March 2023 Badger Common'Tater

PLANTING AND WPVGA INDUSTRY SHOW ISSUE

SULFUR’S ROLE IN EVERY Crop Cannot Be Dismissed

ETHIOPIAN FARM FAMILIES Depend on Potato for Food

ATTENDANCE WAS UP! For 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show

PRODUCER-LED GROUP LANDS GRANT To Improve Water Quality & Soil Health

INTERVIEW: LARRY ADAMS

Adams Farms

Shane Adams plants Goldrush potatoes, in 2022, on Adams Farms using a six-row Grimme GL 36T planter.

Thank you, Nicola, for your...

Partnering philosophy

Science, data analytics & sustainability leadership

Contributions to Wisconsin farming and agribusiness

Nicola is an outstanding thinker, business analyst and listener who brings people and organizations together to innovate and develop mutually beneficial solutions.

WPVGA Young Grower Award Recipient

On the Cover: The rows are straight as Shane Adams drives the tractor and plants Goldrush potatoes, in 2022, on Adams Farms of Plover, Wisconsin. Shane, the son of this issue’s interviewee, Larry Adams, is shown using a six-row Grimme GL 36T potato planter. GPS guidance allows the planter and tractor to talk to each other and ensure those rows stay straight!

8 BADGER COMMON’TATER

It’s a family affair at Adams Farms of Plover, Wisconsin. The farm has been in continual operation since William W. Adams (originally Adamczak) purchased 65 acres of land in 1910. William’s great grandson, Larry Adams, is this issue’s interviewee. During potato harvest in 2021, Larry’s wife, Lisa, is shown driving the truck, his son, Shane, operates the harvester, and not shown, Larry and Lisa’s son, Wyatt, is windrowing in front of the harvester.

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WPVGA Board of Directors:

President: Randy Fleishauer

Vice President: Charlie Mattek

Secretary: John Bustamante

Treasurer: Alex Okray

Directors: Mike Carter, Wendy Dykstra, Bill Guenthner, Josh Knights & J.D. Schroeder

Wisconsin Potato Industry Board:

President: Heidi Alsum-Randall

Vice President: Andy Diercks

Secretary: Bill Wysocki

Treasurer: Keith Wolter

Directors: John Bobek, John Fenske, Jim Okray, Eric Schroeder & Tom Wild

WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors:

President: Matt Selenske

Vice President: Andy Verhasselt

Secretary: Emily Phelps

Treasurer: Paul Salm

Directors: Melissa Heise, Ethan Olson, Morgan Smolarek, Sally Suprise & Brandon Taylor

Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement

Association Board of Directors:

President: Matt Mattek

Vice President: Jeff Suchon

Secretary/Treasurer: Clover Spacek

Directors: Charlie Husnick & Andy Schroeder

Wisconsin Potato Growers

Auxiliary Board of Directors:

President: Brittany Bula

Vice President: Datonn Hanke

Secretary/Treasurer: Heidi Schleicher

Directors: Erin Baginski, Misti Ward, Becky Wysocki & Devin Zarda

Mission Statement of the WPVGA: To advance the interests of WPVGA members through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action and involvement.

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

Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409

WPVGA Staff

Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan

Managing Editor: Joe Kertzman

Director of Promotions & Consumer

Education: Dana Rady

Financial Officer: Karen Rasmussen

Executive Assistant: Julie Braun

Program Assistant: Jane Guillen

WPVGA Office

(715) 623-7683 • FAX: (715) 623-3176

E-mail: wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com

Website: www.wisconsinpotatoes.com

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Foreign subscription rates: $35/year; $55/2 years.

Telephone: (715) 623-7683

Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409

Or, subscribe free online: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe/

ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 630-6213, or email: Joe Kertzman: jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com. The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material

in our hands.

while

When your passion is farming, you want to dig into dirt — not regulations.

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MARCH

13-15

for a photo opportunity with Heartland Farms Chairman of the Board Richard Pavelski (right in the image above), who is also founder and director of the Farming for the Future Foundation (FFTFF). The photo op occurred during a tour of the Food + Farm Exploration Center being constructed in Plover, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of late summer 2023.

Attendees of the 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show were invited to take an exclusive site tour of the state-of-the-art facility. The FFTFF provided tour bus transportation from the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point before and after the Industry Show, February 6-9, to the Exploration Center, where guests learned about exciting construction updates since groundbreaking in April.

Donning construction helmets and vests, guests were given a tour of the Center that’s geared toward education from start to finish. For the complete story and photos, see “Now News” in this issue.

Attendance was up for the 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. One of the most respected potato conferences in the nation, the Industry Show, now in its 73rd year, is a showcase for Wisconsin’s established potato and vegetable production area.

Unique as a dual effort between the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and University of Wisconsin (UW) Division of Extension, the combined Grower Education Conference & Industry Show is a showcase for researcher presentations and an established tradeshow under one roof.

Attendees, many of whom are potato and vegetable growers or other industry professionals, enjoy the freedom to roam the show floor, catch up with associates, conduct business and forge relationships, but also to take in a full slate of reports on hot-topic issues affecting farmers. For complete coverage of the event, see the feature article herein.

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

I jumped at the chance

NAME: Larry Adams

TITLE: President and working manager

COMPANY: Adams Farms, Inc.

LOCATION: Plover, WI

HOMETOWN: Plover

TIME IN PRESENT POSITION: Ten years

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Vice president of Adams Farms from 19912003. First jobs at 8 years old were cutting grass, picking rocks, and bagging 5- and 10-pound bags of potatoes on the farm.

SCHOOLING: Mid-State Technical College, Marshfield, and Farm/Industry Short Course at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison

ACTIVITES/ORGANIZATIONS: Supporter of market animal sales, and 4H and FFA programs

AWARDS/HONORS: Wisconsin Century Farm Award for 2016, Larry and Lisa Adams

FAMILY: Wife, Lisa; sons Shane (29) and Wyatt (26); daughter, Bailey (22); and grandson, Leroy (3 months)

HOBBIES: Ice fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, traveling, and skiing

Interview

LARRY ADAMS , president and working manager, Adams Farms, Inc.

By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater

They’ve been farming the fertile ground in the town of Stockton, Wisconsin, since 1910. Adams Farms, Inc. has been in existence since William W. Adams (originally Adamczak) purchased 65 acres of land, 113 years ago, near 2nd Street just outside of Plover.

William was married to Agnes (Fabisiak), in 1897, and had nine children. By the 1930’s, William and Agnes’s sons, Peter and Henry, were working with their parents on the farm.

Henry married Evelyn (Shulfer), in 1935, and had a son, Gerald. By the 1950’s, Henry farmed about 300 acres and milked 15-20 cows. The farm’s crops back then included 2040 acres of potatoes, hay, oats, rye, field corn, and a large pickle patch.

Gerald married Janie (Kobishop), in 1957, and had two sons, Tom and Larry. In 1979, Gerald and Henry incorporated the farm, and more land was purchased and rented.

Farming practices changed during the 1980’s and ’90s, and machinery and buildings were added to the farm. Gerald and his son, Larry, who is this issue’s interviewee, increased acres as potatoes were grown for chips

and French fries.

Larry married Lisa (Simkowski), in 1992, and they have three children, Shane, Wyatt and Bailey.

