tie down lugs • Siphon tubes to help with drainage farmers would continue to grow the • UV inhibitors molded in for longer tank life • 18” lid is standard on all large tanks same crops, but switch to dryland thatavailable the results in Table 3 do production, just quantity.• Engineered welded Note steel stand • Molded in tie down lugs for securing tanks production. notdate include cranberry. Without the 3 - Year warranty from of shipment • 3 - Year warranty from date of shipment Again, this assumption is• somewhat availability of irrigation for cranberry CROPPING DECISIONS Don’t forget to pick up unrealistic, your Pumps,since fittings, accessories and hose from Ag Systems. reduction in quality This assumption regarding cropping www.agsystemsonline.com would also be expected, which would production, it seems likely that decisions is somewhat unrealistic, commercial production would end in mean lower crop prices, especially since some farmers would likely the state. for the specialty crops, and imply switch to less water intensive crops, greater revenue losses than reported This situation would imply an which would imply smaller revenue in Table 3. losses than reported in Table 3. additional farmgate revenue loss of $158 million, based on the results in Nevertheless, the analysis built on In addition, the analysis assumes Table 1 for cranberry. these assumptions provides a useful no change in thePULL quality ofTYPE the SPREADERS, HIGH CLEARANCE SPREADER continued on pg. 38 yield when switching to dryland benchmark. 2002 CASE IH 3200B $95,000
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BC�T August 37
Badger Beat . . . continued from pg. 37
Table 4 uses the estimated reduction in farmgate revenue from Table 3 to project the impacts on employment and the local economy based on economic multipliers. The conversion of irrigated potatoes and vegetable production to dryland production would result in the projected loss of 1,375 jobs in the state and an overall loss of $235 million in economic activity in the state. If the specialty crop processors decided to reduce their overall processing by the amount of lost production, rather than contract additional dryland acres or import raw product from out of state, the impacts would imply an estimated loss of an additional 1,040 jobs and an overall loss of $278 million in economic activity in the state. The impacts on commodity crop and forage production would be smaller, a loss of 674 jobs and $125 million in economic activity. Also, based on Table 1, if cranberry production was also lost, the impact would be a loss of 1,735 jobs and $241 million in economic activity,
Impact Type Conversion of irrigated corn, corn-soy and dairy forage rotations Conversion of irrigated potato and vegetable rotations Conversion of irrigated potato and vegetable rotations and reduction of processing Potato and vegetable sub-total Total
Employment Losses
Total Economic Activity ($ million)
674
$125
1,375
$235
1,040
$278
2,415 3,089
$513 $638
Table 4: Estimated impacts of revenue reductions on employment and economic activity
which does not include losses due to reduced cranberry processing. The results in Table 4 imply that the impact of irrigation for potato and vegetable production and processing in Wisconsin is in the range of 2,415 jobs and $513 million annually. Also including irrigated production of commodity crops, this increases to almost 3,100 jobs and $640 million annually. Adding cranberry production would increase the impact to more than 4,800 jobs and $879 million in
annual economic impact. The loss of cranberry processing would further increase these impacts. The final analysis divides the total in Table 4 by the acres of each rotation and then multiplies by the typical size of a center pivot system (132 acres), which estimates the economic impact of converting a 132-acre pivot to dryland production. Table 5 reports the results. The conversion of one 132-acre pivot of irrigated potatoes and vegetables to dryland production implies, on average, the loss of 1.15 jobs and more than $197,000 in economic activity just from the reduction in farm revenue. Once the loss of potato and vegetable processing is also added, the impact of converting one pivot is more than 2 jobs and $430,000 in economic activity. The results for the conversion of a pivot of commodity crop production is much smaller, 0.51 jobs and almost $95,000 in economic activity. CONCLUSION Wisconsin’s specialty crop production and processing industry is the second largest in the country, and irrigation is crucial for growing most of these specialty crops, especially potatoes and vegetables. Irrigation is also important for
38 BC�T August
growing field corn, soybeans and alfalfa, important crops for the state’s dairy industry. To help communicate the importance of specialty crops and irrigated crop production in the state, this article summarized the results of the employment impacts and total economic impacts of these industries to the state. Overall, the specialty crop production by farmers generates more than $1 billion annually in economic activity for the state and more than 7,500 jobs. Once combined with specialty crop processing, the full industry generates more than $5.8 billion in economic activity and almost 25,000 jobs. Turning specifically to irrigation, the estimated impact of converting existing irrigated crop acres into dryland production would imply a
Impact Type Conversion of irrigated corn, corn-soy and dairy forage rotations Conversion of irrigated potato and vegetable rotations Conversion of irrigated potato and vegetable rotations and reduction of processing
Employment Losses
Total Economic Activity ($)
0.51
$94,600
1.15
$197,400
2.03
$430,600
Table 5: Estimated impacts of revenue reductions on employment and economic activity for a 132-acre pivot
loss of almost 3,100 jobs and almost $649 million annually. Potato and vegetable production and processing constitute about 70 percent of this estimated loss, with corn, soy and dairy forage capturing a portion. Expressing these results on a perpivot basis, the conversion of a single 132-acre irrigated pivot to dryland
production would result in a loss of more than 2 jobs in potato and vegetable production and processing, and more than $430,000 in economic activity in the state. Robertson, A. 2012. Effects of Seed Spacing and Nitrogen Rates on Dry Land Potato Production, North Dakota State University Extension, Fargo, ND. Online: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/potatoextension/ RobinsonEffectsofSeedSpacingandNitrogenRateson DryLandPotatoProductionpdf.pdf
1
BC�T August 39
People New Lead for UW-Madison Ag Research Station Network Mike Peters officially takes reigns in the fall upon Dwight Mueller’s retirement Mike Peters has been named director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Agricultural Research Station (ARS) network, the university’s system of 11 research stations located throughout the state of Wisconsin.
employee, serving as assistant dairy herd manager at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dairy Forage Research Center where he helped manage the herd and coordinate research projects for the USDA and UW-Madison dairy scientists.
In his new role, Peters, currently the assistant director of the Research Animal Resources Center (RARC) at UW-Madison, will be responsible for the overall management and direction of the state’s research station network.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike back to CALS. He’s a talented and experienced administrator, as well as a natural problem solver, qualities that will serve him well in this position,” says Bill Barker, CALS associate dean for research.
The network provides facilities and support for the research, extension and educational programs of the UWMadison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).
DAIRY BARN LIVING QUARTERS Peters majored in dairy science at UW-Madison. As an undergraduate, he was the student manager of the UW-Madison Dairy Cattle Center, residing in the barn’s second-floor living quarters for three years.
Peters comes to the position with established connections to the college’s researchers and research stations. Before joining the RARC, he served as the dairy herd administrator for the UW-Madison Department of Dairy Science for eight years. In that role, he managed the dairy herd on the UW-Madison campus and the herd at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station, splitting his time between the two sites. Prior that, Peters was an ARS
40 BC�T August
He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1995 and worked as a herdsman for a number of years before returning to school to earn a master’s degree in reproductive physiology/agriculture management from Michigan State University in 2000. Peters gained invaluable experience in the regulatory compliance area in his administrative role at
Above: As director of the University of WisconsinMadison Ag Research Station network, Mike Peters will be charged with the management and direction of 11 research stations across the state.
RARC, particularly in dealing with policies and procedures related to animal care. He also brings a strong background in budgets, personnel and management, all major components of the ARS director position. Peters replaces Dwight Mueller, who retires this fall. Peters began the position on July 17, allowing some time for overlap with Mueller. The first Agricultural Research Station of the ARS network was established in Spooner, Wisconsin in 1909. The network now includes 11 research stations around the state, as well as the Walnut Street Greenhouses on the UW-Madison campus. Combined, the 11 stations have more than 8,000 acres and conduct around 800 research projects each year. Another 250 to 400 projects take place at the Walnut Street Greenhouses. Altogether, the network has around 125 permanent employees and an operating budget of about $9 million.
