January 2023 Badger Common'Tater

COMMON’TATER

POTATOES USA NEWS

MARK YOUR Calendar

FEBRUARY

1 63rd

WSPIA ANNUAL MEETING

North Star Lanes and virtual, 12:30 p.m. Antigo, WI

7-9 2023 GROWER EDUCATION

CONFERENCE & INDUSTRY SHOW

Holiday Inn & Convention Center Stevens Point, WI

16-17 INTERNATIONAL CROP EXPO

Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND

22-3/3 2023 POTATO INDUSTRY

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

State of New York, and Washington, D.C.

27-3/3 2023 NPC WASHINGTON SUMMIT

Washington Marriott at Metro Center Washington, D.C.

Planting Ideas

MARCH

13-15 POTATOES USA ANNUAL MEETING Denver, CO

28-30 61ST WPS FARM SHOW

Experimental Aircraft Association Grounds Oshkosh, WI

APRIL

18-20 UNITED FRESH CONVENTION & EXPO

San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA

JUNE

16 WSPIA SPUD SEED CLASSIC GOLF OUTING

Bass Lake Golf Course Deerbrook, WI

JULY

12 2023 ASSOC. DIV. PUTT-TATO OPEN GOLF OUTING

Bullseye Golf Club Wisconsin Rapids, WI

18-20 2023 WISCONSIN FARM

TECHNOLOGY DAYS

Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club Grounds Baraboo, WI

OCTOBER

23-24 WPVGA RESEARCH

MEETING

West Madison Research Station and virtual. 1 p.m. on Monday, 8 a.m. on Tuesday Verona, WI

The

Industry Show

in Wisconsin is always a good time and a perfect place to conduct business and learn what’s new and improved in, and projected for, the state’s potato and vegetable production area. Case in point, the above photo depicts, from left to right, Jeff Suchon, Clover Spacek, Charlie Husnick, and Roy Gallenberg. Three members of the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors, the gentlemen were presenting Clover with a card thanking her for years of service as a field inspector for the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program. Not only did they present the card at the 2022 Industry Show, but Clover also got a bonus hug from Charlie. Clover had accepted a position and currently works as the general farm manager for Eagle River Seed Farm in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

With a sold-out show and quality lineup of researcher presentations, the 2023 WPVGA & UW Division of Extension Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, taking place February 7-9 at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Stevens Point, promises to live up to its highly respected reputation. See the complete Grower Education Conference schedule, including speaker lineup and presentation titles/themes, in this issue.

Professor Russell L. Groves, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology, is not only largely responsible for spearheading and helping put together the Grower Education Conference speaker schedule each year, but also appears in this issue. Groves was recently featured in GROW, Wisconsin’s Magazine for the Life Sciences, for helping develop environmentally sustainable pest control options for growers. GROW was kind enough to allow the Badger Common’Tater to reprint the article in its entirety herein. Groves also contributed a short recap of insects and weather patterns in 2022 within the Badger Beat column of this issue.

Dr. Horia Groza, University of Wisconsin, retired, offers up a fascinating magazine article inside, regaling readers with “Potato Stories,” including historical anecdotes and modern technological advances and research data regarding modern potato production across the country. Enjoy!

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

Joe Kertzman Managing Editor

jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com

TITLE: Marketing and branding specialist, and connected technology manager

COMPANY: Mid-State Truck Service

LOCATION: Marshfield, WI

HOMETOWN: Marshfield

TIME IN PRESENT POSITION: Three months, and with Mid-State Truck Service for two years

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: V&H Truck, Inc./ I-State Truck Center

HOBBIES: “When I’m not at work, it’s normally a safe bet to guess that I’m with my horse, whether just out at the barn or traveling to shows. I also like all things outdoors, from spending time with my dogs and camping to snowboarding in the winter.”

Interview

TIA LEONHARD

, marketing and branding specialist, Mid-State Truck Service

By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater

It was the first day of September, in 1965, when Mid-State Truck Service, Inc., founded by Frank Vendehey, became an authorized International Truck dealership in Marshfield, Wisconsin. And not too long thereafter, commercial truck leasing and rental, as well as the International School Bus franchise for the state of Wisconsin, were added to the company profile.

In the late 1980’s business grew, resulting in the expansion to two additional Wisconsin-based locations, Wisconsin Rapids and Plover.

After 34 years as general manager and president, Frank retired, in 1999, and turned ownership over to his two sons, Jon and Tom Vandehey.

Following in their father’s footsteps, in 2005, Jon and Tom expanded the Mid-State Truck footprint further and acquired four more Wisconsin-based dealerships, in Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and Wausau.

Almost a decade later, the need to continue meeting high market demands resulted in the consolidation of the two Chippewa Valley locations into a new, larger, and more efficient facility.

In 2013, Mid-State Truck Service announced the addition of the Isuzu

Commercial Truck product line, adding regional support for sales, service, and parts, as well as truck leasing and rental.

“In 2016, a much-needed expansion was finalized at our Plover facility,” says Tia Leonhard, marketing and branding specialist for Mid-State Truck Service, “doubling the shop’s size as well as updating other areas, all geared towards creating a better customer experience.”

Above: When a customer or employee comes to Mid-State Truck Service, the company does its best to make that person a partner or team member for life,” says Tia Leonhard, marketing and branding specialist working out of the Marshfield, Wisconsin, location, who’s shown in front of an International truck cab. The Plover location of Mid-State Truck has the largest concentration of potato and vegetable grower customers.

NAME: Tia Leonhard

In early 2020, Mid-State Truck Service once again expanded its dealership network and acquired two Minnesota locations, one in Duluth and the other in Virginia.

Today, Mid-State Truck Service has eight locations that are still dedicated to the communities they serve.

With so many locations, does Mid-State Truck still operate and feel like a family-owned business? Even with eight locations, our teams all communicate and work together on a daily basis. The Vandehey’s have instilled the core value of being a family-focused company from the very beginning.

They go above and beyond to make sure their team members, families, and customers are taken care of to the highest standard.

Why was the company able to expand to eight locations? has been the secret to its success? The Vandehey brothers say Mid-State became the eight-location organization it is today by never turning its attention away from those it has pledged to support.

When a customer or employee comes to Mid-State Truck Service, the company does its best to make that person a partner or team member for life.

In the lobby of the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, location is a display giving some history of the company. On September 1, 1965, Mid-State Truck Inc., founded by Frank Vendehey, became an authorized International Truck dealership in Marshfield.

Mid-State Truck Service is a member of the WPVGA Associate Division and attends the Industry Show in Stevens Point each February. Has the company always been involved in agriculture, and why is that important? We’ve always been involved in the agriculture industry as it is a huge part of our area, with several of our locations being in rural communities.

A good amount of what we do touches some aspect of the agriculture industry in one way

or another. Why is it important for you and the company to be a member of the WPVGA? Being a member of the WPVGA helps us by supporting the industry. It gives us a great opportunity to work closely with our customers’ needs to help them be as efficient and profitable as possible and to be able to keep up with industry challenges, goals, and needs.

It also provides great networking opportunities.

In addition to new and used, medium and heavy-duty commercial truck sales and leasing, what are some other dynamic areas of the business? Each Mid-State location offers full-service shops for all makes and models that employ OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), ASE (Automotive Service Excellence), and Diamond Edge certified technicians that take care of everything from routine maintenance to emergency breakdown service.

Our parts departments house over $5 million in parts, encompassing an extensive all-makes parts inventory, and each is an Authorized International®, Isuzu®, CAT®, and Cummins® parts dealer.

In addition to a wide selection of new and used, medium and heavy-duty commercial trucks, we are also an IC (International Coach/Chassis) bus dealer for Wisconsin and were named 2022 IC Bus Dealer of the Year.

Congratulations! What, in your mind, sets Mid-State Truck Service apart? What does the company offer

that others don’t necessarily? Our history is what sets up apart. Over the years, Mid-State Truck Service has been able to expand by providing outstanding maintenance service, a comprehensive line of medium, heavy, and severe-duty trucks, as well as school and commercial buses.

We believe in hiring the best employees and investing in them with the training and tools necessary for success. All these parts, services, capabilities, and investments make sure trucks stay on the road!

Above: From left to right are Frank, Tom and Jon Vandehey. The founder of Mid-State Truck, Frank retired in 1999 and turned ownership over to his two sons, Tom and Jon.

Are you only selling to businesses and not private or individual sales? Is that what “commercial” implies? Mid-State Truck Service will help anyone looking for a truck, whether it is new or used. From hundred-truck fleets, down to individual owners, we are here to help.

What truck brands do you specialize in? We are an International and Isuzu certified dealer, as well as IC, Collins, and Diamond buses.

Do certain Mid-State Truck locations specialize in sales or services that others don’t? What about the Plover location? Our Plover location sees our largest concentration of potato and vegetable growers. Marshfield houses our body and reconditioning shops, while our frame shop that provides axle installation and frame lengthening is at the Abbotsford location.

Does being an Idealease member (with Tom sitting on the Board) help with leasing and renting? Idealease of Central Wisconsin is our lease and rental company that allows us to be

able to provide additional options to our customers.

Tom sitting on the Board doesn’t particularly affect our leasing and rental capabilities, however we have a team that focuses on all things lease and rental, including monitoring the fleet for breakdowns to help facilitate repair efficiency.

Why is service after the sale important, particularly in the agriculture end of the business?

Mid-State is invested in providing our customers service and support that is second to none.

In this industry, downtime means loss of revenue for our customers, so we do everything in our power

to make sure we keep them on the road or in the fields.

We aim to build relationships with our customers to keep their trust that the Mid-State family is here to help them with any needs or issues that may arise. If they are in the peak of harvest and equipment goes down in the field, we want to be their first trusted call.

Speaking of agriculture, what types of services do you provide to growers and agribusiness owners/ truckers/shippers that are perhaps

Above and Left: In its 14th year, Mid-State Truck’s annual Truckers for Tots campaign supports the Toys for Tots mission of alleviating financial stress during the holidays and making sure children have something to open Christmas morning. In 2022, the Truckers for Tots campaign contributed over $65,000 in new toys to local communities. The photos were taken at Fleet Farm in Stevens Point, November 30. Fleet Farm is the retailer for each of five shopping events that take place in different locations. At each event, participating employee volunteers and community members overflow their carts with toys that are then loaded onto a semi-trailer and taken to the local Toys for Tots distribution center.

specific to those businesses? We service everything from the machines that harvest to the trucks that transport the goods.

During harvest, our service department will service equipment in the field to make sure growers are able to complete operations even after a failure occurs.

Most recently, we even rebuilt the engine for the Spudmobile!

Is community service or involvement part of the corporate culture, and if so, in what ways? Mid-State is very involved in our local communities, from being part of chambers of commerce, Boys and Girls Clubs, and foundations, to our annual Truckers for Tots campaign that supports each local Toys for Tots Foundation.

continued on pg. 14

SNOWDEN • PIKE • ATLANTIC • LAMOKA MEGACHIP • HODAG • MANISTEE SILVERTON • LADY LIBERTY

Right: Mid-State Truck has won several national dealer and dealer service awards. Company owners Jon (left) and Tom Vandehey accept one such award.