Today, the farm continues to expand and diversify and is managed by Larry and Lisa. Between 1,000 and 1,300 irrigated acres are farmed each year in Stockton, with cash crops including

Above: Larry Adams grew up on the farm that’s been in his family since 1910. Adams Farms, Inc., in the town of Stockton a few miles outside of Plover, Wisconsin, continues to expand and diversify and is managed by Larry and Lisa.

potatoes, green beans, sweet corn, peas, and dryland oats, rye, and soybeans.

Were you a Frito-Lay grower, and if so, for how many years? Yes, we were a Frito-Lay grower for 34 years. My grandpa, Hank (Henry), along with another farmer got a chip contract with Red Dot in the late 1960’s.

Red Dot was bought out by FritoLay in the early 1970’s. All through the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, we grew for Frito-Lay along with many other chip companies.

Tell me about your history as sort of a cooperative grower, as I understand it, with Don Faldet Farms and the Gundersons. We set up a wash line, in 1989, and washed chip stock for 10 years. The last four years, Frito-Lay combined three smaller contracts into one large-volume contract that included Faldet Farms, Adams Farms, and Gunderson Farms.

Did you also grow fresh potatoes, and how many acres of each? Yes, we raised 80 acres of fresh potatoes, 80 acres of Burbanks, and 240 acres of chip stock.

Did you grow up on the farm, and do you have any favorite memories or anecdotes from those days? Yes, I grew up on the farm and learned to drive potato truck at the age of 10. I would ride along with my grandma delivering potatoes to local stores in

5- and 10-pound bags. She’d drive to Marshfield, Wausau, Appleton, Oshkosh, Milwaukee and all points in between.

I believe you’re currently growing 300 acres of potatoes for the fresh market as well as under contract with Del Monte off the field, is that correct? Yes, 100 acres are early varieties for Seneca and Del

Left: Cut seed potatoes are loaded into a Grimme six-row planter at Adams Farms, Inc., Plover, Wisconsin.

Right: In 2020, Adams Farms purchased a new Massey Ferguson 8730S tractor, here set up for hilling potatoes and side-dressing fertilizer.

Monte, and 200 acres are russets for local packing sheds. They end up at Walmart and other grocery stores.

continued on pg. 10

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What other vegetables are you growing, and how many acres? We grow 370 acres of green beans, 400 acres in sweet corn, 66 acres of peas, and 40 acres of dryland oats, rye, or soybeans. We have 200-300 acres in custom tillage a year.

What kind of rotation are you on? We’re on a four-year rotation.

Where exactly is the farm—and how far does it stretch? We’re located about 3 miles east of Del Monte. Our furthest field is only 7-8 miles from

the farm. We farm north and south of Arnott, mainly off Highway J.

We’ve also rented land from neighbors for 40 consecutive years.

We are lucky to have flat, sandy fields with center pivots, operating 12 highcapacity wells and 27 center pivots.

Are you preparing now for the growing season, and in what ways? Yes, we’re planning crops, looking at vegetable contracts, purchasing inputs and seed, and upgrading equipment. My sons are repairing

and fabricating tillage and planting equipment, and Lisa is working on end-of-year bookkeeping and managing the office work.

Has planting gotten later in recent years? No, we start planting potatoes around April 10-15 and finish planting beans around July 4. We’re planting crops in every month from April to July.

As far as technology, what are the main ways potato and vegetable growing in Plover has changed over the years? GPS guidance with subinch accuracy has changed farming. Overall, equipment has gotten larger and more precise.

Technology has also sped things up. What used to take a day to answer can now be answered in minutes if you Google it—that really improves efficiency.

Barrier system walls off potatoes in bulk storage.

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Top Left: Larry Adams checks potatoes as they are loaded into an Adams Farms semitrailer. The farm trucks all potatoes to the grading shed in the fall, and also utilizes other carriers.

Top Right: A 2012 photo shows much of the Adams Farms equipment, both old and new at the time, strategically arranged around the barn that was built in 1939.

We’re starting to use biologicals, which means adding beneficial microbes back into the soil. We had our best crop ever in 2022, but a lot of growers did. It wasn’t all because of biologicals. Mother Nature was nice with the weather patterns in our area.

We don’t fumigate, but I think there’s a place for fumigation. This is unlike fumigation. We’re using biologicals to help better utilize the fertilizer we

already have out there and build up the good microbes in the soil profile. We’re adding biologicals to our input program, and not replacing fertilizer. It takes fertilizer to grow a healthy crop, but maybe biologicals can help the plant use fertilizer more efficiently.

Where you cut back is in not overapplying fertilizer in the first place. We apply what the crop needs

when the crop needs it. Timing is very important.

We’ve been contracting with the same companies for a lot of years— particularly Seneca and Del Monte for 40 years. We’re doing the best we can, and we must be doing an OK job. We place value in relationships when doing business.

What are your main duties on the farm? I contract the crops, purchase equipment, and work with the companies we’re in business with. I like to be hands-on and oversee all aspects of the farm.

What do you most like handling in the farming operation? I enjoy being out in the field, operating equipment, and the challenges of bringing a crop to market, from seeing the new crop emerge all the way to harvest. Every year tends to be a little different from the previous year.

Who else in your family works on the farm and in what positions? My son, Shane, took the agriculture short course at UW-Madison, and Wyatt went to Fox Valley Technical College for diesel mechanics and agriculture power equipment. Both use their skills on the farm and are the fifth

Part of the history of Adams Farms includes having worked at one time with broker Glenn Risdon to get potatoes into stores in Chicago. Larry Adams’ grandpa, Hank, along with another farmer also got a chip contract with Red Dot in the late 1960’s.

Above: Potato harvest is pictured from near and far on Adams Farms in Plover.

generation to make a living farming the first field purchased in 1910.

Shane is an equipment operator, including the planter, sprayer and harvester, and a mechanic, irrigation and GPS tech, and truck driver.

Wyatt is a tillage operator, engine rebuilder, fabricator, aluminum welder, irrigation tech, truck driver, and can do anything mechanical. As secretary and treasurer, Lisa handles all administrative duties and runs equipment when needed. She organizes the farm so that it runs smoothly.

We all grade potatoes, pick rocks, cut seed and do repairs when needed. We do what it takes to get the crop from seed to market.

In addition to Lisa, Shane, Wyatt, and myself, we have friends and family who help during harvest, neighbors who have helped with electrical

continued on pg. 14

Though this isn’t the actual tractor, the photo shows a vintage Rumley at an antique implement show that is identical to the first model used on Adams Farms, Inc.

“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside a generation that worked the land with horses, another generation that worked off the farm and came back, and to be currently working alongside a generation that has all the information at their fingertips with cellphone technology and precision agriculture.”

– Larry Adams, Adams Farms, Inc.

and other projects throughout the years, and landlords who keep an eye on the property and let us know if anything needs attention.

Does Adams Farms have trucking or storage arms of the business? Yes, we have three semis and live-bottom trailers to get the crop to a local grading shed at harvesttime.

We have 60,000 hundredweight of storage capacity on the farm, which is rented to other producers in the fall. Adams Farms uses the storage in the spring to suberize seed and store it.

Is all your seed bought, and will you be doing anything different in 2023 than in past years? As of this interview (in late January/early February), I am working on seed, finalizing volume and changing some tillage practices to go more toward spoon-feeding fertilizers. We’re trying more biological products and improving our water management.

Any new machines or implements you’re excited about? We have two new center pivots for 2023, a new

Kubota skid loader, and have made some electrical upgrades. In 2020, we bought a Massey Ferguson 8730S tractor, and in 2021, built an 80 x 155-foot machinery shed. In 2022, we went to a different potato harvester and bought some potato trucks and boxes.