AgSource Welcomes Water Sales Rep AgSource Laboratories is pleased to announce Ethan Pickett of Marshfield, Wisconsin has accepted the position of water sales representative. Pickett previously worked as a motorsports sales consultant, and has a strong background in communications, client relations and sales. “AgSource is excited to welcome Ethan to our team,” says Eric Helms, AgSource Laboratories vice president of Laboratory Management.
homeowners, hotels, pool and spa owners, and realtors, to maintain strong relationships and provide quick turnaround time, quality service and accurate results. Pickett completed a Bachelor of Science degree in communication with an emphasis on public relations and a minor in business marketing from the University of WisconsinStevens Point. In his spare time, he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, golfing and biking.
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Above: As a sales representative for AgSource Laboratories, Ethan Pickett will focus on certified water and wastewater analysis solutions.
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NPC News
NPC Voices Support for Specialty Crop Block Grants Letter touts Market Access Program, IR-4 and Crop Insurance programs The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (The Alliance) sent a letter to the chair and ranking members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Agriculture Committee and House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee outlining disappointment with President Donald J. Trump’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2018. The Alliance shared why the Specialty Crop Block Grants, the Market Access Program (MAP), IR-4 and Crop Insurance, among other programs, are vital to the success of specialty crop producers. The Specialty Crop Block Grants have funded 7,400 projects that allow competitiveness in the marketplace and address pest mitigation and plant health. The President’s budget calls for elimination of this program, which is vital to ensuring a safe, abundant supply of food. Also targeted for elimination is MAP, which addresses aspects of foreign market development and promotion that are crucial to potatoes. Concerns over a 14 percent proposed reduction
Above: The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which the National Potato Council (NPC) co-chairs, sent a letter to several Senate and House committees stressing the importance of Specialty Crop Block Grants, the Market Access Program, IR-4 and Crop Insurance. Potatoes, defined as specialty crops, are harvested at Alsum Farms Inc. Photo courtesy of Alsum Farms
in APHIS Plant Health programs and value-added producer grants being cut or eliminated were also highlighted.
Administration’s budget was extremely challenging for specialty crops and agriculture in general, it is only a proposal.
More than 200 members of the Alliance, which the National Potato Council (NPC) co-chairs, were signatories. Though the
The House and Senate are charged with funding the government each fiscal year and will execute that authority based on their priorities.
Simpson Pushes EPA on Behalf of Potato Industry The House and Senate Appropriations Committees are ramping up their efforts to produce bills to fund the government for fiscal year 2018. On June 15, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt about proposed cuts to that agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP).
Programs, job creators in my district, such as the potato industry, would not have access to essential crop protection tools. How can we ensure OPP has the resources to run effectively and within PRIA [Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act] timelines under your current budget proposal?” Rep. Simpson asked.
“Without a strong Office of Pesticide
Administrator Pruitt acknowledged
42 BC�T August
the importance of the office but still maintained that its functions should be funded through user fees. The current federal spending bill expires at the end of September. Absent the enactment of a new bill or a continuing resolution by that date, the federal government would shut down most non-essential services.
WPIB Focus
Growers Re-elect Wisconsin Potato Industry Board Members All three of the WPIB Board of Directors up for re-election retain their positions
Above: The 2017 Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB) includes, front row, left to right: Treasurer Keith Wolter, President Heidi-Alsum-Randall, Vice President Dick Okray and Secretary Bill Wysocki; back row, left to right, are Andy Diercks, Cliff Gagas, John Bobek, Tom Wild and John T. Schroeder. The three members whose terms were up for review and who were re-elected to the Board are Alsum-Randall, Wysocki and Wild.
Wisconsin potato growers re-elected three directors whose terms were up for review to the state’s Potato Industry Board (WPIB).
Alsum-Randall retains her position as president of the WPIB, while Wysocki remains secretary and Wild stays on as a director.
Re-elected in District 1 is Tom Wild, Antigo; District 2, Bill Wysocki, Plover; and District 3, Heidi Alsum-Randall, Cambria. The directors will serve three-year terms that started July 1, 2017.
The three districts involved in the election represent the following counties: District 1 – Ashland; Barron; Bayfield; Brown; Burnett; Chippewa; Clark; Door; Douglas; Dunn; Eau Claire;
Florence; Forest; Iron; Kewaunee; Langlade; Lincoln; Marinette; Menominee; Oconto; Oneida; Pepin; Pierce; Polk; Price; Rusk; Sawyer; St. Croix; Taylor; Vilas and Washburn District 2 – Marathon; Outagamie; Portage; Shawano; Waupaca and Waushara District 3 – Adams; Buffalo; Calumet; Columbia; Crawford; Dane; Dodge; Fond du Lac; Grant; Green; Green Lake; Iowa; Jackson; Jefferson; Juneau; Kenosha; La Crosse; Lafayette; Manitowoc; Marquette; Milwaukee; Monroe; Ozaukee; Racine; Richland; Rock; Sauk; Sheboygan; Trempealeau; Vernon; Walworth; Washington; Waukesha; Winnebago and Wood The nine-member Wisconsin Potato Industry Board is responsible for overseeing the collection and use of about $1.67 million in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin potato growers. The money is used to support the industry through research, market development and consumer education. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) administers elections for the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board and other commodity marketing boards in the state. To learn more about the market order boards, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/ MarketingBoards.aspx.
Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison Month
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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
2,183,506.81
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
Aug-16
Sep-16
Oct-16
Nov-16
Dec-16
Jan-17
Feb-17
Mar-17
Apr-17
May-17
Jun-17
Month
Jul-16
Year-to-Date
CWT
1,596,377.06
706,549.40
1,283,527.92
2,874,985.48
3,531,201.37
1,995,664.44
3,035,619.25
2,285,371.71
2,515,966.21
2,349,690.78
2,289,738.80
2,452,848.78 26,917,541.20
Assessment
$96,214.65
$46,392.12
$87,862.17
$200,067.53
$246,554.05
$139,662.51
$212,457.84
$160,044.60
$175,977.76
$164,565.93
$160,266.08
$171,763.66 $1,861,828.90 BC�T August 43
Now News Midwestern BioAg Opens TerraNu Fertilizer Plant Turnkey manufacturing facility can produce 65,000 tons of fertilizer a year On June 16, Midwestern BioAg, based in Madison, Wisconsin, was joined in Fair Oaks, Indiana by over 80 local farmers, media and staff to celebrate the grand opening of its new TerraNu
fertilizer manufacturing plant. The event, hosted at Fair Oaks Farms, featured remarks from Midwestern BioAg leadership and Fair Oaks Farms Co-Founder and Chairman of the
Board Mike McCloskey. Guests received an exclusive look at the new 85,000-square-foot facility, a turnkey fertilizer manufacturing plant capable of producing 65,000 tons of fertilizer each year. The plant is located at Prairie’s Edge Dairy Farm, a founding member of Fair Oaks Farms. “We are proud to share our latest innovation with the local farming community,” says Midwestern BioAg CEO Dr. Tony Michaels. “TerraNu fertilizers bring the benefits of manure and complete crop nutrition Above: At the grand opening of Midwestern BioAg’s TerraNu fertilizer plant in Fair Oaks, Indiana, guests got an up-close look at a seed stock silo and granulator. Left: Guests stand in front of the dust collection system of the TerraNu fertilizer plant in Fair Oaks, Indiana. Opposite Page, Left: The TerraNu Ignite product samples are for demonstration purposes only. Right: Midwestern BioAg TerraNu fertilizer is shown moving along a conveyer belt at the new manufacturing plant.