Then and now: In 1965, Mid-State Truck Service became an authorized International Truck dealership in Marshfield, and not too long thereafter, commercial truck leasing and rental, as well as the International School Bus franchise for the state of Wisconsin, were added to the company profile. Marshfield houses Mid-State’s body and reconditioning shops.

We care about continuing to make our overall community a great place to live and raise a family.

I see Mid-State Truck Service has won several national dealer and dealer service awards. Does that help the business’ reputation and in what way? It helps solidify the fact that we strive to go above and beyond in providing excellent service, facilities, and overall experience to our customers at every chance we get.

Have supply chain issues hit the trucking industry hard? As with all industries, we are seeing

A Mid-State Truck service technician works on an engine.

The HX Series of International dump trucks comes with a range of factory-installed lift axles.

“In this industry, downtime means loss of revenue for our customers, so we do everything in our power to make sure we keep them on the road or in the fields.”

– Tia Leonhard

supply chain issues in every facet of the business. It spans from parts availability to truck manufacturing.

What about driver shortages? We hear firsthand from the relationships we have created with our customers how driver shortages are affecting our industry. It is frustrating and creates challenges, but also highlights just how important these drivers are to keep our world trucking.

How has Mid-State Truck Service been able to adapt and continue to do business in such an environment? Mid-State Truck has a “yes we can” attitude. We don’t stop searching or trying until we have a solution.

We look to offset any constraints by utilizing all industry manufacturers to source necessary components. We look to find the best availability and pricing options to get our customers back up and running as soon as possible.

Several models from Mid-State are displayed at Wisconsin’s Farm Tech Days.

Eco-Friendly Pest Control

Russ Groves develops environmentally sustainable options for growers

By Nicole Miller, GROW, Wisconsin’s Magazine for the Life Sciences, https://grow.cals.wisc.edu

Wisconsin has a long history of vegetable production. It’s a leading producer of the nation’s processing vegetables, such as snap beans, sweet corn, carrots, and potatoes.

As a professor and extension specialist in the UW-Madison Department of Entomology, it’s part of Russ Groves’ job to protect these vegetable crops from insect pests,

and that includes safeguarding the state’s potato crop from the voracious Colorado potato beetle (CPB). The beetle is one of the most harmful pests of potato, capable of munching so many leaves that it reduces tuber yields, so growers turn to insecticides to keep the bugs at bay.

Groves notes that some of the state’s surface water and groundwater reflect an unfortunate legacy of longterm pesticide use in select areas with high agricultural intensity.

That’s a big motivator behind his efforts to develop more environmentally sustainable pest control options for growers.

In recent years, Groves has been working with biotech industry partners to develop and fine-tune

Above: A Colorado potato beetle clings to plant leaves in the lab of Russ Groves.

Photo courtesy of Michael P. King

a new, more eco-friendly insecticide option involving RNA interference (RNAi) technology.

The approach, which utilizes doublestranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence critical genes in the beetle, is much more targeted than traditional insecticides.

Under Groves’ supervision, it’s being tested on Wisconsin fields this coming summer. He anticipates seeing the first RNAi-based insecticide on the market later this year.

Groves answers some questions regarding his work.

What makes the Colorado potato beetle such a formidable foe? The Colorado potato beetle evolved to live on a poisonous plant. It eats the foliage of members of the nightshade family of plants, which are full of alkaloids, so it was important for populations of this insect to evolve detoxification mechanisms to cope

with all the toxins.

Because of these innate coping mechanisms, the insect has a high potential to develop insecticide resistance.

When a Colorado potato beetle is subjected to a new insecticide, it is already equipped to cope with these compounds.

Russ Groves, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison professor of entomology, poses for a portrait with Colorado potato beetles in his lab. Photo courtesy of Michael P. King

As with the plant-based toxins that the beetles have evolved to deal with, they sequester insecticides, detoxify them, and excrete them.

Consequently, over the years, the potato industry has lost more and more insecticidal options. So, growers are always looking for novel approaches, especially more environmentally conscious, reducedrisk approaches.

What does your work studying insecticide resistance involve? For the past 8 to 10 years, we’ve been studying the response of CPB to new and existing insecticides, and, more recently, have attempted to discover the principle set of genes involved in

In collaboration with Sean Schoville, a professor of entomology, we continue to learn about the suite of genes that encode for this resistance.

In recent research, we have observed that a discrete set of genes appears to be involved in this resistance. And to further confirm the function of these genes, we use loss-of-function analyses based on RNAi to better determine gene function.

Very simply, this means we synthesize and introduce a piece of doublestranded RNA that is analogous to a critical gene inside that insect.

Once inside the cells of the target insect, in this case CPB, its cellular

detoxification.

Much of this work has been the focus of recent publications, which triggered new contacts and relationships with biotechnology companies interested in developing RNAi-based approaches to pest management.

HOW RNAi WORKS

Protein synthesis is the process through which genetic material in every living organism is turned into proteins, the building blocks of life.

At its most basic, there are two steps involved: transcription, which is the transfer of genetic instructions from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA);

Eco-Friendly

Hosted By:

exploit our understanding of how to regulate or turn off the production of a given protein.

Over the past decade or more, researchers regularly capitalize on this natural process, which occurs in most eukaryotic organisms, utilizing it for numerous kinds of experiments and technological applications.

In the lab, these are the main steps:

1. Design a piece of double-stranded RNA that contains genetic sequences analogous to the target gene.

2. Introduce this dsRNA into the cytoplasm of the organism’s cells.

3. Inside the cell, an enzyme called Dicer chops up the dsRNA into small pieces.

4. These small pieces get loaded into a multiprotein complex called the RNAi silencing complex, or RISC.

5. RISC, loaded with an RNA guide strand, explores the cytoplasm, hunting for strands of mRNA that complement the small piece of dsRNA it’s carrying.

6. When RISC finds a matching mRNA, it cleaves the nucleic acid, thereby preventing the translation of a target protein.

What has happened since these initial contacts? Our publications led to three biotech companies reaching out to our group.

These biotech groups explore recently published genome sequence databases, such as the Center for Biotechnology Information, in efforts to identify genes unique to select groups of organisms like the Colorado potato beetle.

While our goals in utilizing RNAi approaches have largely been to ascertain resistance gene function, these companies are exploring gene targets that result in a lethal phenotype.

In other words, they wish to develop RNAi-based approaches that can be used in pest control to kill the insect.

continued on pg. 20

In our lab, we use very small needles to inject the dsRNA into individual beetles, but you can’t do that on a field scale.

LEAF-EATING BEETLES

Fortunately, Colorado potato beetles are leaf-eating beetles, and they have the capacity to process and transport RNA across their midgut and move these molecules into their bloodstream, which allows the RNAi effect to become systemic throughout the insect.

Biotechnology companies have formulated dsRNAs that can be sprayed directly onto the plants. And once on the leaves of potato plants, then the Colorado potato beetle will consume these small molecules, where they make their way into the bodies of insects and mortality results.

It’s quite amazing that it functions in this way.

Importantly, these dsRNA on the leaves have a very short functional life of about three to four days. After this time, the compounds denature relatively quickly.

Equally important is that this technology is target specific. It only kills Colorado potato beetle. In addition to being very targeted, we view these kinds of pest management approaches as reduced-risk and quite environmentally friendly in terms of pest management outcomes.

That sounds amazing. Does this spell the end for CPB and other pests? Of course, you can’t rely on a single technology. We all knew, and we can anticipate in the future, that CPB will continually develop resistance to selections like pesticides, even RNAibased approaches.

We will always be in an “arms race” with Mother Nature. There’s no silver bullet.

In fact, research has already demonstrated the Colorado potato beetle’s ability to generate resistance to select RNAi approaches.

When resistance to these new technologies develops in the future, we will need to consider other gene targets and develop new dsRNA molecules that will target other important genes (to account for mutations in the beetle population).

Unfortunately, (simply spraying dsRNA on potato leaves) doesn’t work to control all pests of the crop, such as aphids and leafhoppers, potato’s other top insect pests.

These insects, which possess piercing-sucking mouthparts like mosquitoes, simply avoid the dsRNA on the leaf surface, as their mouthparts go right past it.

What’s coming up next for this project? We continue to work with pest management and agribusiness companies to develop and test these new technologies.

We have several projects at the Arlington and Hancock agricultural research stations in 2022, as we have for the past four to five years, looking at timing of delivery, adjuvants that can help extend the life of the compounds on the leaves, and how the dsRNA works in tank mixes with other active ingredients like fungicides and fertilizers.

Simple, but very practical investigations are still warranted. The very first sprayable RNAi targeting the Colorado potato beetle is anticipated to be registered later this year. It will be called Calantha, and Wisconsin’s potato growers are eager for this.

“We will always be in an ‘arms race’ with Mother Nature. There is no silver bullet.”

– Russell L. Groves, professor and extension specialist, UW-Madison Department of Entomology

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Potato Stories from a Retired Plant Breeder Being

By Dr. Horia Groza, University of Wisconsin, retired

When William Shakespeare penned his 1597 masterpiece “Merry Wives of Windsor,” it was just 12 years after potato was introduced to England. Therefore, potato was still a rare thing. It was also expensive, and people believed that it was endowed with aphrodisiac power.

Consequently, when Falstaff was making his moves on Mrs. Ford, he beseeched, “Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green Sleeves, hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes; let there come a tempest of provocation; I will shelter me here.” (Act V, Scene 5)

Since then, people developed numerous myths about this unique plant, such as, “The woman expecting a baby should not eat potatoes because the baby will have a big head;” or, “If you keep a potato in your pocket, you’ll be cured from rheumatism and eczema;” and,

Above: The seed potato production process includes true-to-type criteria for planting, growing, harvesting, handling, and storing.

“If a wart bothers you, rub it with a cut potato and then bury it in the ground. While it will rot in the ground, the wart will gradually disappear.”

In 1898, during the Klondike gold rush when people were dying of scurvy, potatoes were sold for a man’s weight in gold (C.B. Heiser Jr., Nightshades, Freeman & Co., 1969).

Earlier, in 1824, with just a half a bushel of Neshannock potatoes, the American politician William Rankin convinced the governor of Pennsylvania to let him open four offices (De Jong, AJPR, 98, 2021).

Today, the most expensive potato variety is the French La Bonnotte. Only 100 tons of this pricy spud are produced annually and sold for $233/lb. The potatoes grow in a 540-square-foot plot on the tidal island Noirmoutier, in sandy soil fertilized with seaweed and algae.

The delicate tubers are picked by hand, have a slightly lemony flavor

and a salty aftertaste with a hint of walnuts due to the soil and seawater.

SINCE SHAKESPEARE’S TIME

We’ve obviously come a long way since Shakespeare’s time.

To that end, the Physiology Symposium at the 2022 Potato Association of America (PAA) Annual Meeting, in Montana, reviewed some specific facts about the potato plant.

Varieties differ from each other by how fast they age in storage. Paul Struik ranked the important factors affecting the physiological age of seed tubers as follows: (1) storage; (2)

crop treatments; (3) vine killing; (4) harvest; and (5) nitrogen supply.