Potatoes are graded and loaded off the field into a semi-trailer on Adams Farms.

Sweet corn is picked, in 2022, at Adams Farms as part of its Seneca contract.

Above: The box of an Adams Farms truck is loaded with seed potatoes in the first photo, and Larry Adams’ son, Shane, fills a planter with seed in the second image captioned “Plant them taters.”

Is there anything I’ve missed or that you’d like to add? I’ve been fortunate to work alongside a generation that worked the land with horses, and then another generation that worked off the farm and came back.

I’m currently working alongside a generation that has all the information at their fingertips with cellphone technology and precision agriculture.

Together

Every year, across the nation, potato growers put America’s Favorite Vegetable on family dinner plates. It’s time to shine a light on the people behind the nutritious spud.

Let’s celebrate the hard work that goes into growing potatoes and bring the industry together. Share your spud story to inspire future generations and give consumers even more reasons to love potatoes.

Whether you are a 1st-generation or 5th-generation potato farmer, with 50 acres or over 150,000 acres, your story deserves to be heard, honored, and shared.

Submit yourself or another industry member to be interviewed and featured in various digital marketing campaigns.

Text SPUD to 855-971-1586 or scan the QR code.

It’s time to tell your spud story and Grow Together.

Above: Larry Adams’ sons, Shane and Wyatt, fill a potato planter in 2021.

It’s really impressive when you look back at where we came from and where we’re going.

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show

WPVGA & UW Division of Extension put together exceptional event and researcher presentations

By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater

The question repeatedly asked was, “Is attendance up this year?” followed shortly by the casual observation, “It seems like there are a lot more people on the show floor. It’s crowded.”

Such was a continual topic of conversation during the 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, February 7-9, at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point.

One of the most respected potato

conferences in the nation, the Industry Show, now in its 73rd year, is a showcase for Wisconsin’s established potato and vegetable production area.

Unique as a dual effort between the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and University of Wisconsin (UW) Division of Extension, the combined Grower Education Conference & Industry Show is a showcase for researcher presentations and an established

tradeshow under one roof.

Attendees, many of whom are potato and vegetable growers or other industry professionals, enjoy the freedom to roam the show floor, catch up with associates, conduct business and forge relationships, but also to take in a full slate of reports on hot-topic issues affecting farmers.

Through the efforts of the WPVGA Association Division Board and staff members, such as Executive Assistant Julie Braun and Financial Officer Karen Rasmussen, attendees picked up their badges and show packets, hit the floor running and enjoyed the educational presentations.

A range of ag businesses once again populated booths on the sold-out show floor to meet face-to-face with growers and researchers, as well as show off their latest products, technologies, services, and corporate portfolios.

The Industry Show showcased technologically advanced equipment, remote sensing, controls, and more to help potato and vegetable growers become more efficient farmers who use less water, fewer inputs,

Above: The big machinery was strategically set up outside the Holiday Inn & Convention Center, in Stevens Point, for the 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show.

and more environmentally friendly practices as the stewards of the land and food providers.

ALL OF AG REPRESENTED

Exhibitors included implement manufacturers and dealers; irrigation companies; banks and credit unions; insurance agencies; the technology sector; fertilizer, chemical and biochemical companies; ag associations; parts dealers; building contractors; seed suppliers; and crop consultants.

One bonus for show attendees this year were free tours to the new Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover. As part of its mission to have a conversation with the public about where their food comes from, and for farmers to be able to tell their stories, the Farming for the Future Foundation is in the final stages of building the center.

Buses ran Tuesday and Wednesday pre- and post-show to the impressive

Food + Farm Exploration Center complex, which is scheduled to be completed in late summer 2023. For more information, see “Now News” in this issue.

More than 300 people pre-registered and hundreds more attended the Grower Education Conference to take full advantage informative sessions

continued on pg. 18

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

Nick and Dianne Somers (left) of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point, visited WPVGA Financial Officer Karen Rasmussen (second from right) and Executive Assistant Julie Braun (right) to pick up their badges and packets before hitting the show floor and enjoying the educational presentations.

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. . . continued from pg. 17

on issues directly affecting their ag businesses.

Dr. Russell L. Groves, with the help of the WPVGA Grower Education Planning Committee, put together a comprehensive, timely, and information-packed lineup of research presentations.

Topics covered 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.

Water quality; nitrate response, uptake, and leaching; diploid potato breeding; post-harvest potato

storability factors; microbiomes and soil organic matter; Colorado potato beetle emergence and adaptation; the rise of metabolic resistance; and water use of crops versus forests were all covered.

Deana Knuteson, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Horticulture, gave a presentation titled “Healthy Grown, Sustainability, Resilient Ag—Are They Linked?” And Tracy Hames, executive director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, headed a panel presentation by a producer-led watershed group.

A great place for growers and agribusiness professionals to gain insight into what they need in today’s tough business climate, the conference featured a well-informed

group of speakers.

To access a complete index of the 2023 Grower Ed Conference proceedings, watch presentations and see poster sessions, as well as those of previous years, visit http:// wpvga.conferencespot.org/.

ANNUAL RECEPTION

On Tuesday evening, the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement

Left: From left to right, James Drought of GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., J.D. Schroeder from Schroeder Bros. Farms, and Steve Diercks of Coloma Farms took in presentations during the Grower Education Conference.

Right: James Spychalla (left) of Kohm and Spychalla, LLC visited Marty Kolpack at the ThorPack booth during the Industry Show.

Chad Glaze (right) of Vine Vest North, Inc. welcomed visitors Mike Helbach (left) of Helbach Farms and Ed Burns (center) from James Burns & Sons Farms to his booth during the Industry Show.

Brothers in arms Doug Nelson (left) of The Little Potato Company and Dennis Schultz, Alsum Farms & Produce, were enjoying their time together at the Industry Show.

Association and WPVGA Associate Division held their annual reception on the show floor, including delicious appetizers and refreshments.

In its seventh year, the WPVGA Associate Division’s “Bringing Value to Agriculture” session, Wednesday, February 8, consisted of five 10-minute presentations given by select exhibitors.

Exhibitors apply for the opportunity to discuss new technologies, tools, services and approaches their companies offer in agricultural continued on pg. 20

Chris Kucharik, professor and chair, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Agronomy, discussed “Development of a Mesonet of Environmental Monitoring Stations to Support Wisconsin Agriculture” during Tuesday’s Grower Education Conference.

As part of the water quality breakout sessions during the Grower Education Conference, Guolong Liang, outreach specialist, UW-Madison Ag Water Quality Program, gave his presentation “Estimating Nitrogen Leaching: A Step to Improve Water Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency.”

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. . . continued from pg. 19

management of potato and vegetable production systems.

The WPVGA Associate Division Banquet, Wednesday evening, is the premier social event in the Wisconsin potato industry, including a social hour, dinner, Industry and WPVGA Hall of Fame awards, and

entertainment.

In addition to the annual Industry Awards, drawings for cash prizes totaled $1,500, including more than 10 individual cash prizes and a $500 grand prize winner whose name was drawn after the awards banquet and during the evening’s entertainment.

Malorie Paine, marketing and communications manager for the Farming for the Future Foundation, gave a special presentation on the near construction completion of the Food + Farm Exploration Center and invited guests who hadn’t already visited before or after the Industry

Right: Grower Education Conference attendees had the chance to hear Carla Romano, groundwater specialist, Environmental Quality Unit for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, delve into the issue of “Pesticides in Central Sands Surface Water.”