44 BC�T August
to growers everywhere, making it easy to supply organic matter, NPK [nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium], secondary nutrients and micronutrients in a single product.” “We’re excited about the value TerraNu brings to row-crop farmers, dairy producers and their communities,” Dr. Michaels adds. DRY FERTILIZER GRANULES The new manufacturing facility uses TerraNu Nutrient Technology™ to transform manure into uniform, dry fertilizer granules that can be efficiently stored, transported and applied. The process builds on the environmental benefits of anaerobic digesters by eliminating the logistical challenges of manure application.
of decomposed microbes from the digested manure. TerraNu products made through this process offer precision application, with each granule having the same guaranteed analysis, allowing for even in-field distribution. “TerraNu fertilizers link nutrients to organic matter to enhance nutrient efficiency and crop uptake,” says Midwestern BioAg Vice President
of Sales Jim Krebsbach. “The manure matrix is food for living soil microbes. It draws nutrients into the soil life food chain, helping make them more plant available.” Midwestern BioAg, based in Madison, Wisconsin, manufactures and distributes fertilizers that build soil health to increase yields and quality of both food and forage. For more information about TerraNu fertilizers, visit: www.MidwesternBioAg. com/TerraNu. continued on pg. 46
“Anaerobic digesters are an important tool in manure management, but digested manures remain heavy and difficult to transport,” says Dr. Michaels. “With specialization, crop farms benefiting most from livestock manures are often located miles from manure sources. This process bridges the gap, bringing the benefits of manure to farms that need them the most.” TerraNu fertilizers deliver NPK, secondary nutrients and micronutrients in a granulated fertilizer, supplying many of the benefits of manure without the application challenges. Referred to as the “manure matrix,” the base material is made primarily BC�T August 45
Now News. . . continued from pg. 45
Bayer Launches Grow On Sustainability Initiative Identify, implement and communicate sustainable practices to stakeholders Each year, growers are asked to provide more sustainability information to stakeholders, including processors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers, than they did the year before. Matching that trend, 81 percent of farmers agree that customers of U.S.grown crops are more concerned and focused on the environmental sustainability of the products they buy today than in years past.* To meet this demand, Bayer introduces Grow On, an initiative to provide growers with tools to identify, implement and communicate sustainable farming practices. Grow On provides potato, vegetable, citrus, grape, pome, stone fruit and tree nut growers with the resources needed to continue to sustainably produce safe, nutritious food for the increasing global population. “Generations of growers have rapidly embraced new agricultural technologies that not only have improved their environmental sustainability, but also increased yields and farm productivity,” says Jennifer
Maloney, Bayer food chain and sustainability manager. “Through Grow On, growers can identify products that achieve sustainability benefits in six key areas and then utilize tools to share those benefits with stakeholders,” Maloney explains. The agriculture sustainability focus areas of Grow On are: • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to manage pests with minimal environmental impact
THE VOICE
OF WISCONSI
INDUSTRY & VEGETABLE N'S POTATO
TION ISSUE CROP PROTEC
Volume 69
Number 7
$18.00/year $1.50/copy
INTERVIEW:
coica miAmer Daorth Tim Executive VP-N Certis USA
For more information, visit www.GrowOn.Bayer.us. Above: Bayer’s agricultural sustainability focus areas include water, soil health, GHGs (greenhouse gases), labor, waste and biodiversity.
Badger Common’Tater
THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
RTS WPVG A SUPPO urg’s Farm School at Altenb PRIME MYAN MAR: A t Seed Potato Marke NEXT THE ITE: BRUSH er? Best Dry Fertiliz HONOR SCHOLARSHIPS ts Outstanding Studen
46 BC�T August
“Our products promote agriculture sustainability by improving plant health, preserving biodiversity and ensuring farm safety,” Maloney says. “For example, citrus sustainability starts with healthy trees. We have products to improve tree health by protecting roots, which results in stronger roots and healthier soils for improved nutrient and water uptake.” “Bayer solutions can also decrease crop protection field applications and improve worker safety,” she concludes.
July 2017
Badger er Common’Tat
• Optimizing plant water usage and water quality • Improving soil health and plant nutrient uptake • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel use • Ensuring safe work environments • Reducing food waste by preventing pre-harvest loss and extending postharvest shelf life Bayer solutions provide growers social, environmental and economic benefits.
*Source: 2017 U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Sustainability report.
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Whether you are a grower, industry partner or simply enjoy rural life, sign up to receive this prestigious publication in print version, delivered direct to your mailbox for $18/year (12 issues). is used to load . A Lockwood harvester with potatoes a 4600 Crop Shuttle of John Tweten Photo courtesy
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WPVGA Approves Potato Research Projects Base funding and competitive grants add up to over $370,000 Base Funding Proposals: (BFP) Project Leader
Project Title
Approved
Goldman, Irwin
BFP: Potato & Vegetable Production
$20,000
Crockford, Alex
BFP: Seed Certification
$20,000
Colquhoun, Jed
BFP: Weed Management
$20,000
Gevens, Amanda
BFP: Disease Management
$20,000
Groves, Russell
BFP: Insect Management
$20,000
Navarro, Felix
BFP: Potato Variety & Advanced Selection Evaluation
$20,000
MacGuidwin, Ann
BFP: Nematology
$20,000
Endelman, Jeffrey
BFP: Breeding
$20,000
Ruark, Matthew
BFP: Fertility Management
$20,000
Competitive Grant Proposals: Project Leader
Project Title
Approved
Bethke, Paul
Imaging Technologies for Potato Irrigation Management
$5,000
Townsend, Phil
From Leaves to Canopies: Using Spectroscopy for Monitoring of Potatoes
$10,902
Navarro, Felix
Understanding New Potato Variety Performance Under High & Low N & Enhancing Deficit Irrigation Experiments
$11,000
Gevens, Amanda
Support for ET Estimations & Weather Station at Hancock Ag Research Station
$3,720
Gevens, Amanda
Evaluating Fungicide Programs for Potato Disease Control
$12,000
Groves, Russell
Insect Management Systems for Potato Production
$7,500
Endelman, Jeff
Improved Breeding Methods for Skin Set & Color in Red Fresh Market Potatoes
$12,000
Jansky, Shelley
Thermal & NDVI Imaging to Detect Verticillium Wilt
$11,617
Lankau, Richard
Harnessing Soil Microbes for Disease Suppression & Yield Increases
$12,000
Bethke, Paul
Understanding the Causes of Quality Degradation in Red Skinned Potato
$5,000
Goldman, Irwin
Sustainable Vegetable Cropping Systems Specialist Proposal 1
$12,000
Goldman, Irwin
Sustainable Vegetable Cropping Systems Specialist Proposal 2
$12,000
Groves, Russell
Sequencing a Candidate Potato Virus Y Resistance Gene Region in Solanum Chacoense
$7,500
Groves, Russell
Fungicides as Inadvertent Toxicological Drivers of Insecticide Resistance in Leptinotarsa Decemlineata
$12,000
Halterman, Dennis
Efficient Growth of a Potential Biocontrol Agent for Potato Late Blight $10,000
Knuteson, Deana
Expansion & Long-Term Stability for Wisconsin’s Healthy Grown Certification Program
$12,000
Zimmerman, Steve
Langlade County Potato Research Facility Support
$12,000
Bolte, Chuck
Water Flow & Phosphorus Monitoring in the Antigo Flats Potato & Vegetable Production Area
$12,000
Fowler, Paul
An Investigation of the Market for Chlorogenic Acid Isolated from Potato Processing Residual Streams Including Size & Requirements for Entry
$11,984
TOTAL RESEARCH PROJECT FUNDING
$372,223
continued on pg. 48
BC�T August 47
Now News. . . continued from pg. 47
Book Continues Rich Legacy of UW-Madison Research The Soils of Wisconsin is first account of state’s soils in more than 40 years At a March 16 event, Alfred Hartemink, a UW–Madison professor and chair of soil science, and Jim Bockheim, professor emeritus of soil science at the university, presented Chancellor Rebecca Blank with the first copy of their new book, The Soils of Wisconsin. The first such account of the state’s soils in more than 40 years, the new volume joins the rich history of soil science at UW–Madison, a history that stretches back more than a century. The foreword is written by Chancellor Blank, whose father was a soil scientist. “Soil is an extremely important resource, but it hasn’t gotten a whole lot of attention,” says Bockheim, whose research focuses on soil formation in Antarctica. “We’re trying to make the discipline more visible.” In 1976, Francis D. Hole, a professor of soil science at UW–Madison,
published Soils of Wisconsin, then the most authoritative collection of knowledge about Wisconsin soils. The new book is dedicated to Hole, who was a beloved teacher on campus and successfully led the campaign to name Antigo silt loam the official state soil in 1983. Hole’s two children attended the book launch. “We have better insight into the spatial distributions of the rich tapestry of soils across the landscape,” says Hartemink, explaining how soil science has changed in the 41 years since the last book was published. The new work takes a soil-centric approach to describing the Wisconsin landscape, rather than focusing on isolated regions of the state. SEVEN SOIL ORDERS Of the 12 different soil orders that exist around the world, seven are
Above: The new book by UW-Madison professors Alfred Hartemink and Jim Bockheim, The Soils of Wisconsin, takes a soil-centric approach to describing the Wisconsin landscape. Of the 12 different soil orders that exist around the world, seven are found in Wisconsin, which is one of only three states that have up-to-date and comprehensive soil maps available.