Older seed produces more sprouts and stems but fewer stolons and tubers. The number of stems is negatively correlated with the number of tubers.

Under favorable conditions, the initialization of first tubers starts at 2-3 weeks after emergence and lasts 5-7 days. The protein StSP6A is the photoperiod-dependent tuberization signal. It is synthesized in leaves and transmitted to the stolon tips through

“In 1898, during the Klondike gold rush when people were dying of scurvy, potatoes were sold for a man’s weight in gold.”

– Dr. Horia Groza

phloem.

Short days and cold nights activate the cytokinins, auxins, and abscisic acid (ABA) that start tuberization.

Warm nighttime temperatures and long days increase the concentration of gibberellic acid (GA) that suppresses tuber growth. A high rate of GA/ABA induces vine growth, and a low rate, tuber growth.

Shallow planting (4 inches) stimulates tuberization, but because of necessary moisture, a depth of 8 inches is preferred.

INTENSE LIGHT

Light intensity is positively correlated with the number of tubers. A north-south orientation of the rows maximizes the amount of light necessary for tuber development.

Working on the canopy (size, duration), one can maximize the tuber sink.

At the PAA Annual Meeting, Mark Pavek recommended a ratio of tuber weight/vine weight of 1:2 (50%) as the best harvest index at 100 DAP (Diammonium Phosphate).

The timing of nitrogen (N) fertilization is important: don’t waste and don’t delay.

According to some experimental results obtained in Quebec (Wen et al. AJPR 96, 2019), another aspect

Above: Older potato seed produces more sprouts and stems but fewer stolons and tubers. The number of stems is negatively correlated with the number of tubers.

to consider is that high N rates can increase the number of amino acids in the leaves (especially alanine), which encourages Colorado potato beetle (CPB) feeding.

FLIGHTING CAPABILITY

A high amino acid count also enhances the flighting capability of CPB, which love protein and sugars as well as omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. When the volatile organic fatty acids oxidize, they emit an attractive smell.

The Canadian authors consider a rate of 180 kg. N/hectare could be a tradeoff for obtaining a reasonable yield and decreasing CPB damage on Russet Burbank.

At the 2022 PAA Annual meeting, Jacob Blauer reminded us that the usual interval between vine killing and harvest, concerning the skin set and sucrose content, is 15-30 days for seed, 20-30 days for fresh potatoes and 10-15 days for processing varieties.

Heat at maturity induces shorter dormancy and a sucrose increase.

According to Blauer, most tuber damage is due to the harvester (70%), and only 14% each to trucking and potato bins.

BRUISING EXPERIMENT

Working on Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah in Idaho, Hendrick

Potato Stories from a Retired Plant Breeder. . . continued from pg. 23

et al. (AJPR, 99, 2022) purposely bruised freshly harvested tubers using a 100-gram impact pendulum (18 cm. drop height) and stored them at 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 95% relative humidity.

When the tubers were bruised at a 55-degree pulp temperature at harvest, blackspot incidence, severity and depth were significantly higher after one month and remained at this level for five months.

The highest incidence of blackspot bruise occurred at 24 hours after bruising, but already 80% was visible after 3-5 hours when held at 70 degrees.

Blackspot incidence in the tubers bruised at a 45-degree pulp temperature decreased in Russet Burbank during storage but increased in Norkotah the first month before starting to decline.

FACT CHECK

An important detail regarding the cultural practice was given by Pamela Hutchinson from University of Idaho at the PAA Annual Meeting in 2021 (Hutchinson, AJPR 99, 2022). She demonstrated that the International Agency for Research

on Cancer (IARC) was wrong, in 2015, when it ranked glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, causing nonHodgkin’s lymphoma.

The National Cancer Institute funded an Agricultural Health Study, which was done on 44,932 pesticide applicators in Iowa and North Carolina.

The study showed no evidence of association at any exposure level. The conclusion of IARC comes from an unreliable, rushed meta-analysis that

might show an increase from 2% to 2.8%, which represents a misleading “increase of 41%.”

BEING PART OF THE POTATO WORLD

Being part of the potato world is always a fascinating thing because potato itself is a special creature, as in this quote from Bill Callahan in his Letters to Emma Bowlcut, Drag City, 2010: “I bought a big bag of potatoes and it’s growing eyes like crazy. Other foods rot. Potatoes want to see.”

The word potato itself has become a functional part of our daily language. We call lazy folk “couch potatoes,” the stubborn “potato headed,” and the nasally challenged “potato nosed” (James Lang, Notes of a Potato Watcher, Texas A&M, 2001).

People say “I got potatoes” when they have enough energy to start a difficult task, and “That’s small potatoes” when they feel a certain matter is not important.

Perhaps best said, in the words of English writer A.A. Milne, “If a man really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.”

Potato Stories from a Retired Plant Breeder. . . continued from pg. 24

Above: “Potato Harvest” is a famous oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Jean-François Millet, created in 1855. It is held at The Walters Art Museum, in Baltimore.

Car Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes at Oktoberfest Race

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education

It’s fun sometimes to look back on the past, isn’t it, to recall the way things used to be and how much has changed? And if you look

back on the history of your own life, what a rush it can be to see how much ground you’ve covered and progress you’ve made, the

nostalgia, reminiscing, and feelings of accomplishment and maturity.

In 2016, at age 13, Gabe Sommers took home the first win of his racing career in the truck series at the Dells Raceway Park “Falloween Race,” Wisconsin Dells.

Above: Gabe Sommers’ family and friends gather at the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) booth on Saturday, October 8, during the Auto Racing Club of America (ARCA) Oktoberfest race at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West Salem. In the back two rows are, from left to right, Brian Schlough, Brayden Schlough (directly in front of Brian), Sheri Sommers, Julie Lampert, Lee Lampert, and Rosco Rosicky. Posing in the front row are, from left to right, Jadyn Saalsaa, Nicole Schlough, Brianna Sankey, Janie Rosicky, WPVGA’s Director of Nutrition Sarah Agena, and WPVGA’s Director of Promotions Dana Rady. Photo courtesy of Gabe’s mom, Sheri Sommers

Gabe Sommers (center) talks with Tucker Miller (left) at their toolbox as Jeff Sommers (grey sweatshirt) looks on during the ARCA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest race. Image courtesy of photographer Doug Hornickel, www.fastlapphoto.com

years later, in September 2022, Sommers won the “Alive for 5 Championship” in the super late model series, which also happened to take place at Dells Raceway Park.

“At age 13, I thought it was a pretty big deal winning the Falloween truck race against that level of competition and experience,” Sommers says. “And then winning the Alive for 5 Championship, at 19, well, that was a pretty sweet accomplishment! I’m proud to race with the caliber of drivers in this series.”

Sommers’ uncle, Jeff Sommers, of Wysocki Produce Farm, in Bancroft, says Gabe was “blessed to win the biggest race of his career,” pointing out that the Alive for 5 Championship win occurred while Sommers’ car sported the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo on the hood. This is the second year the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers

Gabe Sommers takes a break between races to stop by the WPVGA booth and pose next to the GSR and Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes banner that served as a backdrop during the Oktoberfest race at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Photo courtesy of Sheri Sommers

Association (WPVGA) Promotions Committee has sponsored Gabe Sommers Racing (GSR), which includes featuring the sporty logo on

the race car.

OKTOBERFEST RACE

The Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo was once again showcased on

the car’s hood during the Oktoberfest Race, in West Salem, at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, October 7-9, 2022.

Approximately 18,000 people attended the popular 200-lap race that is one of the last scheduled in the Auto Racing Club of America Midwest Tour season.

An experience in and of itself, the race takes place during the La Crosse area’s popular Oktoberfest celebration that encompasses all things German, including food, drink, and entertainment.

Located in the La Crosse County village of West Salem, the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway houses fans

Above: Gabe Sommers (right) shares a word with Derek Kraus at the ARCA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest race at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem. Image courtesy of photographer Doug Hornickel

for the weekend as they bring their campers and tents to venture back and forth between the races and vendors like the WPVGA.

On Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9, WPVGA had a presence on the grounds, providing free samples of grilled and seasoned Wisconsin potatoes, coupons for discounted and free items at Kwik Trip stores, and recipe tear pads and brochures featuring information about Wisconsin potatoes.

Visitors to the booth also received a free bag of 5-pound baby red Wisconsin potatoes, courtesy of Wysocki Produce Farm in Bancroft, and a free can of Kyle Busch’s Rowdy energy drink, another of GSR’s sponsors.

Over the course of the two days, more than 700 bags of Wisconsin potatoes were placed in the loving hands of those ready to turn them into delicious dishes at home, or in their campers and on grills over the course of the weekend!

STRATEGICALLY PARKED

Besides grilled potatoes and free giveaways, one of the GSR cars, complete with the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo on the hood, was strategically parked at WPVGA’s designated area on the grounds so that attendees had to walk by it on their way to and from the races. It’s an event that appears to reflect more of a family function than simply being a race weekend. The camaraderie that starts at the campsites and carries on into the stands during the races is truly something that is better experienced than described.

And it was Gabe Sommers’ family and close friends who were cheering him on as he and 27 other drivers geared up to be the first to complete the 200 laps.

While Sommers maintained the lead for several laps during the race, he

ultimately captured fifth place behind Andrew Morrissey in first, Derek Kraus in second, Casey Johnson in third and Dalton Zehr in fourth.

It may not have ended exactly as Sommers or his fans had hoped, but fifth place is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Furthermore, the fact that so many people learned about Wisconsin potatoes, the benefits they provide,

and the importance of buying local and supporting family farms, not to mention healthy and delicious ways to prepare potatoes, is a true testament to how successful the weekend truly was.

Congratulations, Gabe, on a great season, and thank you for yet another effective partnership in telling a story to race fans everywhere about who feeds their families.

Spudly Stars in Second Promotional Video

Wisconsin potatoes mascot, Spudly, is at it again in the kitchen. But this time, Brian Lee has a specific task for him to accomplish in writing down a recipe!

In the second of four promotional videos, titled, “Spudly Writes a Recipe,” Brian (WPVGA Promotions Committee Chair from Okray Family Farms, in Plover) and Spudly are joined by 9-year-old Griffin Rady, son of WPVGA Director of Promotions Dana Rady.

Brian asks Griffin to help him make a Wisconsin baked potato nacho recipe and invites Spudly into the kitchen to write down the recipe. As Brian and Griffin start preparing the baked potato nachos, Brian hands Spudly a giant pencil and pad of paper. Spudly graciously accepts the items and confirms that he can indeed jot down the recipe as he begins writing.

As Spudly appears to be recording every detail, Brian shares the good news about Wisconsin potatoes with Griffin—that they’re high in vitamins, fiber, and minerals, and free of things like gluten, fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

Once Brian finishes sharing the fantastic nutritional characteristics that Wisconsin potatoes naturally provide, he looks up at Spudly who turns his paper around for everyone to see.

POTATOES RULE

Instead of a recipe, Brian and Griffin see “Potatoes Rule” written on Spudly’s page. Griffin responds with a dumbfounded expression and Brian realizes he’s going to need to work with Spudly a lot more for the mascot to be a successful helper in the kitchen.