Show each day to tour the new educational agriculture facility.

Then the audience sat rapt in attention, being thoroughly

Custom Structured Agricultural Loans

Left: Enjoying lunch on Tuesday of the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, are, from left to right, Chris Clark and Chuck Bolte of AgSource Laboratories, and Marty and Sandra Kolpack of ThorPack.

From left to right, Sarah DeVeer and Brooke Babler of the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program enjoyed the company of John Bobek, Trembling Prairie Farms, during Wednesday’s Industry Show lunch.

entertained during the Industry Show Banquet as Greg Peterson, spokesman for Peterson Farm Brothers, showed hilarious videos and explained how he and his brothers have used social media to spread the word about farmers being stewards of the land.

The videos, most of which have gone viral, are of Greg and his family, as well as farmers from across the nation, singing, dancing, planting, harvesting, and going about their

daily chores to a soundtrack of catchy tunes and popular songs. The brothers change the words and titles of the songs to fit their message, such as “I’m Farming & I Grow It.”

It was truly an evening for the record books.

Our sincere thanks to all sponsors who made the 2023 UW Extension & WPVGA Grower Education Conference & Industry Show

Right:

sustainability in potato production.

possible! Please see the ad thanking sponsors on page 33.

continued on pg. 22

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“The TDR has changed the way we irrigate. We get accurate real-time soil moisture data consistent across the farm which allows us to better manage our water resources.”

- O.J. Wojtalewicz, Equipment Director, Wysocki Produce Farms

Left: Jarod (left) and Pauly Cieslewicz (right) of Sand County Equipment hosted Lockwood Manufacturing’s Joe Dahlen (center) at their Industry Show booth.

As part of the WPVGA Associate Division’s “Bringing Value to Agriculture” session, Jason Haegele, North American agronomy lead for ICL Specialty Fertilizers, presented the company’s strategies for improving nutrient use efficiency and

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. . . continued from pg. 21

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!

Tuesday Lunch: AgCountry Farm Credit Services Compeer Financial

Wednesday Lunch: John Miller Farms, Inc.

Banquet Beverage: Volm Companies

Reception Beverage: Albaugh, LLC, BioGro, Nachurs, Nichino America, TriEst Ag Group, Yara North America

Associate Division Breakfast: Green Bay Packaging, Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems Inc., Secura Insurance Companies, Warner & Warner Inc.

Supporting Sponsors: McCain Foods, Mid-State Technical College, ThorPack, Agricair Flying Service, Allen Supply Company, Big Iron Equipment, CoVantage Credit Union, Gowan USA, Jay-Mar, Inc., The Little Potato Company, M3 Insurance, Miller Chemical, Peshtigo National Bank, BW Flexible Systems/SYMACH, T.I.P., Inc., Vista Financial Strategies, Wisconsin Tubing

During the Awards Banquet, Greg Peterson, spokesman for Peterson Farm Brothers, showed hilarious videos and explained how he and his brothers have used social media to spread the word about farmers being stewards of the land. The videos, most of which have gone viral, are of Greg and his family, as well as farmers from across the nation, singing, dancing, planting, harvesting, and going about their daily chores to a soundtrack of catchy tunes and popular songs. The brothers change the words and titles of the songs to fit their message, such as “I’m Farming & I Grow It.”

continued on pg. 24

During the WPVGA Associate Division Banquet, Wednesday evening, Malorie Paine, marketing and communications manager for the Farming for the Future Foundation, gave a special presentation on the near construction completion of the Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover. Paine invited guests who hadn’t already visited before or after the Industry Show each day to tour the new, impressive educational agriculture facility.

WHY JOIN UNITED?

• Plan your plantings wisely to generate positive returns

• Use critical market information to help make the best return profitability

Membership includes:

- Weekly local and national communication for growers and marketers that provides market information and helpful input, ideas and suggestions

- Access to complete data packages, including critical and up-to-date supply and demand market information

- Improved grower returns demonstrated to cover the minimal dues many times over

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. . . continued from pg. 22

WPVGA Honors Members with Industry Awards

Those dedicated to service recognized during a fun-filled 2023 banquet

The WPVGA Associate Division Awards Banquet has earned its reputation over the years as the premier social event in the Wisconsin potato industry, including a social hour, dinner, presentation of the awards, and entertainment.

The perfect way to cap off the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, the Awards Banquet recognizes those who go above and beyond in furthering the causes of the Wisconsin potato and vegetable

Hall of Fame induction. A deserving group of awards recipients were recognized.

The WPVGA Associate Division Business Person of the Year Award was presented to Julie Cartwright, sales agronomist for Jay-Mar, Inc., of Plover. For more than seven years, Julie has become a trusted resource for growers in the Central Sands and throughout Wisconsin’s agricultural production areas.

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customer pricing and returning a favorable price to farmers.

He attended the 2021 Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) and served as a PILI grower leader in 2022. He says, “The opportunity to meet and network with other potato leaders around the country while in Washington, D.C., and participate in helping the industry was something I couldn’t pass up.”

Doug has participated in the National Potato Council’s Washington, D.C. FlyIn where he met with legislators on Capitol Hill to inform congressional leaders of the issues impacting the potato industry.

Doug was named as a Class of 2020 Produce Business “Forty under 40” recipient and is a graduate of the WPVGA Member Development Program, in 2019.

This year’s WPVGA Young Grower of the Year Award went to

of Wysocki Produce Farm, Bancroft. Nicola knew at a young age that she wanted to work in the potato industry.

Growing up, she spent years cutting seed, preparing potato storages, collecting yield samples, and managing the storage crop

with her dad.

During college, she worked in the summer on small-plot research trials, which introduced her to using statistics within agriculture and encouraged her to specialize in agricultural economics.

Douglas Posthuma

Nicola Carey

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. . . continued from pg. 25

Nicola says: “I enjoy the challenge and variability that potato farming brings. Agricultural economics provides me the balance between being out in the fields and using data to support our operation teams.”

The daughter of Kirk and Jacqueline Wille, Nicola returned to work in the family business seven years ago.

She is a graduate of the 2022 WPVGA Member Development Program, which she viewed as an excellent way to meet people in the industry and gain an understanding of the different WPVGA Boards.

Nicola notes, “It also gave me perspective on how the industry has changed from what I knew in college.”

A 2023 PILI member, Nicola says she was excited to spend 10 days in Buffalo, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., February 27-March 3, to see growing practices outside of the Midwest and gain a better understanding of the national market.

The WPVGA Researcher of the Year Award was presented to Dr. James Busse. Jim’s nomination came with supporting letters of recommendation from university professors as well as industry stakeholders from Wisconsin and Idaho.

Jim is a research technician in Dr. Paul Bethke’s program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Vegetable Crops Research Unit on the UWMadison campus.

Jim has been involved with countless potato research projects in his 20-

plus years of work and service.

He is a motivated and accomplished researcher, mentor, and team player. His enthusiasm, creativity, and skill set have gained respect with scientists, students, and potato industry stakeholders.

He pioneered work on potato calcium nutrition and developed a workflow for generating diploid germplasm from tetraploid potato varieties.

He has been an essential participant in research on vine kill timing, effects of invertase enzyme activity on chip and fry processing quality, sugar metabolism in cold-stored potatoes, senescence sweetening, effects of 2,4-D on appearance of red-skinned potatoes, and varietal susceptibility to stem-end chip defect.