found in Wisconsin, which is one of only three states that have up-todate and comprehensive soil maps available. The first soil map in the United States was produced by Wisconsin geologist Thomas Chamberlin in 1882, and subsequent maps were published in the 20th century by UW–Madison professors of soil science Andrew Whitson and Hole in their volumes on the subject. The Soils of Wisconsin includes the latest map of soil distributions around the state. State agencies and residents use such maps for agricultural, municipal and wildlife planning purposes. Hartemink and Bockheim view their new book as an extension of the Wisconsin Idea—dedicated to providing the people of Wisconsin with the knowledge created at the University of Wisconsin. “Soils are an essential and too often underappreciated asset for this state,” writes Chancellor Blank in the foreword. “It is my sincere hope that this book will help document the importance of the soil for the wellbeing and prosperity of all of us in Wisconsin.”
48 BC�T August
Participate in Survey on Potato Field Microbial Diversity UW-Madison asks for soil samples to help understand role of microorganisms By Dr. Richard Lankau, UW-Madison Plant Pathology Department With funding from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), the research group of Dr. Richard Lankau in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking interested growers and crop consultants to participate in a survey of microbial diversity across potato fields in Wisconsin. We are learning more and more about the vital role that soil microorganisms play in sustainable, productive agricultural systems through their effects on disease suppression, nutrient cycling and water relations. However, there are still many basic questions about the role of soil microbes in potato production systems, and how they respond to the variation in soil conditions, climates and management decisions across the state. As a first step, we would like to obtain soil samples from as many fields across the state as possible. New technology allows us to obtain a snapshot of the entire microbial community from a soil or root sample using molecular biology methods at reasonably low cost. Therefore, the primary limitation on this research becomes the physical collection of samples from across wide areas. What we need: We are looking for participants willing to collect approximately 2 cups of soil from one or more fields currently in potato, and ship them to our lab in Madison within one week of sampling. We can cover shipping expenses through UPS. Alternatively, we have set up a collection box at the Hancock
Agricultural Research Station if you prefer to hand deliver your samples there. SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE Additionally, participants will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire about the history and management of the sampled field. All information, including the microbial data we collect, will be fully anonymized prior to any dissemination. We are hoping to get samples from a large number of fields (up to 50) from around the state to provide the best chance of identifying patterns in microbial communities. For anyone particularly interested, we also need a larger collection of soil, approximately 2 gallons, to use in greenhouse experiments that will help us determine the functional relationships between microbial communities and potato health. We would like to get these larger samples from 15 fields around the state managed in divergent ways. What we can provide: Although our research is at too early a stage to provide specific recommendations, we would be happy to provide a
summary of the information we learn about the microbial communities in your field, and how these communities compare to other fields in the state. For those fields that we use in our greenhouse experiments, we will be able to provide more information on the disease-suppressive and nutrient-acquisition properties of the microbial communities, at least in the context of our experimental conditions. In time, with the data from this survey, along with additional experimentation, our hope is to develop guidelines for management decisions that build healthy soil communities and best capitalize on the functions that these communities can provide for crops. If you have any interest in participating in this research, please contact Richard Lankau via email (lankau@wisc.edu) or phone (608) 262-3084 and we can discuss the logistical details and any questions you have about our work.
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. BC�T August 49
Retailers Open “Grocer ants” Can potato and vegetable growers capitalize on millennials’ tendency to dine in and carry out? By Jill Rittenberg, Potatoes USA Simply put, consumers are increasingly demanding convenience, and the marketplace is responding. Today’s grocers are providing more options as customers are changing where they spend their food dollars. According to Census Retail Trade data, consumers spent more money for food eaten away from home than food consumed at home in 2016. This trend is expected to continue and grocery stores are adapting to the changing marketplace. To capture these opportunities, retailers are opening “grocerants”— think restaurants in grocery stores— where the lines between traditional retail and traditional foodservice 50 BC�T August
are becoming blurred by offering consumers more of what they are craving: options and convenience. According to the NPD Group (a market research organization), in-store dining and takeout of prepared food from grocers has grown 30 percent from 2008-2015, accounting for 2.4 billion foodservice visits and $10 billion in consumer spending in 2015. In 2016, Dataessentials reported that 53 percent of customers are buying more supermarket-prepared food and beverages than one year ago. DELIS SEE MOST GROWTH Bottom line, these sales are driving the growth in retail, and retailers are
focused on perfecting the deli to continue to drive sales, loyalty and total store success. So, which consumers are driving the growth? It’s probably no surprise, Millennials. This segment of customers wants fresh, healthy food at a decent price. According to a recent Technomics survey, 52 percent of respondents said they see prepared foods as healthier alternatives to fast food. Many grocers now offer restaurantquality food featuring global cuisines such as seafood and oyster bars, to Mexican, Asian, Italian Above: With millennial shoppers wanting options and convenience, supermarkets are responding with grocerants—think restaurants in the grocery store. Photo courtesy of Kantar Retail
and barbeque. Some grocers have craft beers on tap for shoppers to taste or refill their growler to take home. This diversification is helping drive the growth and is expected to continue. Today, consumer’s food preferences are global and their desire for convenience is paramount. Grocerants are well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. From convenient and fast options to globally-inspired prepared meals offered at food bars and even in-store restaurants, there’s something for everyone. Increasingly, consumers are able
Left: Modern day one-stop shopping increasingly includes restaurant-quality meals while at the grocery store. So, whether through fresh or chip stock, there are opportunities for potato growers, suppliers and wholesalers to capitalize on the trend toward prepared meals offered at food bars and in-store restaurants. Photo courtesy of Kantar Retail Right: According to a 2016 Dataessentials survey, 53 percent of customers are buying more supermarket-prepared food and beverages than one year ago. Photos courtesy of Kantar Retail and Whole Foods Market Bottom: Some grocers even have craft beers on tap for shoppers to taste or for refilling their growlers to take home. Photo courtesy of Whole Foods Market
to get their restaurant-quality meals while at the grocery store. It’s a onestop shop offering the convenience today’s consumer is seeking.