The video is a great promotional tool right before the holidays when adults and kids find themselves in their kitchens preparing holiday dishes and cookies. And it’s the perfect reminder to buy local and look for “all things

Above: Spudly makes yet another attempt to get it right and be of help in the kitchen. In the second WPVGA promotional video, Brian Lee of Okray Family Farms (right) asks Spudly to write down a recipe so that he and Griffin Rady (center), son of WPVGA Director of Promotions Dana Rady, can concentrate on preparing baked potato nachos.

Wisconsin,” especially as we enter another holiday season.

The second video has been released and joins the first one on WPVGA’s social media channels. You’ll find them on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

So, when you see them on the various platforms, be sure to “like,” “share” and comment away. You can even add the videos to your company website since WPVGA owns all the content.

Each video is a timeless message that can be reused and repurposed and provides a great way to connect with a younger audience as we look to the future while giving Spudly a personality of his own!

By Jed Colquhoun, professor and extension specialist, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Horticulture

In several ways, the 2022 growing season was at least rather uneventful, if not even ideal, for crop growth in Wisconsin. In many production areas, crop yields were optimized by moderate temperatures, adequate moisture and abundant sunshine.

Unfortunately, these same characteristics were also enjoyed by the weeds growing among our crops. In general, management tools held up and weed control was adequate in Wisconsin potatoes and processing vegetables, with a few exceptions and trends worth noting:

• Waterhemp continues to spread rapidly and become more problematic in specialty crop production regions such as the Central Sands. Moreover, waterhemp germination and emergence was observed from early May through September,

Above: Cover crop seedlings are show growing in no-till potato plots at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station, Hancock, Wisconsin, in 2022.

outlasting any available residual herbicides.

Almost all waterhemp tested thus far in Wisconsin is resistant to at least one common herbicide, and many populations are resistant to multiple modes of action.

• Galinsoga species were also observed in greater populations in Wisconsin potato and vegetable crops. This weed’s superpower is to produce up to five generations per season, dropping seed with no dormancy that germinates soon thereafter. It also escapes most common specialty crop herbicides.

• Metabolic herbicide resistance has been documented in states surrounding Wisconsin and is likely happening here also.

In metabolic herbicide resistance, generalist enzymes metabolize or digest the herbicide before it can control the target species. This can happen even if the weed population has never been exposed to the herbicide given that the enzymes aren’t target-specific.

In response, our 2022 research

focused on best management practices to protect our current herbicides and a continued exploration of alternative herbicides and non-chemical practices to diversify our weed management portfolio.

We’re shepherding a few new

herbicide tools toward registration in potato, wherein this growing season, we refined rates and varietal tolerances.

We also had some positive and exciting preliminary results in our search for ways to protect groundwater on coarse-textured soils

from fertilizer and pesticide leaching by using biologically based soil amendments below the potato root zone and in inter-seeded cover crops.

We look forward to sharing these and other research results at the upcoming 2023 Grower Education Conference and in winter meetings.

Season’s-End Potato Disease Summary for 2022

By Amanda J. Gevens, chair, professor and extension specialist, UW-Madison Department of Plant Pathology

The hallmark of the 2022 potato season was that it was one of the most “normal” seasons that we’ve seen in recent years.

Planting and harvesting operations were generally met with favorable weather, which aided timely processes to support healthy crops at key stages.

As the growing season progressed, we had prolonged periods of dry and warm weather throughout much of the state, which further did well to

keep potato canopies dry and disease at bay.

Potato diseases were generally managed well, with some occurrences of bacterial soft rot and blackleg, Rhizoctonia, early blight, common scab, black dot, and silver scurf.

Late blight-free seed and generally dry weather supported a year with no late blight confirmations from Wisconsin through my Potato and Vegetable Pathology Lab or the UW

Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. Nationally, late blight reports were very limited in 2022, with just a few detections of primarily the US-23 clonal lineage, which has predominated the North American finds in recent years.

This is further notable, as a year without late blight means no residual inoculum in plant debris or seed and supports a clean start to the 2023 potato and tomato crop year.

continued on pg. 36

Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 35

Similar trends were observed in neighboring states such as Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Yet, heat units arrived in early June, and the crop started to catch up.

In general, dry-to-average growing conditions persisted throughout the summer, with a few larger than 1 -inch rainfall events from mid-June to early August (Figure 1).

Growing Season one of the Best in Memory

The growers needed to leave their center pivots running to maintain soil moisture content at the optimal level during the peak tuber bulking stage. Apart from a late start, with good irrigation management, good heat units, and low pressure, the growing season was one of the best in memory.

By Yi Wang, assistant professor, UW-Madison Department of Horticulture

The 63,000 planted acres of potatoes, in 2022, were 2,000 acres lower than last year in Wisconsin. The decline was due to multiple factors, including soaring fertilizer, corn, and soybean prices.

The 2022 growing season got off to a late start due to cold and wet weather, in April (Figure 1), leading to delayed planting by about two weeks. Overall, the crop was 10-14 days behind schedule throughout much of the growing season.

Similar trends were observed in neighboring states such as Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Yet, heat units arrived in early June, and the crop started to catch up.

In general, dry-to-average growing conditions persisted throughout the summer, with a few larger than 1-inch rainfall events from mid-June to early August (Figure 1).

Air temperature (ºF)

Weather Data at UW HARS 2022

2

1.5

1

Rainfall (inch)

0.5

2.5 0 10

0

4/10/224/21/225/2/225/13/225/24/226/4/226/15/226/26/227/7/227/18/227/29/228/9/228/20/228/31/229/11/229/22/22

Figure 1. Illustrated are the daily maximum and minimum air temperatures (°F), and rainfall (inches) at the UW Hancock Agricultural Research Station.

Figure 1: Illustrated are the daily maximum and minimum air temperatures (°F), and rainfall (inches) at the UW Hancock Agricultural Research Station.

The growers needed to leave their center pivots running to maintain soil moisture content at the optimal level during the peak tuber bulking stage. Apart from a late start, with good irrigation management, good heat units, and low pest pressure, the growing season was one of the best in memory.

(hundredweight)/acre, which was up by about 5 cwt./acre compared to last year. The state’s total production was 26.8 million cwt., a decrease of 525,000 cwt., or 2%, compared to last year.

good quality. Processing potatoes produced average to below average yields at 450-460 cwt./acre.

Most of the state’s primary growing regions had almost ideal conditions throughout September and October, resulting an outstanding harvest season with no threat of frost until late October.

Some growers reported digging potatoes earlier than usual due to strong demand and high prices in late July and August. Average yields and excellent quality were observed.

Statewide average yield was 425 cwt. (hundredweight)/acre, which was up by about 5 cwt./acre compared to last The state’s total production was 26.8 million cwt , a decrease of 525,000 cwt , or 2%, compared to last year.

In Central Wisconsin, some fields with Goldrush and Russet Burbank potatoes were observed to show a smaller size profile, whereas other varieties such as Silverton had good size.

In southern Wisconsin, yields were very close to last year with an average of 440-450 cwt./acre on russets, about 400 cwt./acre on yellows, and close to 380 cwt./acre on reds.

Most of the state’s primary growing regions had almost ideal conditions throughout September and October, resulting in an outstanding harvest season with no threat of frost until late October.

Some growers reported digging potatoes earlier than usual due to strong demand and high prices in late July and August. Average yields and excellent quality were observed.

Statewide average yield was 425 cwt.

The new variety Caribou Russet was found to be more tolerant to drought stresses and had good size, with a range of 450-510 cwt./acre.

REDS & YELLOWS

Size and quality were above average on reds and yellows, and there were no signs of disease or storage challenges.

Chipping potato yields were in the usual 450-500 cwt./acre range with

Some growers reported an increase of 5-6% on yield for reds. The quality was good to excellent on all varieties. Growers also noticed less hollow heart in Russet Norkotah compared to last year.

In the Antigo seed production area, the average yield across the board was average to below average. Average yields on red seed potatoes were below average in the 250-300 cwt./acre range. Russets, chipping potatoes and yellows were better, averaging 350-400 cwt./acre.

Insects and Weather Patterns in 2022

By Russell L. Groves, professor and department chair, UW-Madison Department of Entomology

As cold-blooded animals, insects typically enjoy the warmth of later summer. Likewise, onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) have also been enjoying the warmth we had in the mid- to late-summer, and especially appreciate the dry conditions in different parts of the state.

As cold-blooded animals, insects typically enjoy the warmth of later summer. Likewise, onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) have also been enjoying the warmth we had in the mid- to late-summer, and especially appreciate the dry conditions in different parts of the state.

have played an important role in determining where we will see problematic populations.

We began the crop year with a swath of above normal precipitation across much of central and east-central Wisconsin. But, during the early portions of the 2022 summer, we continued to have drought conditions into early July in portions of the south and northwest, which allowed for onion thrips populations to increase.

Over the last decade, these variable weather patterns in the Midwest have played an important role in determining where we will see problematic populations.

Accumulated Precipitation was a Departure from 1991-2020 Normals April 01, 2021 to March 10, 2022

Onion thrips are an important annual pest of onion, leek, garlic, and cabbage, and under heavy pressure, will result in damage to cauliflower, cucumber, and tomatoes (especially in flowers).

These very tiny insects can be common throughout the warmer months and especially abundant in late summer and early fall when we are experiencing drought conditions.

Onion thrips are an important annual pest of onion, leek, garlic, and cabbage, and under heavy pressure, will result in damage to cauliflower, cucumber, and tomatoes (especially in flowers)

We began the crop year with a swath of above normal precipitation across much of central and east-central Wisconsin. But, during the early portions of the 2022 summer, we continued to have drought conditions into early July in portions of the south and northwest, which allowed for onion thrips populations to increase.

These very tiny insects can be common throughout the warmer months and especially abundant in late summer and early fall when we are experiencing drought conditions

Over the last decade, these variable weather patterns in the Midwest

Adults are approximately 2 mm in length and are often creamto yellow-colored in the neck of infested onions. Juveniles (nymphs) are even smaller, and their tiny

We began the 2022 crop year with a swath of above normal precipitation across much of central and east-central Wisconsin.

potato summer flights for soybean aphid or corn earworm. In

and

almost all days resulted in a very low risk for insect migrations with exceptions occurring on

considered moderate. Throughout the

quote

to mid-June, there was no series of days listed as either high or severe. Such online resources help to support why we did not see significant infl

(nymphs)

are even smaller, and their tiny bodies appear almost bright yellow against the green background of

MOVEMENT

move and migrate on the major weather advance across the continental United

bodies appear almost bright yellow against the green background of a leaf.

INSECT MOVEMENT

Some insects move and migrate on the major weather systems as they advance across the continental United States each year.

conditions that are conducive for longmigrations and the forecast projections for events is described by the Insect https://www.insectforecast.com/ ).

Weather conditions that are conducive for long-distance migrations and the forecast projections for such dispersal events are described by the Insect Forecast site (https://www.insectforecast. com/).

authors cover a few pests of significance forage crops in the Midwest, it is easy to that very few spring and early events occurred in 2022, which the arrival and establishment of early -season insect problems like Aster leafhopper, potato Black cutworm, as well as mid- to late-summer flights for soybean aphid or corn earworm.

for insect migrations with exceptions occurring on April 5 and 22, and again on May 11-12 when the projected risk was considered moderate.