Jim, who has authored and coauthored 18 peer-reviewed scientific publications, also contributed countless other talks and posters at professional potato meetings.

He is currently the secretary for the Potato Association of America’s physiology section.

While Jim’s resume is outstanding, he remains compassionate and concerned about those with whom he works. He cares as much about his colleagues as the research itself, and

Dr. James Busse

Jordan Lamb

that leadership shines through his character.

Jordan Lamb received the AgriCommunicator Award for excellence in communication and outstanding service to the potato and vegetable industry.

A principal and contract lobbyist with The Welch Group public affairs firm, in Madison, Jordan has been working on behalf of agriculture for 22 years, representing a diverse set of clients before the Wisconsin legislature and state agencies.

A Madison native, Jordan graduated from the UW-Madison Law School. She spent over 20 years in private law practice serving government relations clients and developing a strong legal background in environmental and administrative law.

She is highly skilled at legislative planning and analysis, and her legal background is an asset to clients as they navigate complex state regulations.

2022 WPVGA Board President Alex Okray of Okray Family Farms, Plover, presented the President’s Award to his wife, Anna Okray, for her faithful support, guidance, and love.

A special Industry Appreciation Award went to WPVGA Executive Assistant Julie Braun, who is celebrating 25 years of service in 2023. Julie also serves as administrative coordinator for Wisconsin Mint Board, Inc. and the

Wisconsin Muck Farmers Association. She received an Industry Appreciation Award from the WPVGA Associate Division in 2012, the WPVGA President’s Award in 2013, and an Industry Appreciation Award from the WPVGA in 2018.

WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan presented Julie with the Industry Appreciation Award in recognition of 25 years of service and outstanding contributions to the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry.

He said, “I am very pleased to present Julie with this award. She is a true professional on the staff of the WPVGA. She comes to meetings on time and is always well-prepared. She is extremely organized and is an incredibly reliable person.”

“She has a very positive attitude and performs all of her duties promptly and with a pleasant demeanor,” Houlihan continued. “The industry is fortunate to have such a hardworking, dedicated, loyal employee.”

Following dinner and the awards ceremony, Greg Peterson, spokesman for Peterson Farm Brothers, showed hilarious videos and explained how he and his brothers have used social media to spread the word about farmers being stewards of the land. Before and after the entertainment, cash prizes were awarded attendees lucky enough to have their names drawn at the banquet.

continued on pg. 28

2023 INDUSTRY AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Associate Division Business Person of the Year: Julie Cartwright

WPVGA Volunteer of the Year: Douglas Posthuma

WPVGA Young Grower of the Year: Nicola Carey

WPVGA Researcher of the Year: Dr. James Busse

WPVGA Board President’s Award: Anna Okray

WPVGA Industry Appreciation Awards: Julie Braun

Agri-Communicator Award: Jordan Lamb

Recognition of out-going WPVGA Associate

Division Board Members: Julie Cartwright

WPVGA Hall of Fame Induction: Randy Van Haren

Anna and Alex Okray

Julie Braun

Attendance Was Up for Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. . . continued from pg. 27

Randy Van Haren Inducted into the WPVGA Hall of Fame

Pest Management Specialist Randy Van Haren, who established Pest Pros, Inc. of Plainfield, in 1984, was inducted into the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Hall of Fame at the industry’s annual Awards Banquet.

The WPVGA Hall of Fame honors lifetime achievement in the development of the state’s potato industry. It is the intention of the WPVGA to continue to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the potato industry in Wisconsin by making annual Hall of Fame inductions.

Van Haren was born in Spokane, Washington, to Don and Ellie Van Haren. The family moved to Madison in 1955, where he and his three brothers and two sisters were raised.

Randy attended UW-Madison where he received a bachelor’s degree in natural science in 1979, and a master’s of entomology in 1984.

He worked as a research specialist in the UW-Madison Department of Horticulture from 1980-1984, including work on the pilot Vegetable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) initiative and Mint IPM project.

Dr. Walt Stevenson hired Randy as a crop scouting intern working out of the Hancock Agricultural Research Station, in 1980. Dr. Jeff Wyman hired him as an IPM research specialist in 1981 and brought him into the master’s program in entomology, in 1983.

PEST PROS

Randy established Pest Pros, Inc. and has worked with many potato and vegetable growers over the last 39 years. Pest Pros is a crop consulting and plant disease diagnostic lab including a potato early dying assay to predict wilt potential.

In 2012, Randy sold Pest Pros to Wisconsin River Co-op, which merged in April 2013 with Farmers’ Co-op Supply & Shipping Association of

West Salem and is now known as Allied Cooperative.

In addition to his 39 years of work as a pest management specialist, Randy was the owner/operator of Willow Creek Aquaculture, a producer of feed-trained yellow perch fingerlings for 10 years in the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

Active locally and nationally, Randy served as the president and secretary of the Wisconsin Association of

Randy Van Haren was inducted into the WPVGA Hall of Fame, February 8, for his lifelong commitment to the Wisconsin potato industry.

Randy Van Haren’s family came out in full force to help him celebrate his induction into the WPVGA Hall of Fame. In the first photo, along with Randy (holding his award) are, from left to right, Randy’s son, Ben, holding his grandson, Theodore, along with Randy’s mom, Ellie. Posing in the second photo are Ellie, and Randy and his wife, Cindy. 28 BC�T March

Professional Agricultural Consultants. He was the newsletter editor for the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants.

He also served on the WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors, including a term as secretary. He is a past president and current secretary of the Plainfield Lions Club and has been a member since 1986.

He is also a lifetime member and alumni of the Future Farmers of America, in Plainfield.

INDUSTRY APPRECIATION

Randy received a WPVGA Industry Appreciation Award, in 1994, in response to his outstanding service during a late blight epidemic. He also received the Melvin Jones Fellowship, in 2021, a public service award from the Lions Club International recognizing a tremendous contribution to humanity.

Randy has been married to his wife,

Cindy, for 38 years. They have a son, Ben (wife Emma) and grandson, Theodore, who live in Westfield, and a daughter, Abby, who lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

He lists his hobbies as guitar, alpine and cross-country skiing, road bike cycling, hiking the National Ice Age Trail, and linoleum block print art. He has served on the WPVGA Research Committee for over 25 years and continues to work with countless growers on pest management for their potato and vegetable crops. Known for his perpetual smile and positive attitude, Randy has truly shown a lifelong commitment to excellence for the betterment of the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry.

1990

Joseph L. Bushman

Ben H. Diercks

Myron Mommsen

Edward J. Okray

John Okray

W. James Prosser

Lelah Starks

James D. Swan

Barron G. West

Felix Zeloski

1991

Henry M. Darling

Robert H. Diercks

Melvin E. Luther

Albert M. Pavelski

Henry L. Woodward

1992

Lawrence Krogwold

Michael Patrykus

John A. Schoenemann

Clarence Worzella

Louis E. Wysocki

1993

Champ Bean Tanner

Ernest Bushman

Melvin Hugo Rominsky

Lawrence (Larry) Lapcinski

Wayne Brittenham

1994

James Burns, Sr.