HOW DO MILLENIALS SHOP? quickly
impulsively
socially
9.9M
74%
13.3M
are primarily errand runners
of their trips included no preparation
are interested in social interaction around shopping
1 out of every 3 trips lasted
5 minutes or less
63% more likely to buy a meal or a snack to eat right away
35% of their trips included a non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage
5.8M use websites, smartphones and social media to facilitate and talk about their shopping
BC�T August 51
Marketplace
By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions & Consumer Education
“Kids from Wisconsin” Tout Potatoes & Buying Local For me, it’s quite empowering when I see younger generations stepping up and taking over as leaders in society and in the vocations of their choosing. This is a trend that’s as important to
maintain today as it has been for decades. Like I shared in the June issue of the Badger Common’Tater, the Wisconsin
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Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Promotions Committee has partnered with a group that is stepping up as leaders, and they’re promoting Wisconsin potatoes in the process! “Kids from Wisconsin” is a fun-loving, entertaining group of young men and women who travel throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest and showcase their musical talents through a variety of performances. They also conduct local outreach programs that are designed to enhance the performers’ leadership capabilities while also encouraging other young students to one day follow suit and pursue their dreams. This is an effort that speaks volumes, not only in terms of developing Above: The “Kids from Wisconsin” have fun posing proudly in their Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes shirts, which they wear between performances and during outreach events.
effective mentors, but also in making connections to encourage consumers to buy Wisconsin potatoes. The Kids from Wisconsin are wearing Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes t-shirts in between shows and during outreach sessions to showcase the health benefits of Wisconsin potatoes, their importance in people’s diets and active lifestyles and why it’s essential to buy local. These kids are truly ambassadors for the Wisconsin potato industry and are living examples of the benefits Wisconsin potatoes can have.
Above: The Kids from Wisconsin show off the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo on their shirts with a clear gesture that Wisconsin potatoes can and do power performance and are vital components of healthy, active lifestyles.
Retail Display Contest Promoted at United Fresh Chicago Bear country once again welcomed the 2017 United Fresh Show to the McCormick Place in downtown Chicago, June 13-15. And once again, the show proved to be an ideal venue for communicating the Wisconsin potato industry’s promotional efforts, especially that of the upcoming Wisconsin Potatoes Display Contest. With the contest being in its second year, the retail store with the best Wisconsin potatoes display will win a
2016 Cub Cadet UTV (Utility Task Vehicle), complete with a dump box and trailer that all showcase the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo.
Wisconsin’s Potatopalooza month, as well as the timeframe of the display contest. This show continues to be held in a fundamental location for touting Wisconsin’s “Buy Local” initiative and expanding the program outside the state.
A cardboard cutout of the 2016 Cub Cadet UTV and posters advertising the contest were hard to miss in the WPVGA United Fresh Show booth.
Bottom Left: The 2016 Cub Cadet cardboard cutout and quarter-sized Buy Local/Healthy Grown bins helped complete the WPVGA booth at the 2017 United Fresh show, June 13-15, in Chicago. Pictured left to right are Doug Bulgrin of Gumz Muck Farms, Michael Gatz of Bushmans’ Inc. and Tom Bulgrin, also of Gumz Muck Farms.
There were many inquiries into the contest, and since the show, a number of Spudmobile visits have filled up during October, which is
Bottom Right: A group of retailers stopped by the WPVGA United Fresh booth. Mike Gatz (center, tan coat) and Michael Bader (far left) explain the 2017 Wisconsin Potatoes Display Contest, as well as some of WPVGA’s other promotional efforts.
BC�T August 53
POTATOES USA NEWS Malaysia Fresh Potato Sampling Event a Success The fresh potato category in Malaysia was highlighted this spring season with an in-store promotional event
focused on the high quality and nutritional benefits of U.S. fresh potatoes. Aeon Supermarkets, the largest retailer in Malaysia with 32 locations throughout the country, partnered with the local Potatoes USA office in the country in developing the monthlong promotion. The promotion ran in conjunction with the Muslim holiday Ramadan. The event’s goal was to target customers in eight of Aeon’s 32 busiest locations and educate them on how potatoes are a healthy, convenient and affordable option for breaking their Ramadan fasts by handing out recipe cards and
54 BC�T August
Current Page: Potatoes USA partnered with Aeon Supermarkets, the largest retailer in Malaysia, on an in-store promotional event focused on the high quality and nutritional benefits of U.S. fresh potatoes. Eight participating stores saw an increase in sales of 83 percent compared to the same timeframe the prior year.
communicating directly with in-store representatives. This year’s event generated an 83 percent sales increase in the eight stores compared to sales in the same timeframe the prior year. In fact, the event helped generate increased export shipments of plus-116 percent for April 2017 compared to 2016, as Aeon ordered extra product to have on hand for this promotion. Potatoes USA is committed to increasing the demand for U.S. potatoes throughout the world. To learn more about this event, please contact Ross Johnson at Ross@ potatoesusa.com.
Cooking Demos Highlight Malaysia Media Day A media day was held in Malaysia to showcase family friendly, healthy potato dishes. At the event, attendees learned about U.S. potatoes and potato products and the U.S. industry before watching cooking demonstrations. The main messages for the media event were: • How easy it is to prepare tasty and healthy dishes using U.S. potatoes for the family • U.S. potatoes are a healthy and versatile ingredient that can be used in all types of family cooking The three guests conducting cooking demos included Ruth Liew, mother of two and parenting expert; well-known dietitian Indra Balaratnam, mother of one; and television host Azawate Zenol Abidin, mother of three.
The three ladies shared stories of cooking at home with their kids while each demonstrating a potato dish. Ruth recommended getting your children involved in the cooking process. Indra demonstrated a Potato & Mozzarella Begedil dish that she loves to make as a snack for her kids and shared potato nutrition information. Azawate Zenol Abidin created an easy-to-make potato and mushroom omelet that she loves to serve her family for breakfast. The event attracted 28 attendees from the media. Within hours of the event, a segment about U.S. potatoes was featured on the evening news, and several other stories were published in the following days.
Above: U.S. fresh potatoes were the stars of a recent media day and cooking demonstration in Malaysia. Spuds were highlighted by a parenting expert, a dietitian and a television host in dishes they prepared for the event.
Importance of USDA Market Access Program Stressed The U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) Executive Committee met with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to educate him on the importance of the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) and other USDA export development programs. Potatoes USA CMO John Toaspern is the immediate past president of USAEDC and participated in this meeting with Secretary Perdue. Toaspern provided information on the extensive job creation in rural America that comes from agricultural exports. A coalition of agricultural organizations, which the National Potato Council is a member of, has initiated an effort with Congress to double the funding for these programs in the next Farm Bill.
Above: Potatoes USA CMO John Toaspern (second from right), immediate past president of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council, was one of the executive committee members that met with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue (center in blue shirt) to educate him on the importance of the USDA Market Access Program and other USDA export development programs.
BC�T August 55
New Products
Tong Offers Fieldloader Options Automatic transport mode makes machine more compact for moving
Tong Engineering is pleased to announce new design options on its
popular Fieldloader, including unique automatic transport-mode features, allowing users to make the machine even more compact for road transport. Designed to provide effective in-field cleaning and bulker loading in one mobile machine, the Tong Fieldloader is a mobile system that allows crop cleaning and inspection to take place straight from the harvester with direct loading into bulker bins for immediate distribution. 56 BC�T August
“Our Fieldloader is increasingly popular with growers, as it means soil is removed in the field and kept off the public roads, plus transport time is significantly reduced as there is no need to take crop to a central yard or location,” explains Charlie Rich, export sales manager at Tong Engineering.
Above: One of the key benefits of the Fieldloader is the fact that it incorporates a heavy-duty infeed hopper, crop cleaner, inspection area and integrated extending elevator, all in one mobile unit.