Above: Weather conditions that are conducive for long-distance migrations and the forecast projections for such dispersal events are described by the Insect Forecast site (https://www.insectforecast.com/).

specifically, almost all days resulted in a very low risk for insect migrations with exceptions occurring on and again on May 11-12 when the projected risk was considered moderate.

Throughout the period of April to mid-June, there was no series of days listed as either high or severe.

period of April to mid-June, there was no series of days listed as either high or severe.

Although the authors cover a few pests of significance for field and forage crops in the Midwest, it is easy to see from this site that very few spring and early summer weather events occurred in 2022, which would have led to the arrival and establishment of early-season insect problems like Aster leafhopper, potato leafhopper, and Black cutworm, as well as mid- to latesummer flights for soybean aphid or corn earworm.

In April and May specifically, almost all days resulted in a very low risk

Such online resources help to support why we did not see significant influxes of these insects during the early season of 2022.

We look forward to a great program

during the 2023 WPVGA and UW Division of Extension Grower Education Conference, planned for February 7-9 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. We have a great set of invited guests presenting this year, and we look forward to seeing you in attendance!

resources help to support why we did not see significant infl uxes of these insects during the early season of

Now News

Alice in Dairyland Diggin’ Wisconsin Potatoes

Taylor Schaefer experiences harvest firsthand at Wysocki Produce Farm

Potatoes are one of the world’s most versatile crops, with a long history of cultivation in Wisconsin.

While the first potato came to America around 1621, they were first cultivated circa 200 B.C. Using technology developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, they were even the first food grown in outer space!

While the environment in space for those potatoes needed to be created, Wisconsin naturally has a suitable environment for producing top-notch spuds. Its cool northern climate, quick spring warm-up, and sandy soils make Wisconsin a great place to grow potatoes.

With that in mind, it is no surprise that Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for potato production, and first among states east of the Mississippi River. This production

is centered in Wisconsin’s Central Sands region, so that is where current Alice in Dairyland Taylor Schaefer headed to experience potato harvest firsthand.

“I traveled to Wysocki Produce Farm to tour their facility this past October,” Schaefer says. “Founded in the late 1950s by three brothers, Louis, Francis, and Greg Wysocki, Wysocki Family of Companies [WFC] began as a potato farm, which still exists today as Wysocki Produce Farm.”

“The farm is still owned and operated by the family,” she adds, “with three generations actively involved in the business.”

Current Alice in Dairyland Taylor Schaefer visits Wysocki Produce Farm of Plainfield, Wisconsin, during the 2022 potato harvest.

Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC (www.meristemag.com) and NEW Ag Services, LLC (www.newagllc. com) of Hortonville, Wisconsin, have announced a new dealership agreement to serve farmers in northcentral and northeastern Wisconsin.

Under the new relationship, NEW Ag Services, LLC will carry the Meristem Crop Performance product line and become Meristem’s ally in helping Wisconsin farmers make the most of every dollar they spend on crop inputs.

“NEW Ag has had incredible growth in recent years because Steve Feldkamp and his team focus on providing local answers for improving ROI [return on investment] for farmer-customers,” says Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and chief executive officer, in announcing the agreement.

“We’re excited to be able to come alongside with more innovative technology useful to that mission,” Eviston remarks. “We’re also eager to learn from his field experience as we add more new products in the days ahead.”

“Teaming up with Meristem is another way we can achieve our mission in redefining value for our growers with every product and process,” says Feldkamp, co-founder and co-owner of NEW Ag Services.

The ag business, located in Hortonville, also recently dedicated a brand new 8,500-ton dry fertilizer plant at its agronomy center in Black Creek, Wisconsin.

AGRONOMIC PRODUCTS

“We started out because of the demand for an independent source of agronomic products and services in our area,” explains Feldkamp, who founded NEW Ag Services with

The dealership also offered custom planting and harvesting because it fit with its own farming operations.

Today, NEW Ag is a full-service provider offering an inclusive lineup of seed representing regional and national brands, premium and generic crop protection products, dry and liquid fertilizers, custom application, crop scouting, soil sampling, and nutrient management plans.

“We put growers first,” says Feldkamp. “We use our own farming operation to better understand and test products, so we have actual skin in the game.”

“We like to ‘ground truth’ every product we represent,” he states.

“From some early data, we have seen that Meristem’s product portfolio will benefit our growers immensely from

a quality and ROI standpoint.”

Under the agreement, NEW Ag Services will now offer Meristem’s product portfolio, including seed treatments under the brands RACEREADY™ and HOPPER THROTTLE™, as well as REVLINE™ plant growth regulators, TRUTRACK™ drift control, AQUADRAFT™ water conditioners and surfactants, UPSHIFT™ starter fertilizers, and HOMESTRETCH™ nitrogen stabilizers, micronutrients, and foliar nutritional products.

LINE OF BIOLOGICALS

Of special interest is a line of biologicals Meristem is bringing to market, including EXCAVATOR™ powered by MICROBILIZE™, designed to break down tough crop residue.

“We have to remember that crop production is local,” Feldkamp stresses. “We are local and serving local growers is our focus, not serving huge cooperatives or corporations a

thousand miles away.”

“We farm here, and our customers do, too,” he states. “We understand these local soils, fields, and farms.”

Eviston says it’s this shared mission of putting farmers first that makes NEW Ag Services a great partner for Meristem.

“We’ve set up Meristem to cut waste from the distribution channel while providing high-quality crop input additives to help American farmers reduce costs and increase yield so they are more competitive in a global market,” Eviston remarks.

“Now, with the help of the NEW Ag team,” he concludes, “we’ll be able to connect with more of the farmers who can benefit.”

For more information, contact NEW Ag Services, LLC, W7102 Grand View Rd., Hortonville, WI 54944, 920-8585198, bfuhrman@newagllc.com.

John Deere Wins Two CES 2023 Innovation Awards

Autonomous tractor lands Robotics and Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility honors

John Deere has been named a Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2023 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation honoree in the Robotics category, and an honoree in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility category for its fully autonomous tractor.

This is the fourth consecutive year John Deere has received an Innovation Award from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The announcement was made ahead of CES 2023, the world’s most influential technology event, during which John Deere is delivering a keynote presentation. CES 2023 is taking place January 5-8, in Las Vegas and virtually.

John Deere’s fully autonomous tractor integrates technology such as cameras, artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, and ultra-fast Graphics Processing Units to navigate through a field without an operator in the cab, helping customers be more efficient, productive, and profitable.

FLEXIBILITY TO FOCUS

“Farmers never have a shortage of work to do on any given day,” says Jahmy Hindman, chief technology officer for John Deere. “With our fully autonomous tractor, farmers have the flexibility to focus on the most pressing tasks within their operations while the machine handles what they don’t have time or labor to do.”

“We continue to invest in autonomy and automation to support the important work our customers do every day,” Hindman adds.

The CES Innovation Awards program, owned and produced by the CTA, is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in 28 product categories. Judges reviewed submissions based on innovation, engineering and functionality, aesthetic, and design.

The Robotics category of the Innovation Awards highlights programmable or otherwise intelligent machines capable of performing specific tasks or replicating human movement or interactions.

The Vehicle Intelligence & Advanced

Mobility category highlights automotive and other transportation products and services that integrate technology into the driving or riding experience, whether by enhancing safety, navigation, improving the passenger experience, or enabling self-driving functionality.

John Deere’s fully autonomous tractor integrates technology such as cameras, artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, and ultra-fast Graphics Processing Units to navigate through a field without an operator in the cab.

USDA Expands Local Food for Schools Program

Cooperative agreement with Wisconsin increases purchases from area farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces it has signed a cooperative agreement with Wisconsin for more than $3.4 million

to increase its purchase of nutritious, local foods for school meal programs.

Through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program

(LFS), the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will purchase and distribute local and regional foods and beverages for schools to serve children through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).

These products will be healthy and unique to their geographic area, with the goal of improving child nutrition and building new relationships between schools and local farmers.

“This cooperative agreement supporting Wisconsin schools is another example of how USDA is working to build a more resilient food system rooted in local and regional production,” says USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt.

“The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program provides an opportunity for states to strengthen ties between local farmers, ranchers, food businesses and schools,” she notes, “and gives students access to nutritious foods unique to the area they live in, building stronger connections across local communities.”

“Strengthening relationships between local producers and schools is a longterm strategy to ensure our children always have access to nutritious foods in school, a win-win for child health and American agriculture,” says Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Stacy Dean.

“Through this program and many other efforts to support the school meal programs,” Dean continues,

“USDA is committed to giving schools the tools they need to set children up to learn, grown, and thrive.”

FOOD ACCESS

With the LFS funding, DATCP will be able to increase the access of local, unprocessed, and minimally processed foods from underserved and small business farmers and producers while benefiting public, private, or Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs), referred to as School Food Authorities (SFAs) in the NSLP and SBP.

“I am pleased Wisconsin will have the opportunity to utilize the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program to purchase and distribute additional locally-produced foods in our schools,” says Wisconsin DATCP

Secretary Randy Romanski.

“This program will create an additional market for Wisconsin producers and processors to sell their products, strengthen the connections across the entire food supply chain, and increase access to local, nutritious foods for our students,” Romanski states.

The LFS cooperative agreements will allow organizations the flexibility to design food purchasing programs and establish partnerships with farmers and ranchers that best suit their local needs, accommodate environmental and climate conditions, account for seasonal harvests, improve supply chain resiliency and meet the needs of schools within their service area.

Additionally, the program will provide

more opportunities for historically underserved producers and processors to sell their products.

LFS is authorized by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. AMS looks forward to continuing to sign agreements under this innovative program. LFS is one of many ways USDA is supporting meal programs this school year and transforming our food system in the long term.

For more information on USDA’s work to support school meal programs visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/usdasupport-schools-chart.

For more information on USDA’s efforts to transform our food system, visit https://www.usda.gov/buildback-better.

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A quality lineup of speakers and the issues covered have proven crucial to the industry over the years, and to the success of potato and vegetable growers specifically.

Convening at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, February 7-9, potato

and vegetable growers have the opportunity to talk business with WPVGA Associate Division members, companies and representatives, and visit booths to see the latest in everything agriculture.

Industry Show exhibitors showcase their products, implements,

technologies, tools, devices, and services, while gaining insight into the potato and vegetable growing industry and a chance to build relationships.

In short, the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show helps growers get a head start on the season with expert market analysis and outlooks, research reports, information on new technologies and agribusiness updates.

2023 researcher presentations cover issues such as potato breeding and variety development; nitrogen management in vegetable cropping systems; pest, weed and disease management; agrichemical quality; water and carbon dynamics in the soils of the Central Sands; and seed treatment options.

HOT BUTTON ISSUES

The rise of metabolic resistance; water quality; nitrate leaching, response and uptake; diploid potato breeding; post-harvest potato storability factors; microbiomes and soil organic matter; Colorado potato beetle emergence and adaptation; and water use of crops versus forests are current hot-button issues.