Myron D. Groskopp

James Wencel

(J.W.) Mattek

Hal Roberts

1995

A.F. (Bill) Hoeft

Bennett Katz

Eugene Katz

Donn “Hokey” West

1996

Charles M. Creuziger

Alois (Al) Okray

Joseph Jacob Okray

Stanley J. Peloquin

1997

Anton (Tony) Gallenberg

Howard F. Chilewski

1998

Dave Curwen

Francis Gilson

Emil Perzinski

1999

John J. Bushman

James G. Milward

2000

Dean Kincaid

Henry V. Sowinski

2001

(Presented in Feb. 2002

James J. Mattek

Francis X. Wysocki

2002

(Presented in Feb. 2003

Robert Hougas

Gerri Okray

2003

(Presented in Jan. 2004

Larry Binning

Peter Wallendal

2004

(Presented in Feb. 2005)

Jerome Bushman

Harold Sargent

2005

(Presented in Feb. 2006)

Ed Wade

Dennis Zeloski

2006

(Presented in Feb. 2007)

Don Kichefski

2007

(Presented in Feb. 2008

Walt Stevenson

2008

(Presented in Feb. 2009)

Victor Anthony

Jeffrey Wyman

2009

(Presented in Feb. 2010)

John Landa

Robert Stodola

2010

(Presented in Feb. 2011)

John H. Schroeder

August Winkler

2011

(Presented in Feb. 2012)

Fred and Kathryne Meyer

Howard “Skip” Tenpas

2012

(Presented in Feb. 2013)

Steve Diercks

Mike Finnessy

2013

(Presented in Feb. 2014)

Myron Soik

2014

(Presented in Feb. 2015)

Robert Helbach

2015

(Presented in Feb. 2016)

Charles Cofer

Robert Guenthner

2016

(Presented in Feb. 2017)

Donald Hamerski

Richard Pavelski

2017

(Presented in Feb. 2018)

Nick Somers

2018

(Presented in Feb. 2019)

Dr. Keith Kelling

2019

(Presented in Feb. 2020)

Larry Alsum

Dick Okray

2020

(Presented in Feb. 2021)

Marv Worzella

Norm Worzella

2021

(Presented in Feb. 2022)

Paul Miller

2022

(Presented in Feb. 2023)

Randy Van Haren

Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri Awarded Grant

Money is earmarked for 2023 watershed projects to improve water quality and soil health

By Carolyn Pralle, land conservationist, Adams County Land & Water Conservation Department

Across Wisconsin, farmers are teaming up to improve water quality and soil health. In the heart of the Central Sands, a producer-led watershed protection group known as the Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri received a $14,600 grant for 2023 to fund educational events and on-farm

research projects.

This grant comes from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP) through the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program. DATCP currently funds 43 producer-led

watershed protection groups across the state.

“We’re proud of the diversity within the group,” says Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri lead farmer Heather Gayton of ZanBria Artisan Farms. Since the group’s formation in fall 2020, producer members have represented a wide range of farming operations: large-scale vegetable producers, cranberry growers, cattle farmers, and smaller artisanal farmers.

What do they all have in common? They share a commitment to stewarding their local land and water resources through on-farm research. Together, they are also creating educational opportunities for community members, including producers, lakes groups, students, and others.

Carrie Flyte of Flyte Family Farms says, “It’s refreshing to be at the table with people who share these same passions.” The group hopes to welcome more new members in 2023.

FLAT, SANDY WATERSHEDS

The Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri group focuses its work within the Big Roche-A-Cri and Little Roche-ACri Creek watersheds. These relatively flat, sandy watersheds drain about 373 square miles across Waushara, Marquette, and Adams Counties until joining the Wisconsin River in Castle Rock Lake.

Agriculture and forests are the main land uses in the area, with abundant wetlands and complex networks of streams and ditches. Some of the main challenges in these watersheds include wind erosion of soils, and high nitrate levels in surface and groundwater.

To officially begin tackling these challenges together in 2022, the Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri hosted five educational events and conducted two on-farm research/ demonstration projects.

“The community response so far has been nothing short of overwhelming,” says Tom Schultz, farm manager of Heartland Farms, who hosted the kick-off event: Precision Agriculture & Its Effects on Soil Health, attended by over 60 people.

The successful combination of food

and learning continued at each event like the Coloma Farms Grow & Tell in July and the ZanBria Artisan Farms Grow & Tell in August.

Jeff Boyd of Signature Farms created a cover crop demonstration plot and shared his farm’s findings at the Cover Crop & Grazing Field Day in September.

Heather Gayton led a Field-toClassroom cooking workshop, in December 2022, using winter squash to get high school students hands-on with the connections between local

“For 2023, we’re really excited to connect more within the community, both with other producers and our non-farming neighbors.”

– Andy Diercks, Coloma Farms

vegetables and watersheds.

GRANT COLLABORATORS

The producers are also working with their grant collaborators in Adams County and the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Extension to collect monthly water quality samples, including phosphorus and nitrogen readings in streams throughout the watersheds.

“As a collaborator, I’m amazed by the teamwork and open conversation among these producers and the success the group has had so far,” says Anna James, natural resources educator at UW-Extension and collaborator with Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri.

Tracking nutrient levels in the streams will help producers and other stakeholders better understand local water quality patterns in the watershed and take actions to protect and enhance the land and water resources.

“For 2023, we’re really excited to connect more within the community, both with other producers and our non-farming neighbors,” says Andy Diercks of Coloma Farms.

So far, the Farmers of the RocheA-Cri has six events planned for

2023, including more Grow & Tell events, a Pontoons and Potatoes collaboration with a local lakes group, a community-wide fall festival, and an agricultural career day for high schoolers.

The producers will continue

with more on-farm research and demonstration projects, plus ongoing stream monitoring.

Coming up soon in mid-March, the Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri are hosting the Central Sands Watershed Protection Gathering to meet and share lessons and experiences among other producer-led groups in the region.

For more information about the Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri and its full calendar of events, please visit www.farmersoftherocheacri.org.

To ask questions about the group, become a member, or to sign up for the mailing list, email collaborators Anna James (anna.m.james@wisc. edu) or Carolyn Pralle (carolyn. pralle@co.adams.wi.us), or call 608-339-4268.

For details on DATCP’s Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, visit https://datcp.wi.gov.

Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri Awarded Grant. . . continued from pg. 31

Attendees of the ZanBria Artisan Farms Grow & Tell event enjoy a farm tour and meal featuring locally grown vegetables in Friendship, August 13, 2022. Photo courtesy of Anna James

Matt Oehmichen (right) of Short Lane Agriculture Supply demonstrates soil health characteristics with Jeff Boyd (center) of Signature Farms during the Cover Crop & Grazing Field Day, September 1, 2022. Photo courtesy of Anna James

Now News

McCain Hosts Grower Awards Banquet After Hiatus

Top potato farms honored for crops produced in 2020 and ’21 growing seasons

The growers are finally getting their dues and recognition for crops grown during the pandemic and beyond, and it sure was nice to attend the McCain Grower Awards Banquet, February 2, 2023, at Sentry World in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

The awards banquet includes a dinner and has historically been held in November each year to recognize Wisconsin potato growers who excel in fulfilling their previous year’s contracts with McCain Foods.

Well, these haven’t been ordinary times over the last few years, so the banquet in February honored top potato farms for crops produced in the 2020 and ’21 growing seasons. Guests enjoyed a social hour before being ushered into the dining room by Morgan Smolarek, field manager of McCain Foods USA, for dinner and the awards banquet.

“Thank you for trusting us and working with us,” Smolarek simply stated before introducing the

evening’s speakers and awards presenters, who included Andy Czahor, senior production manager and interim plant manager for McCain Foods.