“It significantly reduces crop handling times, allowing growers to meet tight deadlines and deliver crop in optimum condition straight from the field,” Rich adds. One of the key benefits of the Fieldloader is the fact that it incorporates a heavy-duty infeed hopper, crop cleaner, inspection area and integrated extending elevator, all in one mobile unit. “While some growers choose to
Super Poly Tanks from AG Systems
operate the Fieldloader in the yard, when in transport mode, reducing EasyClean separator or adjustable the length of the machine by over 20 many customers move the machine coil cleaning unit for lighter soil feet.” between fields,” Rich says. “We have conditions. The latest models also designed a new model of the machine feature wireless remote control of Other transport options of the new that incorporates a transportextending elevator, giving the Tanks: brakes, 70 Gallonsthe to 12,000 Gallons Vertical Tanks: 16 Gallons to 16,000 designGallons include fullCone suspension, mode option featuring a powered operator complete control over • Tanks where come standard with total drain bolted fitting machine • UV inhibitors molded in for longer tank lifelighting and steering elevator section that automatically filling flat spot for total without drainage moving the • Conical bottom with bulker • Easy to read molded in gallonage indicators required. retracts back under the cleaning and Fieldloader,” • 18” lid is standard on all large tanks he says. • 2” or 3” outlets available on larger tanks inspecting sections of the machine, “Not only is the Fieldloader easier todown lugs • Molded in tie • Siphon tubes to help with drainage “Our market-leading Pro-Series making the unit as short as possible but all the latest • UVmodels inhibitors molded in for longer tank life • 18” lid is standard on all large transport, tanks HMIstand Control system showcasing Engineered welded steel available • Molded in tie down lugs for securing tanks when towing on the road.” are powered by our Blue• Inverter sophisticated diagnostics capabilities • 3 Year warranty from date of shipment • 3 - Year warranty from date ofTechnology shipment with all-electric direct FOLDABLE CONVEYORS can Ag alsoSystems. be specified for added Don’t forget to pick up drive. your Pumps, fittings, runs accessories and hose from The machine efficiently “Foldable conveyors are also a www.agsystemsonline.com control and advanced machine with minimal energy consumption, feature on the transport-mode design monitoring and reporting,” Rich something that is a key consideration to make the Fieldloader as narrow concludes. when using it in the field,” Rich adds. as possible,” he continues. “The For more information, email Carole standard Fieldloader stands at around “The Fieldloader is available with Metcalfe at Tong Engineering, 72 feet long when in full operation, a choice of crop cleaning systems, carole@tongengineering.com. but reduces to just under 49 feet including Tong’s market-leading
USED EQUIPMENT
PULL TYPE SPREADERS, HIGH CLEARANCE SPREADER
2002 CASE IH 3200B
continued on pg. 58
$95,000
W/NEW LEADER L2000G4 SPINNER BOX 5662 HOURS, 380/90R46 TIRES, CHASSIS SANDBLASTED & PAINTED, RAVEN VIPER PRO,SPINNER SPEED CONTROL
2015 BBI JAVELIN SPREADER
$38,900
12’ 304SS BOX, ADJ. AXLE, 380/90R46 TIRES, PLUG TO TRACTOR HYD. DRIVE, ROLL TARP, DUAL SPINNER, VRA CAPABLE, 120’ SPREAD PATTERN
SPRAYERS
2011 AGCO 1396Super
Poly Tanks from AG 380 Systems 2,584 HOURS, 1,300 GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOMS, VIPER PRO, ACCUBOOM, TIRES, CHEM EDUCTOR, NICE MACHINE 2011 John Deere 4830
$129,000 $119,500
2,800 HOURS, 1,000 GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOMS, GREENSTAR CONTROLS, CHEM INDUCTOR, 380 TIRES, OVERALL NICE MACHINE
$85,000 BUILT FOR 2009 AGCO SS884 $69,500 SOIL380/90R46 PRODUCTIVITY 3,485 HOURS, 865 GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOMS, RAVEN VIPER PRO, AUTOBOOM, ACCUBOOM, TIRES 2009 CASE IH 4420
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New Products . . . continued from pg. 57
Tasteful Selections Adds Cheesy Flavor to Lineup RPE potato brand expands to include savory Cheddar Cheese Take & Shake snack cup Tasteful Selections™, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc., is pleased to announce the release of a new flavor in its Tasteful Selections Take & Shake™ line: Cheddar Cheese. Easily the new fan favorite, cheddar cheese offers a savory yet explosive cheddar taste that complements the creamyrich texture of fresh potatoes. Aimed for convenience, Take & Shake snack-sized cups are filled with fresh potatoes and an individual seasoning packet with one of four flavors. Each flavor provides a unique culinary experience and a reimagined potato product. These cups satisfy cravings and provide a healthier option to onthe-go eating. The other three Take & Shake cup flavors are Chipotle BBQ, Chili Lime and Black Pepper Rosemary & Thyme. “We are extremely thrilled to be adding Cheddar Cheese to our Take & Shake line,” says Russell Wysocki,
president and CEO of RPE. “The Take & Shake cups provide a heathier option to grab-and-go-eating. One of America’s favorite foods can be enjoyed at only 130 calories per cup. We know our consumer will love the addition of the savory cheddar cheese flavor.” “Take & Shake cups are packed at our award-winning facility with patented ‘micro porous’ steamrelease technology to deliver the best possible cooking results,” Wysocki adds. “A special two-way venting system allows us to maximize shelf life and reduce waste/shrink in the supply chain.” About Tasteful Selections: Tasteful Selections, LLC, a joint venture between RPE, CSS Farms and Plover River Farms Alliance, Inc., is a vertically integrated grower, shipper and marketer of premium specialty potatoes with unique attributes for size and flavor.
About RPE: RPE, a second-generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions.
Valley Becomes Distributor of Trimble Irrigate-IQ GPS-guided nozzle irrigation solution helps achieve precision water application Valley® Irrigation, The Leader in Precision Irrigation®, a division of Valmont Industries, Inc., and Trimble, a premier provider of precision agriculture solutions, announce that Valley Irrigation will become the exclusive OEM distributor of Trimble’s Irrigate-IQ™ precision irrigation solution.
products through the global Valley dealer network to optimize water application for center pivot irrigation systems.
This solution is available for Valley Corner Sprinkler Sequencing and Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI)
The need for uniform and accurate water delivery to the crop throughout its lifecycle is essential to maximize
58 BC�T August
yield and maintain the health of plants. The collaboration between Valley Irrigation and Trimble provides farmers globally with an advanced control, GPS-guided, individual nozzle irrigation solution from two recognized leaders in both irrigation
and precision technology.
accuracy irrigation solution.”
“Valley is excited to work with Trimble and believes that this relationship strengthens our position as the technology leader in the global irrigation market. Trimble’s experience, focus on technology and global reach make it an outstanding technology partner,” says Len Adams, president of Valley Irrigation.
The exclusive distribution agreement allows Valley to be the only pivot manufacturer to provide Trimble’s Irrigate-IQ solution to its channel.
“By distributing Trimble’s IrrigateIQ solution on Valley products, our customers can benefit from enhanced solutions for precision water application,” Adams adds. “Valley has a long-standing reputation for superior irrigation technology and an extensive global customer base,” says Darryl Matthews, senior vice president and sector head of Trimble. “Now, more farmers worldwide can enhance their pivot’s current capabilities by adopting a high-
Products are available worldwide through the Valley dealer network. Trimble’s Vantage network will continue to provide professional services and support to the IrrigateIQ solution and its users. About Trimble: Trimble solutions include guidance and steering, agronomy coaching, desktop and cloud-based data management, flow and application control, water management, harvest solutions and correction services. For more information about Trimble, visit: www.trimble. com. About Valley Irrigation: Valley Irrigation is a worldwide leader in pivot irrigation sales, service, quality and innovation. With historical sales of more than 200,000 center pivots and linears, Valmont-built equipment annually irrigates approximately 25 million acres around the world. For more information on Valley Irrigation, please visit www.valleyirrigation.com.
continued on pg. 60
What do you expect from the seed potatoes that you buy?