Deana Knuteson, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department

of Horticulture, will give a presentation titled “Healthy Grown, Sustainability, Resilient Ag—Are They Linked?” And Tracy Hames, executive director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, will head a panel presentation by a producer-led watershed group.

A great place for growers and agribusiness professions to gain insights into what will give them the edge they need in today’s tough business climate, the conference features a well-informed group of speakers.

The WPVGA Associate Division Banquet, Wednesday evening, is the premier social event in the Wisconsin potato industry, including a nice social hour, dinner, awards and entertainment.

In addition to the annual Industry Awards, there will be drawings for cash prizes, with $1,500 to be given away, including more than 10 individual cash prizes and a $500

grand prize winner (must be present after the awards banquet and during the evening’s entertainment to win).

This year, the WPVGA Associate Division is excited to announce that Greg Peterson, spokesman for Peterson Farm Brothers, will be giving a presentation at the Industry Show Banquet.

REGISTER NOW!

To register for the conference, please complete the Individual Registration Form by visiting: https:// wisconsinpotatoes.com/wp-content/ uploads/2022/10/Registration-FormIndividual.fillable.pdf and return it with payment to WPVGA, P.O. Box 327, Antigo, WI 54409.

If more than one person from the same company is attending, please use the Group Registration Form (https://wisconsinpotatoes.com/ wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ Registration-Form-Group.fillable.pdf).

If you have questions, please contact the WPVGA Office at (715) 623-7683.

ROOM RESERVATIONS

There is a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center reserved for conference and show attendees. The room rate is $112 for a single or double room.

To reserve your room and take advantage of this rate, visit https:// wisconsinpotatoes.com/events/ wpvga-uw-madison-division-ofextension-grower-educationconference-industry-show/ and scroll down to the Holiday Inn Booking Link.

For those who prefer to make reservations over the phone, please call 715-344-0200, press 3 and reference the group name Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers, or refer to group block code VEG. The room block will expire on January 29, 2023.

Make plans now to attend this valuable event. Please note that conference registration rates will increase after January 20, so register today!

2023

WPVGA & UW Division of Extension Grower Education Conference

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI

Time General Session - Moderator Expo 1 and 2

7:30 - 8:20 Registration

8:20 - 8:30

8:30 - 9:00

9:00 - 9:30

9:30 - 10:30

10:30 - 11:00

Welcome and opening remarks - Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Antigo, WI

Exploring the Connections Among Climate, Human Water Use, and Lakes in the Central Sands - Michael Fienen, Research Hydrologist, USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Madison, WI

Agrichemical Quality in Central Sands Groundwater and Potential/Expected Legislative Actions - Ken Potrykus, Hydrogeologist, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Madison, WI

Morning Break - Visit Exhibit Hall/Poster Session

Advancing biotic and abiotic resistance through potato breeding and genetics - David Douches, Director of MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics Program, Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

11:00-11:30

11:30-12:00

12:00 - 1:15

Breakout Sessions

1:30 - 1:50

Development of a Mesonet of Environmental Monitoring Stations to Support Wisconsin Agriculture - Chris Kucharik, Professor and Chair, Department of Agronomy, UW-Madison

Colorado Potato Beetle: A Perpetual Challenge - Andrei Alyokhin, Professor, School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME

Lunch: i) National Potato Council Update, Michael Wenkel, Chief Operating Officer; and ii) WPVGA Awards

Expo 1 Disease Management I

Moderators - Ken Schroeder & Matt Pereyra

Paul Bethke - Susceptibility of potato lenticels to infection by pathogens

Expo 2 Water Quality I Moderators - Guolong Liang & Trevor Crosby

Ankur Desai and Ammara TalibWater use by crops and forests in the Central Sands

1:50 - 2:10

Aurelie Rakotondrafara - Delivery of Virus-Derived Proteins to Control Fungal Pathogens of Potatoes

2:10 - 2:30

Matt Pereyra, Amanda Gevens, and Russ Groves - Evaluating the performance of the P-Day model for initiation of preventative Early Blight fungicides

Trevor Crosby and Yi Wang - Using hyperspectral remote sensing for potato nitrogen management

Tracy Hames - Producer-led Watershed Group - panel presentation

Sands/Spruce Agronomics

Moderators - Natasha Paris & Ashmita Rawal

Ashmita Rawal, Amanda Gevens, Matthew Ruark- Does Soil Organic Matter affect Potato Productivity on Sandy Soil

Deana Knuteson - Healthy Grown, Sustainability, Resilient Ag – Are they linked?

Nurlan Utesov and Paul MitchellProfit Margins Along the Fresh Potato Supply Chain

2:30 - 3:30

Breakout

Sessions

3:30 - 3:50

3:50 - 4:10

4:10 - 4:30

4:30 - 8:00

Afternoon Break - Visit Exhibit Hall/Poster Session

Expo 1

Disease Management II

Moderator - Ken Schroeder & Matt Pereyra

Dennis Halterman - Interactions between potato, Alternaria, and their environments that can affect early blight disease

Afona Irabor, Amanda Gevens, and Matt Ruark - Influence of conventional and biological fungicides on potato microbiomes

Shan Shan and Rick Lankau - How does fumigation affect soil microbiomes, and how do soil microbes affect fumigation responses?

Expo 2 Water Quality II

Moderator - Guolong Liang & Trevor Crosby

Jed Colquhoun - Nitrate remediation strategies in potato and vegetable systems

Guolong Liang - Estimating Nitrogen Leaching: A Step to Improve Water Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Kevin Masarik - Challenges and opportunities for nitrate reduction in the Central Sands

Sands/Spruce Pest Management

Moderators - Natasha Paris & Ashmita Rawal

Ben Bradford and Russ GrovesChanges in Colorado potato beetle emergence and diapause phenology

Sean Schoville - Using museum specimens to understand adaptation of Colorado potato beetle

Andrei Alyohkin - RNA Interference: A Novel Way to Kill

Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association and WPVGA Associate Division Reception

2023

WPVGA & UW Division of Extension Grower Education Conference

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI

Time General Session - Moderator Expo 1 and 2

8:15 - 9:00

9:00 - 9:30

Potatoes USA updates and summary - Blair Richardson, President, Potatoes USA, Denver, CO

Variety development in the upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region - Chris Long, Potato Extension Specialist, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Langsing, MI

9:30 - 10:00 Rise of metabolic resistance - Sean Schoville, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, UW-Madison

10:00 - 10:30 Morning Break - Visit Exhibit Hall/Poster Session

10:30 - 11:00

11:00 - 11:30

11:30- 12:00

12:00 - 1:15

Breakout Sessions

Water and carbon dynamics in soils of the Central Sands - Alfred Hartemink, Professor, Department of Soil Science, UW-Madison

Pesticides in Central Sands Surface Water – 15 Years of DATCP Sampling - Carla Romano, Groundwater Specialist, Environmental Quality Unit, Wisconsin DATCP, Madison, WI

Stream contributing areas and water quality in the Central Sands Region: Focus on the 14-Mile Creek Watershed - Mike Parsen, Hydrogeologist, WGNHS, and Dave Hart, Professor and Hydrogeologist, WGNHS, UW-Madison

Lunch Break

WPVGA/State Legislative Issues Update - Jordan Lamb, Attorney, The Welch Group; and Working Wildlife Habitat onto your Working Lands: Josh Bendorf, Precision Ag & Conservation Specialist, and Heather Doherty, Farm Bill Biologist, Pheasants Forever

Expo 1 Potato Breeding

Moderators - Ken Schroeder & Shane Hansen

1:30 - 1:50

Yi Wang - Testing Elite Fresh Market Varieties in a Low Nitrogen Environment

1:50 - 2:10

Lin Song - Breeding and genetics of tuber shape in diploid potato

2:10 - 2:30

2:30 - 3:30

Breakout

Sessions

3:30 - 3:50

David Douches - Diploid potato breeding: dihaploids, self compatibility, breeding progress and assessing traits

Expo 2 Water Quality Management Moderator - Guolong Liang & Natasha Paris

Scott Provost - Water Quality Management: From 9-Key Element Plans to TMDL’s and Watersheds to Basin

Kevin Hedinger and Aubrey Dunshee - Grower-Focused Method Development: Estimating Nitrate Leaching and Groundwater Recharge

Chuck Bolte - Water Quality Project Leads Soil Health Discussion

Afternoon Break - Visit Exhibit Hall/Poster Session

Sands/Spruce Wisconsin Muck Meeting Moderator - Amanda Gevens

Sarah Pethybridge - Stemphylium emergence, and relationships to variety and fertility

Amanda Gevens - Carrot variety response to foliar diseases

Expo 1

Potato Storage Management

Moderator - Ken Schroeder & Shane Hansen

Shane Hansen and Amanda GevensUltraviolet energy for management of oomycete pathogens on potato tubers

3:50 - 4:10

Chris Long - Biotic and Abiotic Factors that Affect Raw Product Quality and Post-Harvest Storability of Potatoes

4:10 - 4:30

Amber Walker & Troy Fishler - Update on Elite Potato Varieties Grown in Central Wisconsin and Stored at the UW Storage Research Facility

Expo 2 Associate Division

Moderator - Guolong Liang & Natasha Paris

Selected Presentations, WPVGA

Associate Division - Five pre-selected presentations will feature new technologies and approaches in agricultural management of potato and vegetable production systems. Each presentation 10 minutes including questions.

5:15 - 6:00 Social Hour

6:00 - 10:00

WPVGA Associate Division Banquet

Sands/Spruce Wisconsin Muck Meeting

Moderator - Russ Groves

Tim Waters

Washington State University - Best Practices for Thrips Control in Onions

Russ Groves - Seed treatment options in small seeded vegetable - onion maggot

2023 WPVGA & UW Division of Extension Grower Education Conference

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI

Time General Session - Moderator Amanda Gevens Expo 1 and 2

8:00 - 8:30

8:30 - 9:00

Dr. Jeff Endelman, UW Horticulture - Potato breeding and variety development

Dr. Yi Wang, UW Horticulture - Using innovative technologies to improve nitrogen management in vegetable cropping systems

9:00 - 9:30 Brooke Babler, UW Plant Pathology - Current and future certification diagnostic trends

9:30 - 10:00

Dr. Russell Groves, UW Entomology - Managing the key pest complex in potato

10:00 - 10:15 Morning Break

10:15 - 10:45

10:45 - 11:15

Dr. Jed Colquhoun, UW Horticulture - Potato weed management and water quality research update

Dr. Amanda Gevens, UW Plant Pathology - Updating early blight management in potato

11:15 - 11:45 Dr. Matthew Ruark, UW Soil Science - On-farm N research: N response and N uptake

11:45 - 12:00 Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director, WPVGA - Thank you and concluding remarks.

12:00 Adjourn - and Thanks for your Attendance and Participation 1:00 WPVGA Annual Meeting

Baltic Rose

Bright shiny red skin with delicious dark yellow flesh. Great for potato salad.