LESS FOREIGN MATERIAL

“Over the years, I’ve seen great improvement in a reduction of foreign material coming into the plant,” Czahor began. “McCain introduced a Halo optical sorter, so it’s not just on you growers, but on us, too. Your due diligence does a lot for us.”

Others addressing the growers were Mac Bean, McCain Foods research agronomist, and Daniel Metheringham, vice president of agriculture, North America.

“It’s great to see so many people here after COVID to celebrate the crops, as well as the ups and downs, and work and effort,” Metheringham

Above: Growers recognized for producing quality crops in the 2020 growing season pose with McCain Foods representatives at the February awards banquet. Standing from left to right are Cody Johnson, Mac Bean, Andy Czahor, Morgan Smolarek, Chad Kraft, Mike Johnson, Marshall Firkus, Nathan Bula, Mike Firkus, Gary Bula, Sam Ourada, Andy Dierks, Gene Gagas, Daniel Metheringham, Alex Rideout, Jim Waugh, Howie Marceau, Alex Chisholm, and Mary Lemere.

said. “We’ve seen some good growth across the company, and it’s good to hear about the quality going into the plant.”

“There is excitement and potential for new potato varieties in this region,” Metheringham announced. “It’ll start ramping up in the next three to four years, which will help with disease pressure, storability,

and sustainability.”

Considering the pandemic, and supply chain, shipping, inflation and input cost challenges in recent years, as well as evolving consumer expectations and demands, it was a nice note to end on before monetary awards and trophies were given to potato growers for another job well done.

continued on pg. 36

Above: Crop Year 2021 award winners and McCain Foods representatives include, from left to right, Cody Johnson, Mac Bean, Andy Czahor, Morgan Smolarek, Chad Kraft, Mike Johnson, Randy Fleishauer, Curtis Gagas, Kiley Stucker, Sam Ourada, Brad Garner, Jim Mortenson, Daniel Metheringham, Alex Rideout, Jim Waugh, Howie Marceau, Alex Chisholm, and Mary Lemere.

Crop Years 2020 and 2021 Grower Champions

Champion Bruise Free—All GrowersBurbank/Umatilla—$1,000

Crop Year 2020: Gary Bula Farms

Crop Year 2021: Somers Management

Champion Grower—All GrowersRanger Russet—$2,000

Crop Year 2020: Signature Farms

Crop Year 2021: Mortenson Brothers Farms

Class AA Champion—$2,000 or a trip to a McCain Region in North America

Direct Delivery-Class AA +200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: RD Offutt Farms

Crop Year 2021: B&D Farms/Wisconsin Central

Class AA Reserve Champion—$1,000

Direct Delivery-Class AA <200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: B&D Farms/Central Wisconsin

Crop Year 2021: RD Offutt Farms

Class A Champion—$2,000 or a trip to a McCain Region in North America

Direct Delivery-Class AA +200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: Gagas Farms

Crop Year 2021: K&A Farms

Class A Reserve Champion—$1,000

Direct Delivery-Class AA <200,000 cwt.-Burbank/Umatilla

Crop Year 2020: Coloma Farms

Crop Year 2021: Gagas Farms

Storage Champion—$2,000 or a trip to a McCain Region in North America

Crop Year 2020: Firkus Farms

Crop Year 2021: Weekly Farms continued on

Gary Bula accepted the Champion Bruise Free Award for crop year 2020 during the McCain Grower Awards Banquet, February 2, 2023, at Sentry World in Stevens Point.

Jim Mortenson of Mortenson Brothers Farms garnered the Champion Grower Award for Ranger Russets in crop year 2021.

Andy Diercks accepted the Class A Reserve Champion Award for crop year 2020 on behalf of Coloma Farms.

SAME FIELDS, HER YIELDS.

Including PureGrade® Liquid Fertilizers in your program will ensure your crop has the nutrients to reach its full potential. PureGrade Liquid Fertilizers include both Low-Salt Starters and Low-Salt Foliars, and are compatible with MicroSolutions EDTA Chelated Micronutrients. Contact Nutrien-Great Lakes, leaders in high leverage crop fertility programs, to learn more about PureGrade Liquid Fertilizers and MicroSolutions Micronutrients.

FEATURES

FFTFF Gives Tours of Food + Farm Exploration Center

2023 Industry Show attendees given chance to see facility’s construction progress

Through partnerships with many in the industry, the Farming for the Future Foundation (FFTFF) has made great progress in the construction of the Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover, Wisconsin.

Attendees of the 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show were invited to take an exclusive site tour of the nearly constructed, state-of-the-art facility, which is slated to be open to the

public in late summer of this year.

The FFTFF provided tour bus transportation from the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point before and after the Industry Show, February 6-9, to the Exploration Center, where guests learned about exciting construction updates since groundbreaking in April.

Donning construction helmets and vests, guests were given a tour of

Above: The Farming for the Future Foundation and J.H. Findorff have made great progress on the state-of-the-art Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover, Wisconsin.

the Center that’s geared toward education from start to finish.

Highlights of the tour included walking through what will be a café and public gathering area, event space, teaching farm, exhibit hall, a kitchen lab and catering kitchen, innovation lab, air-controlled potato storage exhibit, irrigation and soil exhibits including complete outdoor pivots equipped with the latest technology, an ag simulator, and more.

Geared toward learners of all ages, the Exploration Center will feature the Sprouts Children’s Gallery and Ag STEM Gallery.

The Sprouts Children’s Gallery will feature exhibits at a playful level for the youngest learners, including a grocery store and food truck. The Ag STEM Gallery will focus exhibits toward a 4th grade level on up through lifelong learners.

AG STEM GALLERY

The Exploration Center includes Sprouts Children’s and Ag STEM galleries. Among other features, the Sprouts Children’s Gallery will include a hands-on grocery story and food truck. The Ag STEM Gallery will have an ag simulator consisting of two complete tractor cabs set into the floor where they will be accessible to all and surrounded by 16 flatscreens in a U-shape around the exhibit for a 360-degree total immersive experience.

The Ag STEM Gallery will have an ag simulator consisting of two complete tractor cabs set into the floor where they will be accessible

to all and surrounded by 16 flatscreens in a U-shape around the exhibit for a 360-degree total immersive experience.

Children and adults will be able to sit at the wheels in the cabs and make their own planting, growing and harvesting decisions.

An indoor ag implement showroom is equipped with the largest all-glass retractable door the manufacturer builds, big enough to pull in full-size Lenco harvesters, and the latest red,

green and blue equipment of all kinds.

Stairs lead up to a mezzanine where visitors can get a bird’s-eye view of the farm tractors and implements, which will be rotated on a semiregular basis to bring in the latest equipment from a variety of manufacturers.

The FFTFF has raised more than $26 million to build the Center, and yet, there is still work to be done to meet the Cultivating Connection Campaign

EVERY POTATO COUNTS

You want the best of both worlds. Speed to deliver maximum capacity and accurate defect detection to maintain consistent quality. Inspect the entire surface and look inside each potato to get the best out of every batch.

Please contact John Albert (206) 915-4962

john.albert@ellips.com www.ellips.com

goal moving forward.

For more information, contact Malorie Paine, FFTFF marketing and communications manager, mpaine@fftf.us, 715-496-4020, or visit www.fftf.us.