The varieties that yo
u need.
The early generation that you want.
The quality and yie ld you have come to that expect.
Wisconsin has it!
For a directory of Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers or a free video, contact:
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES
Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association, Inc. P.O. Box 173, Antigo, WI 54409 715-623-4039 www.potatoseed.org
View a directory of the Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers on your smartphone.
BC�T August 59
New Products . . . continued from pg. 59
AGCO Sprayers Feature Easy Clean-Out Systems RoGator C Series applicator gives automatic traction control and better turning on headlands By Farm Journal Media The new RoGator C Series of rowcrop herbicide applicators from AGCO Corporation features a closed-loop sprayer system for fast priming to get started and more complete clean-out of sprayer booms at the end of each job. “With the prevalence of herbicideresistant weeds throughout the country and the introduction of new herbicide systems to control these weeds, greater management and attention to detail will be needed for anyone applying herbicides,” says Mark Mohr, tactical marketing manager of AGCO’s application division. “The engineering and technology of the RoGator C Series machines and new LiquidLogic system are going to help operators simplify their jobs, reduce potential for off-target application, make cleanout faster, easier and more thorough and reduce product waste,” he says. In a field demonstration put on for farm media in Jackson, Minnesota, Mohr and his colleagues demonstrated that the machines are capable of leaving less than a gallon of material in the 120-foot sprayer boom, plumbing and filters. The rest of the product is reclaimed and pushed back into the sprayer’s tank. Key to the system is a continuousflow, closed-loop plumbing system. The operator is also able to angle the boom arms up and down, which allows gravity to drain the boom. Air pressure is then used to force remaining product back to the tank and to vacate and clean nozzles. 60 BC�T August
Photo courtesy of Jim Dickrell and Farm Journal Media
SELF-PRIMING BOOMS The C Series applicators also use self-priming booms once the product pump and recirculation system are turned on. The LiquidLogic system maintains a +/-1 psi (pounds per square inch) variation across the boom and helps ensure a consistent spray pattern. The applicators’ drive system is also new. A single system with a four-corner distribution block sends hydraulic fluid to all four wheels of the machine, and sensors detect which wheel or wheels need more or less power for better traction control as the machine moves down the field. On turns, sensors also slow down inside wheels and speed up outside wheels, which reduces sliding, crop damage and soil disruption. The C Series applicators are now equipped
with an anti-lock braking system for safer, shorter braking distances both in the field and on the road. The auto-guidance system on the C Series applicators features dualband cellular plus worldwide satellite connectivity, so machines are never lost and owners always know where their machines are. That enhances both security and operational efficiency as machines move field to field and tenders move product to the sprayers. The C Series sprayers make their public debut a MAGIE, August 2425, in Bloomington, Illinois, and will be featured at other Midwest farm shows this fall. For more information, contact AGCO Corporation, 4205 River Green Pkwy., Duluth, GA 30096, phone: 770-8139200, www.agcocorp.com.
EYES ON ASSOCIATES By WPVGA Associate Div. President, Sally Suprise, Ansay & Associates
Hello everyone. We had
a wet start to our summer of 2017! In my travels throughout the state of Wisconsin, the crops are looking beautiful and I am so proud to say that I support such a great industry, particularly our farmers. We held our Associate Division Board meeting on June 16, making final preparations for the 2017 Putt-Tato Open golf outing, which was a huge success. Make sure to read the feature article showcasing the Putt-Tato Open in the upcoming September 2017 issue of the Badger Common’Tater. I want to thank all who supported the event, from the hole sponsors to the silver and platinum sponsors—the latter of which include Advanced Farm Equipment, AgCountry Farm Credit Services/Compeer Financial, Ag World Support Systems, Ansay & Associates, Big Iron Equipment/Spudnik, Fencil Urethane Systems, Syngenta and Volm Companies. For a full list of sponsors, including hole sponsors, see the upcoming September issue. We could not have held this event without all of you. We also discussed the Hancock Agricultural Research Station (HARS) Field Day, held July 20, and as always that is another fun-filled day with delicious food sponsored by the Associate Division and prepared by Swine and Dine. See full coverage of the HARS Field Day in the September issue.
Updates were presented on the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Promotions and Government Affairs Committees. Keep in mind that the Promotions Committee is always happy to get volunteers willing to help in the Spudmobile for upcoming events. With the summer season coming to a close and harvest season quickly underway, there is an increase in seasonal workers, which creates a high risk of injuries and losses. SAFETY FIRST With me being an insurance consultant, the best insurance against injury on the farm is safety. It’s very important that employees working on the farm and in the fields know and understand proper precautions and procedures, particularly when extra workers are hired at peak seasons. Injury rates are highest among children ages 15 and under, and in adults over the age of 65, with most farm accidents and fatalities involving farm machinery. Doing equipment maintenance and proper machine guarding can help prevent accidents. Always make sure your employees have access to and use protective equipment such as safety eye wear, steel-toe boots, gloves and hats that can significantly reduce farm injuries. There are many resources available
Above: The WPVGA Associate Division sponsored lunch at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station Field Day, July 20. Lunch was provided by Swine and Dine, with corn delivered from Flyte Family Farms of Coloma, Wisconsin. Associate Division President Sally Suprise (left) and Kenton Mehlberg (right), a director on the board, helped serve fresh corn on the cob at the event.
to assist you in improving your farm safety program, including those from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. With that, I express thanks to all members of the WPVGA. The Associate Division is always available to help the industry. Please feel free to contact me or any of our board members with comments, questions or concerns. Thanks, and I wish you all happiness and contentment!
Sally Suprise
WPVGA Associate Division President BC�T August 61
Carry the Crop to Yield Smartly Tips for in-season management offer growers and agronomists time and money savings
Above: Agronomic analysis, such as on corn tissue similar to that shown here, offers a snapshot of what the plants are experiencing, allowing agronomists and growers to know if the crop is carrying enough nutrients to carry it to yield. 62 BC�T August
Planting season is over. The crop is in the ground, and for a short time, growers are breathing a sigh of relief and maybe even catching some time to see their families. But within a blink, the reality of low commodity prices, delayed planting, poor germination, denitrification, and missing or late applications hit.
And this list of in-season grower challenges goes on and on. These and many other problems have plagued the 2017 growing season thus far, leaving growers and agronomists scratching their heads searching for answers. Have we lost some of the nitrogen we applied to denitrification? If so, how much? Does the crop have enough fertility to carry it through to yield? Do we apply additional nitrogen to a crop with limited yield potential? Do we need additional sulfur or boron to support yield? Above: Running a soil nitrate analysis can help set a baseline to dial-in the current nitrate levels in the soil and best administer only the nitrogen that is needed. In a wet year like 2017, nitrate levels could be lower than expected. John Ruzicka of Guth Farm, Inc. is shown transferring nitrogen into a nurse tank.