CASCADE FARMS, WA: Alegria, Wendy CHILDSTOCK FARMS, NY: Baltic Rose

CROWN FARMS, ME: Soraya, Allora, Golden Globe

EBE FARMS, WA: Allora, Cascada, Christel, Tessa

GUENTHNER FARMS, WI: Paroli

JORDE CERTIFIED SEED, ND: Soraya, Alegria

MARTINEZ FARMS, CO: Tacoma

PRO SEED, CO: Soraya

ROCKY FARMS, CO: Golden Globe, Baltic Rose

ROCKYVIEW, AB, CANADA: Penni

SALAZAR & SAN ACACIA SEED, CO: Soraya

WORLEY SEED, CO: Soraya, Tessa

ZAPATA SEED, CO: Alegria, Soraya

Paroli

Super early (85 day) yellow. Starts faster than other yellows.

Soraya

A very low nitrogen variety for low input or organic. The dark yellow flesh has fantastic flavor in soups and potato salads.

Alegria

High yield of smooth yellow tubers in tough growing conditions. Great tasting baked fries or wedges.

New Products

Book Has Perhaps Never Been More Relevant

Uniting farmers, trade groups and the environmental community is crucial to 2023 Farm Bill

“No Farms, No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform Agriculture,” by Don Stuart and published by Island Press, recounts the history of American Farmland Trust and its success uniting disparate interests to bring about the protection of farmland and ranchland.

The American Farmland Trust has also been successful in aiding the conservation of environmental resources on which our food, fuel, feed, and fiber production, as well as society and the planet, rely.

“No Farms, No Food” takes readers inside the political and policy battles that determine the fate of our nation’s farmland and food system. It also illustrates the tactics needed to unify fractured interest groups for the common good.

“No Farms, No Food” is both an inspiring history of agricultural conservation and a practical guide for creating an effective advocacy organization. This is an essential read for everyone who cares about the future of our food, farms, and environment.

American Farmland Trust was spawned at a time when our nation faced great social, economic, and cultural upheaval, when inflation combined with an oil shock that emptied grocery shelves, a wave of environmental regulation, and a farm industry in crisis.

In the 1980’s, national concerns about the environment and urban sprawl, and the prospect of regulatory approaches to addressing

these concerns were met by strong opposition from an already struggling farm community.

The farm debt crisis of the ’80s drove many farmers out of business. By 1985, only 2.2 percent of the population lived on a farm, down from 30.2 percent in 1920. Farmland values had crashed, and land was being lost to development at the rate of 3 million acres a year.

FOCUS ON YIELD

A focus on yield, based on “Get Big or Get Out” policies of the 1970’s was driving soil loss, compromising water quality, and challenging wildlife and biodiversity.

A transformational Federal Farm Bill was needed. The Federal Farm Bill is a massive legislative package that governs agricultural and food programs and drives much of agricultural practice and action. It is renewed every five years.

In those days, between the private, nonprofit environmental groups and the entities representing commercial agriculture, collaboration was largely absent.

Environmentalists were convinced that the planet was at risk. Farmers were convinced their industry was on the verge of bankruptcy. Neither saw room for compromise.

American Farmland Trust (AFT) led a sea change, building a coalition that reshaped the relationship between American agriculture and the broader environment movement. An early and significant example of that was the introduction of the Conservation Title in the 1985 Farm Bill.

The book “No Farms, No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform Agriculture,” by Don Stuart, recounts the history of American Farmland Trust.

Back then and to this day, AFT has advocated for policies that bridge the agricultural and environmental gap, leading groups to meet in the middle. These principles, clearly outlined in Chapter 10 of “No Farms, No Food,” include understanding and respecting underlying motives and points of view.

The arguments AFT makes to farmers are not the same as those the organization uses with environmentalists. The case is presented to each side in a manner that is grounded in that constituency’s values, stated in their language and respectful of their point of view.

But both arguments are valid, and the goal is the same for both—a better world for farmers and the environment.

AT A PRECIPICE

We are again at a precipice. The Farm Bill is up for renewal in 2023. With all the pressures impacting agriculture and our environment, including a changing climate, 2028 will be too late to implement what is now urgent.

Since early 2020, Americans have witnessed empty grocery store shelves due to disruptions caused by the pandemic.

We are experiencing continued supply chain disruptions, rising food prices, an oil shock due to the war in Ukraine, and the impacts of climate change including droughts, wildfires, derechos, and other extreme weather events.

At the same time, our agricultural base is shrinking. AFT’s 2020 “Farms

Under Threat: State of the States” report showed that 2,000 acres a day is being lost or compromised due to ill-planned development.

Farmers are on the frontlines, and all of us who eat will continue to be impacted if we don’t help drive change.

Securing our agricultural land and stewarding it well, building soil health, protecting water quantity and quality, wildlife, and biodiversity is critical to our survival.

We must again reshape the Farm Bill to re-incentivize farmland protection and farming practices that foster productivity, profitability, and above all, a healthy planet where food is abundant and affordable. This will not be easy, requiring all interests to come

together, including America’s eaters.

In his foreword to the book, Bill Reilly, former Environmental Protection Agency administrator and president of the World Wildlife Fund, who once served as the board chair at American Farmland Trust, wrote: “The current class of climate activists could learn a lesson or two from how AFT has approached its work over the years.”

The blueprint is contained in “No Farms, No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform Agriculture,” now available from Island Press.

Copies of the book are available by visiting https://farmland.org/book/ or by emailing Lori Sallet, lsallet@ farmland.org.

continued on pg. 54

AMVAC Launches AMVAC Academy

AMVAC® is pleased to announce the launch of AMVAC Academy, a new online learning management system (LMS) for continuing education and training in agriculture.

Located at https://AMVACAcademy. com, the state-of-the-art LMS provides retailers, farmers, advisors, and consultants a new opportunity to stay current with technical, agronomic, and product information.

Registration verified by AMVAC and a login utilizing the user’s email address and password are required for access to AMVAC Academy.

AMVAC Academy, built in collaboration with Achieva, Inc., features self-guided learning modules across a range of agronomic and horticulture topics.

Most modules conclude with selfguided quizzes that allow users to test their knowledge of the subject matter reviewed, log their test scores as they advance through modules and subject areas, and provide proof of participation.

Also in the works are opportunities to earn Continuing Education Units for accreditations, including Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) and state-specific pesticide application licenses such as California’s Pest Control Advisors (PCAs).

AMVAC Academy launches with detailed learning modules in four major course categories:

• GreenSolutions™ • Herbicides

• Insecticides • Soil fumigants

Additional modules and course categories will be added in the coming months and years.

“Education and technical knowledge are more critical to agriculture than ever before,” says Scott Hendrix, senior vice president, U.S. and Canada crop sales and application technology, AMVAC.

“We’re pleased to provide access to AMVAC Academy to AMVAC’s many ag retail, farmer, advisor, and consultant customers and partners,” Hendrix adds, “and we look forward to continuing to evolve and build out the Academy’s offerings for some time to come.”

For more information, visit https:// AMVACAcademy.com.

2023

NPC WASHINGTON SUMMIT

WASHINGTON MARRIOTT AT METRO CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C.

STANDING UP FOR POTATOES ON CAPITOL HILL

NPC’s annual Washington Summit provides a forum for potato industry members to discuss, define, and advocate for the policy priorities impacting their businesses and protecting their ability to farm.

• Hear from the nation’s top political and policy experts

• Welcome NPC’s 2023 officers and grower leaders

• Meet with members of Congress representing potato-growing states and districts

• ...and unite as an industry in Standing Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill!

Eyes on Associates

By WPVGA Associate Division President Julie Cartwright, Jay-Mar, Inc.

Greetings and Happy New Year! On behalf of the WPVGA Associate Division, I would like to extend a blessed new year to everyone.

Every year brings personal, political, financial, and social challenges, and it is easy to be consumed by the chaos. Take a moment (or 20) and pray. Enjoy family. Be deliberate with small gestures of kindness—they really can combine to make a great impact!

I hope that 2023 brings prosperity and health to all of you, your families, and your businesses.

The Purpose Statement of the Associate Division challenges us to “help foster and promote the various functions of the potato and vegetable industry.” Thanks to the backing of our members, we are proud to continue that legacy of support.

Here are just a few ways that we have given back to the industry in 2022:

1. $40,000 was donated to the Farming for the Future Foundation. The foundation is building a new agritourism facility (the Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover, Wisconsin) that will educate all ages from all demographics about the process by which food is produced, focusing on vegetables. An investment in education is one that will benefit ours and other industries for years to come.

2. $5,055 was awarded to scholarship applicants who are pursuing a career in some aspect of agriculture.

3. Money is awarded to grant applicants to be used for vegetable research and quality assurance at facilities around the state. This year, the Associate Division awarded $10,900 to research facilities. Our board looks to continue providing support to the industry through channels like these.

4. $1,000 was donated to the Spud Bowl, which promotes the potato industry in conjunction with a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point home football game.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, which

The 3rd Annual Sporting Clays Shoot was held on October 20, 2022, at the Wausau Skeet and Trap Club. The weather and course were beautiful. Representing WPVGA Associate Division member company Mike Caves Rust Stop are, from left to right, Mark Buckholt, Chad Chilewski, Mike Caves, and Ken Smith.

will be held February 7-9 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center, Stevens Point.

A segment that we have featured in the past is “Bringing Value to Ag,” in which five Associate Division member companies are each given 10 minutes to introduce new concepts or products to the agriculture industry.

This has been well received and a great way to allow our members to showcase their innovations. We will be featuring the presentations again this year. There are several great entries that the Board is evaluating to fill the five 10-minute slots.

The awards banquet will be held on Wednesday night, February 8. This year, we will have Greg Peterson of the Peterson Farm Brothers, from Kansas, as a guest speaker following the meal.

Watch for more information and sponsorship opportunities as the conference approaches.

2023 PUTT-TATO OPEN

Mark your calendars. The 2023 PuttTato Open will be held on July 12 at Bullseye Golf Club in Wisconsin Rapids. It is a very pretty golf course that has been accommodating to our group in the past. We look forward to another fun event!

Our 3rd Annual Sporting Clays Shoot was held on October 20, 2022, at the Wausau Skeet and Trap Club. The weather and course were beautiful.

Thirty teams of four signed up, and our net profit on the Sporting Clays event was just under $7,000. We look forward to reinvesting the funds into the potato and vegetable growing industry as we have done in the past. Thanks to all who participated and stay tuned for details on next year’s Sporting Clays Shoot.

The growth and great comments indicate that the Sporting Clays Shoot is here to stay. The Associate Division will be evaluating the growth, profitability, and location of the event to accommodate its increasing

popularity. Any suggestions or comments are always welcome.

We will again be conducting the Association Division Board elections and Annual Meeting, Wednesday morning, February 8, in conjunction with the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. If you would like to nominate an Associate Division member to fill a board vacancy, please let a board member know.

This year, we will also be reviewing and updating the by-laws of the Associate Division to reflect situations that our board has come across this year.

Stay warm! Another season is just around the corner.

Mark your calendars. The 2023 Putt-Tato Open will be held on July 12 at Bullseye Golf Club in Wisconsin Rapids. Posing at the 2022 Putt-Tato Open and representing AgCountry Farm Credit Services are, from left to right, Katie Lux, Bill Coker, Brian Luther, and Ashley Beggs.

Julie Cartwright

WPVGA Associate Division President

Humble Potato Could Help Beat Hospital Superbugs

Naturally occurring antibiotic solanimycin already combats a host of fungi that wreak havoc on crops

By Good News Network – https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org

The humble potato, which contains a natural antibiotic that destroys harmful bacteria, could hold the key to beating hospital superbugs in the future, according to research from a multi-national team of researchers in Europe.

The compound, called solanimycin, combats a host of fungi that wreak havoc on crops. In these recent experiments, it killed Candida albicans, which causes possibly dangerous infections, like thrush in women.

Most current therapeutic antibiotic compounds originate from soil microbes, but the solanimycin findings show that plant-based microorganisms

should get a closer look.

The research team sees the discovery as an encouraging sign. Plant pathogens might be coaxed to make compounds that could be used not

only against plant fungi in crops that have developed resistance to treatments, but also against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in humans.

“We have to be open to the exploration of everything that’s out there to find new antibiotics,” says microbiologist Rita Monson, Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, who co-led the study.

Recently, in the peer-reviewed journal mBio, the team reported the discovery of solanimycin, initially isolated from a pathogenic bacterium that infects potatoes, that appears to be produced by a broad spectrum of related plant pathogenic bacteria.

DICKEYA SOLANI

The pathogenic potato bacterium Dickeya solani, which produces solanimycin, was first identified more than 15 years ago, and researchers at Cambridge have been investigating its antibiotic potential for a decade.

Above: Most current therapeutic antibiotic compounds originate from soil microbes, but research into solanimycin, initially isolated from a pathogenic bacterium that infects potatoes, shows that plant-based microorganisms should get a closer look.

“These strains emerged rapidly, and now they are widely distributed,” says the paper’s co-author, molecular microbiologist Miguel Matilla, Ph.D., at the Spanish Research Council’s Estación Experimental del Zaidín, in Granada.

Solanimycin isn’t the first antibiotic discovered from the microbe. In previous work, researchers found that D. solani produces an antibiotic called oocydin A, which is highly active against multiple fungal plant pathogens.

Those previous discoveries, together with the analysis of the bacterium’s genome, hinted that it might synthesize additional antibiotics, also with antifungal potential. That hint paid off. Drs. Matilla and Monson, together with molecular microbiologist George Salmond, found that when they silenced the genes responsible for

The pathogenic potato bacterium Dickeya solani, which produces solanimycin, was first identified more than 15 years ago, and researchers at Cambridge have been investigating its antibiotic potential for a decade.

producing oocydin A, the bacterium continued to show antifungal activity.

SOLANIMYCIN

That observation led to the identification of solanimycin and the gene clusters responsible for the proteins that make the compound.

The bacterium uses the compound sparingly, producing it in response to cell density. An acidic pH environment—as that present in a potato—also activates the solanimycin gene cluster.

Monson says it almost looks like a clever protective mechanism. “It’s an antifungal that we believe will work by killing fungal competitors, and the bacteria benefit so much from this,” she explains. “But you don’t turn it on unless you’re in a potato.”

Monson says the researchers have begun collaborating with chemists to learn more about the molecular structure of solanimycin and better understand how it works.

She and Matilla hope for further testing of the compound using

plant and animal models and will focus near-term on trying to use this antibiotic antifungal for crop protection.

Article courtesy of Good News

Network—the #1 website for Good News.

Above: The humble potato, which contains a natural antibiotic that destroys harmful bacteria, could hold the key to beating hospital superbugs in the future.

Humble Potato Could Help Beat Hospital Superbugs. . .

“We have to be open to the exploration of everything that’s out there to find new antibiotics.”

– microbiologist Rita Monson, Ph.D., University of Cambridge

The

Agricultural Research Station would like to thank all our cooperators for helping make 2022 a success. Thank You!

Chefs in Spud Lab Create Holiday Potato Recipes Potatoes USA News

Potatoes USA chefs R.J. Harvey and Vince Armada created holiday recipes in the Spud Lab to showcase the many ways potatoes can be enjoyed, especially in new and surprising ways. Dishes such as the Fall Harvest Mashed Potatoes spotlight a mindful approach to preparing America’s favorite vegetable by incorporating butternut squash puree to lend a creamy texture instead of using cream or butter.

For a heartier take on potatoes,

comfort dishes were developed, too, such as Skillet Hash Brown Stuffing and Potato Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Icing.

And with leftovers almost guaranteed after a holiday, dishes that repurpose food appear in the new swath of recipes, such as the Thanksgiving Chowder or Mashed Potato Stuffed Crescent Rolls.

To see the entire recipe collection, including images, visit https://

Left to Right: Fall Harvest Mashed Potatoes incorporate butternut squash puree for a creamy texture.

Skillet Hash Brown Stuffing is a hearty take on potatoes.

These delicious Potato Cinnamon Rolls have pumpkin spice cream cheese icing.

Since there’s bound to be leftovers from the holidays, recipes like Thanksgiving Chowder repurpose food.

potatoesusa.com/resources/category/ Thanksgiving-Recipes/.

As agriculture has evolved, the nature of the industry has become more complex and regulated. At Ruder Ware our attorneys act as legal counsel for producers and businesses providing products and services for the agriculture industry, and partner with a client’s current trusted advisors, such as accountants and lenders. Contact us today to see how our team approach yields the best results for your farm or business.

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World Potato Congress Welcomes Executive Director

Kouwenberg has worked in potato services and farm business management

World Potato Congress (WPC)

President John Griffin extends congratulations and a warm welcome to incoming WPC Executive Director Ellen Kouwenberg, who will be replacing outgoing General Manager Brian Douglas.

Born and raised in a family of nine children, Kouwenberg’s family operated a potato/beef farm in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree through the University of Prince Edward Island and studied international business at the University of Copenhagen, traveling extensively throughout Europe and Russia exploring various

business models as part of those studies.

Upon her return, Kouwenberg worked with the PEI Department of Agriculture in various capacities, including potato services, farm business management, and in the International Programs Division.

POTATO QUALITY INSTITUTE

A reassignment led her back to the private sector, where she completed a feasibility study into and the establishment of the PEI Potato Quality Institute (PQI), a nationally accredited testing laboratory that she then managed and expanded.

Kouwenberg continued to work in the

global potato network, collaborating on projects with U.S. university potato variety research programs, expanding international technical and regulatory trade, and in farm biosecurity.

She brings experience to the World Potato Congress through her global connections, and in facilitating incoming and outgoing agricultural missions and trade shows involving countries in North Africa, Central and South America, The Philippines, United States, and the Middle East.

Kouwenberg resides with her husband and their three children on a 285-cow milking herd dairy farm. She has over 25 years of experience as a 4-H youth leader, sitting on various boards and committees in this and other organizations within her community, and as such, has been recognized with a Women In Agriculture award for her ongoing contributions.

We look forward to working with Ellen in her new role.

For more information, visit www.potatocongress.org.

Ellen

New executive director of The World Potato Congress, Ellen Kouwenberg’s family operated a potato and beef farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

IT ALL STARTS WITH A STRONG SOIL FOUNDATION.

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Proposed WIC Update Includes White Potatoes

Positive shift by USDA brings common sense back to nutrition program

In mid-November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC.

The rule incorporates recommendations from the 2017 NASEM report (scientific review of the WIC food packages required by Congress) and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Specific to potatoes, USDA affirmed that white potatoes are WIC-eligible by codifying the requirements as mandated by Congress in 2015 that previously excluded them from the program.

This does not create a material change to current program requirements, but is a positive shift by USDA, which had previously allowed participants to purchase any variety of fresh, whole, or cut vegetables, except white potatoes.

Through the tireless efforts of the potato industry, USDA has recognized

what we all know, that white potatoes are a nutrient-rich vegetable, bringing common sense back to regulation.

INCLUSION IN WIC

“The codification of white potatoes’ inclusion in the WIC program is a tremendous success and represents years of effort by NPC, our bipartisan supporters in Congress, and the entire U.S. potato industry,” says Dominic LaJoie, NPC immediate past president and potato grower from Maine.

“Thanks to the relentless efforts of champions like Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and other members representing potato growing areas, we were able to bring common sense to the WIC program through an act of Congress,” LaJoie adds.

“Thankfully, USDA’s decision to confirm white potatoes as a WICeligible vegetable cements our place in this invaluable nutrition program,” he concludes.

The proposed rule also increases the cash value vouchers (CVV—a fixeddollar amount check used to purchase

Through the tireless efforts of the potato industry, USDA has recognized what we all know, that white potatoes are a nutrient-rich vegetable, bringing common sense back to regulation.

fruits and vegetables) allowances for fruits and vegetables currently authorized under WIC.

The proposed rule would also require (rather than just leave it up to the states) state agencies to authorize at least one other form of fruits and vegetables, in addition to fresh.

Ali's Kitchen

Mother’s Pot Roast Recipe

Tender chuck roast is cooked in a thick, rich gravy full of mushrooms

Column and photos by Ali Carter, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary

Here in Wisconsin, January is typically a month filled with overcast skies, blustery winds that blow in more snow than I care to shovel, and bitter temperatures that painfully prickle at my throat when I breathe.

I adore this state. I’m blessed to live here. Wisconsin’s beauty is undeniable. However, a girl can only take so much, and during the heart of our winter season, you will find me dreaming of June while seeking shelter under fluffy blankets and craving hearty meals.

This pot roast recipe is one I learned from my mother and have made countless times for my own family. The tender chuck roast cooked in a thick, rich gravy full of mushrooms

will have your home smelling amazing.

When served over creamy mashed potatoes, it is the ideal mid-January meal.

While seated around the dinner table is probably the most acceptable way to partake of this meal, I suggest you enjoy it in front of a warm fireplace while snuggled under an afghan blanket lovingly knit by your grandmother and with a puppy at your feet.

Trust me, this is the very best way to dine on pot roast and mashed potatoes on a freezing Wisconsin January evening.

continued on pg. 66

Pot Roast

• 3-4-lb. chuck roast • 2 Tbsp. olive oil • 1/2 cup diced onion • 1 8-oz. package white or cremini mushrooms, sliced • 1 10.75-oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 packet dry onion soup mix

1 cup water

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS

On the stove top, heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Brown the roast on every side in the hot oil, turning as needed.

Transfer the roast to your slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, mix the diced onion, mushrooms, condensed soup, onion soup mix, water, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Pour over the chuck roast.

Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. The roast will be pull apart tender and the gravy will have thickened. Slice and serve over mashed potatoes.

*Begin preparing the potatoes when your roast has about 45 minutes left of cooking time.

INGREDIENTS:

MASHED POTATOES

• 5 lbs. russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, peeled, and roughly cubed

• 1 ½ sticks of butter, softened

• 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1/2 tsp. black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the cubed potatoes. Cook at a full boil for 30 to 35 minutes or until a fork easily pierces the potatoes

Drain the potatoes and then place them back into the pot.

Mash the potatoes over low heat.

Add butter, cream cheese, milk, salt, and pepper to the potatoes. Stir gently to incorporate all the ingredients with the potatoes and warm everything through.

Remove from heat and serve with slices of the pot roast and spoonsful of mushroom gravy.

Enjoy!

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