There are ways to fill in those blanks. “Agronomic analysis offers a snapshot of what the plants are seeing,” explains Scott Fleming, Rock River Laboratory soil sampling director. “This allows agronomists and growers to know if enough nutrients are
available to carry the crop to yield, rather than hoping enough fertility is left,” he says. To guide agronomists and growers through some common in-season challenges, Fleming offers some tips: continued on pg. 64
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Carry the Crop to Yield Smartly. . . continued from pg. 63
Review plants and soil throughout the growing season Crop scouting isn’t just about what meets the eye. “Pest challenges and crop diseases can emerge throughout the growing season, so keeping a steady eye on all acres from emergence through dry-down can help catch these vices early and keep them at bay before they spread and take down entire fields,” advises Fleming. However, not all challenges are visual. “Denitrification and lacking plant-available nitrogen are unseen by the human eye,” says Fleming. He recommends monthly PSNT (PreSidedress Soil Nitrate Test) testing, which takes a look at soil nitrate content at time of sampling, to assess and adjust for denitrification. Set baselines for comparison and tailor applications Running a soil nitrate analysis can help set a baseline to dial-in the current nitrate levels in the soil and best administer only the nitrogen that is needed. In a wet year like 2017, nitrate levels could be lower than expected. “One advantage of nitrate analysis is tailoring side-dress nitrogen application rates to soil test nitrate levels,” says Fleming. “Adding micronutrients to side-dress or postemergence applications can help out a deficient crop.” These methods also permit application of additional nitrogen to fields that would otherwise be maxed out in a Nutrient Management Plan. ather accurate samples G Fleming recommends growers or 64 BC�T August
their agronomists, depending on who is pulling a sample for analysis, should take extra care to follow the specific sampling instructions for the crop at hand. “Without an accurate sample, growers and their agronomists will be without an accurate analysis,” says Fleming. “Plant tissue sampling varies greatly between types of plants and growth stage, so look to your analysis laboratory to provide the detailed instructions to follow for the plants you’re managing.” He follows with the importance of sampling, as it sets the stage for the interpreted results and the adjustments that will eventually be made in-field. ssess all factors that work together A As with any biological systems, many parts and pieces have to function together for the physiology to work correctly. Crops are a perfect example of this. “Soil and the plants within it depend on each other,” says Fleming. “But sometimes, the soil makes certain nutrients unavailable to plants.” He goes on to explain that in some instances, a soil analysis may show plenty of nitrogen (N) for the plant, but it’s not plant available N. “The beauty of submitting soil and plant tissue samples together is that a laboratory can analyze these together to showcase how they are or are not working together for optimal growth,” Fleming says. “A good analogy is a truck’s speedometer and fuel gauge,” he adds. “A plant tissue report is like
Above: Healthy soybean plant tissue is shown next to stressed plant leaves, but not all challenges are visual. Denitrification and lacking plant-available nitrogen are unseen by the human eye.
the speedometer. We know we are in the sufficient range when we are following the speed limit. The problem is we may run out of gas shortly if we don’t look at the fuel gauge.” He says, “The soil is like our fuel gauge, it tells us what we can expect miles down the road.” When utilizing the specific agronomic analysis tools available, growers and agronomists can make refined decisions using sound data to assess challenges at hand or proactively avoid in-season challenges. “Rather than hoping and praying after the relief of planting conclusion, the decision makers can incorporate scientific results when it comes to nutrient recommendations—saving both time and money,” explains Fleming. “This 2017 growing season will be a memorable one, but by using a few convenient tools, 2017 can be remembered by growers as better than expected,” he concludes. For information on how to sample additional crops or at growth stages not listed, visit: http://www. rockriverlab.com/pages/Sampling-Instructions.php. Founded in 1976, Rock River Laboratory is a familyowned laboratory network that provides production assistance to the agricultural industry through the use of advanced diagnostic systems, progressive techniques and research-supported analyses. Employing a team of top specialists in their respective fields, Rock River Laboratory provides accurate, cost-effective and timely analytical results to customers worldwide, while featuring unsurpassed customer service.
Ali's Kitchen Deviled Egg Potato Salad —Tangy and Smooth
Column and photos by Ali Carter, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Not too long ago, my husband arrived home from a business trip with glowing reviews of a potato salad he enjoyed at dinner one evening of his travels. A few days later, my mother-in-law chatted enthusiastically about a potato salad she had found at a deli while visiting my sister-in-law out of state. Both were quite excited about this Deviled Egg Potato Salad. They insisted that it was delicious, so delicious, in fact, that upon returning to Wisconsin, my mother-in-law went on a search at her own local deli, but to no avail. She ended up creating her own version.
While talking through recent dinner plans with my daughter, we decided that the Deviled Egg Potato Salad we had been hearing so much about would be perfect with the ribs that were slowly cooking in the smoker outside. After some tips from my motherin-law, a quick Google search and armed with the knowledge of our own numerous past potato salad preparations, my daughter and I made our way to the kitchen and whipped up our version of this creamy potato salad. continued on pg. 66
Deviled Egg Potato Salad INGREDIENTS: 4 pounds Wisconsin russet potatoes 5 eggs (hard-boiled) ¾ cup mayonnaise ½ cup plain Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons yellow mustard 2 tablespoons white vinegar Salt and pepper Paprika (a generous sprinkle for garnish) continued on pg. 62 BC�T August 65
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Ali's Kitchen. . . continued from pg. 65
MAYOGURT? I typically make potato salads using quick vinaigrettes and whatever vegetable or vegetables we have sitting in the refrigerator at the time, rather than the typical mayonnaisebased fare. Not that I don’t love mayo. I do. A lot. It is simply a quirky preference of mine not to mix it into my salads. However, I do not have an aversion to adding large dollops of plain Greek yogurt into the mix. I have learned that my daughter, on the other hand, is more of the traditionalist when it comes to potato salad. So, we compromised and used
both. Mayo and yogurt blended together harmoniously tangy and smooth. The entire family was pleased with the results. You can serve this salad warm, but it tastes best after all the ingredients have had time to meld together and the potatoes are completely chilled. And I personally think it is a great side for anything off the grill and a late summer cookout. Place the Deviled Egg Potato Salad into a pretty serving bowl and garnish with the generous sprinkle of paprika. Enjoy!
AG Systems – BBI Javelin...............57 AG Systems – AG-800....................37 AgSource Cooperative Services.....25 Allied Cooperative.........................35 Big Iron Equipment........................23 Bushmans’ Inc. ...............................3 Calcium Products...........................41 Compeer Financial ........................13 Crop Production Services..............17 Dow AgroSciences.........................27 Fencil Urethane Systems.................9 GZA Environmental........................22 H&H Roof Coatings........................52
Deviled Egg Potato Salad Instructions: 1. Place the potatoes in a large pot and add enough water to cover them by about an inch. Allow the potatoes to boil for 10 to 15 minutes. 2. When the potatoes are just tender and easily pierced with a fork, remove the pot from the heat and drain them well.
J.W. Mattek....................................26 Jay-Mar..........................................12 Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems Inc. .....................21 North Central Irrigation.................19 North Wind Renewable Energy.....39 Oak Ridge Foam & Coating Systems, Inc. .................................33 Oasis Irrigation..............................68
3. Allow the boiled potatoes to cool slightly so they can be easily handled.
Paragon Potato Farms...................38
4. Peel the potatoes, cube them into 1-inch bite-sized pieces, and place into a large mixing bowl. (Tip: Do not allow the potatoes to chill completely before peeling and cubing; they absorb the flavors of the salad best when they are mixed with the other ingredients while still warm.)
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5. Peel the hard-boiled eggs and slice them in half. 6. Place the yolks into a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside. 7. Roughly chop the egg whites and add them to the bowl with the potatoes. 8. Mash the egg yolks. (Tip: A simple dinner fork is your best friend for this job.) 9. Add the yogurt, mayo, mustard and vinegar to the mashed egg yolks and whisk with a fork until smooth and creamy. 10. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 11. Add the egg yolk mixture to the bowl of potatoes and chopped egg whites and gently stir to combine.
Roberts Irrigation ............................2
Russ Davis Wholesale....................11 Sam’s Well Drilling.........................28 Sand County Equip........................67 Schroeder Brothers Farms...............7 Spiegl Construction.......................63 T.I.P. ...............................................29 Volm Companies ...........................15 Wick Buildings LLC.........................45 WPVGA Spud Seed Classic Thank You......................................31 WPVGA Subscribers.......................46 WPVGA Support Our Members.....49 WSPIA............................................59
66 BC�T August
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