Above: At far right in the first image, Malorie Paine, Farming for the Future Foundation marketing and communications manager, conducts a tour of the Food + Farm Exploration Center. continued

Fairchild Equipment Wins Ninth Industry Award

Company recognized as MVP for its commitment to business excellence

Fairchild Equipment has been awarded the prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award for the company’s accomplishments in 2022. For the ninth consecutive year, Fairchild Equipment has earned the MVP Award from the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association).

Award recipients must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the association’s membership earning the award. As a 2023 MVP, Fairchild Equipment has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism, and good stewardship.

To qualify for the annual MVP Award, companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business, including their customers, employees, and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas:

• Industry advocacy

• Customer service and

safety practices

• Business networking

• Continuing education

• Business best practices

“There’s nothing more important to Fairchild Equipment than our core values,” Van Clarkson, Fairchild Equipment president and an MHEDA board member, says. “Being a member of MHEDA, and especially an MVP, using their criteria means that we are truly abiding by those core values.”

“Everyone knows that MHEDA members and their manufacturer partners are some of the most wellrun businesses in the industry and beyond. To be recognized as one of the best of the best is truly an honor,” Clarkson states.

“The MVP Award recognizes the best-of-the-best in our industry and is displayed with honor,” remarks John L. Gelsimino, president of All Lift Service Company and the 2023 MHEDA chairman.

“To check all the boxes from education, industry best practices, awards, networking, employee engagement, giving back and much more, MHEDA is proud to have so many companies achieve this award,” Gelsimino adds. “MHEDA appreciates the dedication and leadership in this great industry that we are so blessed to be in.”

Fairchild Equipment strives every day to provide a dynamic and comprehensive customer experience with a team that is dedicated to industry experience, knowledge, and customer service. MHEDA is the premier trade association dedicated to serving all segments of the material handling business community. It represents close to 600 companies in the material handling equipment business.

Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking, and best practices. For more information, visit www.mheda.org.

To learn more about Fairchild Equipment and the company’s core values, visit  www.fairchildequipment.com.

People

William Heindl Passes Away

Career in potato production included equipment repair and operations manager

William “Bill” H. Heindl, age 55, of Knowlton, Wisconsin, peacefully passed on February 11, 2023. Bill was born December 1, 1967, in Wisconsin Rapids, to Lester and Ramona (Holloway) Heindl. He was raised in the Kellner area and graduated from Lincoln High School.

After high school, Bill began his career in potato production with Okray Family Farms working on equipment repair. On August 31, 1995, Bill went to work with Nick and Dianne Somers at Plover River Farms. For the last 20 years as operations manager, or as Bill would say “a farmer,” his relentless work ethic, endless patience, willingness to teach, and desire to learn demonstrated his outstanding leadership that inspired all.

Bill was a selfless, genuine human being with not only a willingness, but also a desire to help people and offer his time. He dedicated himself wholly to what was most important. Bill had an unconditional love for his wife, children, grandchildren, raising his dogs/companions, hunting, fishing, and farming.

Bill married Julie A. Rasmussen on May 20, 1995, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kellner. This union created a new family for Bill, adding two daughters to his life.

Bill is survived by his wife, Julie Heindl; children, Heather (Kenneth) Gollon and Brittany (Dennis Cota) Higgins; grandchildren, Madison, Bianca, Wyatt, Kenneth Jr., Victoria, Evan, Peyton, Bayleigh, and Taylor; great grandchild, Valentina; and parents, Lester and Ramona Heindl. He is further survived by siblings, Robert (Nancy) Heindl, Kim Heindl Dietzen, Tim (Nancy) Heindl, and Doug (Cindy) Heindl; in-laws, Sandy (Steven) Fletcher, Diane (Mark) Beranek, Allen Rasmussen Jr., and Brian (Tammy) Rasmussen; many nieces and nephews; and his fourlegged friends: Penny, Yuma, Drake, and the new 15 puppies.

He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Loretta Rasmussen; father-in-Law, Allen Rasmussen Sr.; sister-in-law, Rox-Ann Heindl; brotherin-law, Keith Kitsembel-Rasmussen; and his grandparents, Verona and Ivan Reed, Lester Heindl Sr., Clara and

Ed Marwitz, and Clifford Holloway.

A time of visitation was held at Boston Funeral Home, Stevens Point, on February 18, 2023, followed by a funeral service to commemorate Bill’s life.

Online condolences can be made at www.bostonfuneralhome.net.

Becky Eddy Receives UW CALS Award

Agricultural Research Station program recognizes outstanding contributions

On January 18, Becky Eddy, superintendent, and research program manager for the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station (RARS), received the Staff Recognition Award from the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS).

CALS held its annual Agricultural Research Stations (ARS) Recognition

Awards Reception and Dinner at Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee.

The 2023 ARS Recognition Awards recipients are:

• Matt Akins (Animal and Dairy Sciences) – Recognition Award for Research

• Jamie Reichert (Animal and Dairy Sciences) – Recognition Award for Service

In a letter nominating Eddy for the Staff Award, Jeffrey Endelman, associate professor in the UWMadison Department of Horticulture, said, “One of the qualities I value about Becky is her continual search for ways to improve the RARS facility and streamline operations.”

• Becky Eddy (Rhinelander ARS) –ARS Staff Award

William H. Heindl

December 1, 1967 – February 11, 2023

“One major challenge that tested Becky’s leadership came in 2018, when we detected a rare potato pathogen in the RARS greenhouses called potato spindle tuber viroid, or PSTVd,” Endelman noted. “Becky relied on her previous experience and industry contacts to develop new protocols that allowed us to eliminate PSTVd from our germplasm in only two years,” he said.

“She has seen the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station [RARS] through a number of significant challenges during her tenure,” Endelman continued, “including navigating labor shortages, and staff requirements.”

“Eddy’s accomplishments over the past seven years have been transformative for RARS and for the potato breeding program, which has achieved a number of scientific milestones over the past several years,” he remarked, “and continues to have the confidence and respect of Wisconsin’s seed potato growers.”

EXTENSIVE LOGISTICS

Endelman went on to explain that, each winter, thousands of pounds of seed potatoes are shipped from RARS to locations across the country for trialing, and Becky manages the extensive logistics and communication required for this effort.

In spring, he added, Becky manages preparation of the seed for breeding program trials at the Rhinelander and Hancock Agricultural Research Stations.

“In fall, I know I can count on Becky to help with our Hancock harvest when needed, which is a 12-hour day for her, and she manages the postharvest fry quality evaluations for the breeding program at the Hancock station in December and March,” Endelman stated.

Troy Fishler, superintendent of HARS, called Becky one of the hardest-

working colleagues he’s had the pleasure to work with. “On numerous occasions, I have had the opportunity to witness Becky leading by example, often being the first to volunteer for the less-than-desirable tasks that often present themselves in our agriculture profession,” he stated. “This work ethic, coupled with her resolve to always do the right thing, speaks volumes about her character and is inherent to her DNA,” Fishler said. “She continues to have a tremendous impact on improving

the potato breeding program in Rhinelander and exemplifies the mission of the university.”

In 2020, The Badger Common’Tater honored Eddy by naming her among five “Outstanding Women of Wisconsin Agriculture.”

The CALS Staff Recognition Awards program began with a reception followed by award presentations and dinner. An abundance of food provided during the reception and dinner included turkey, roast beef, and of course, cheesy potatoes.

Recipients of the Agricultural Research Station Recognition Awards are, from left to right, Matt Akins (Recognition Award for Research), Becky Eddy (ARS Staff Award), and Jamie Reichert (Recognition Award for Service).

SEED PIECE

WSPIA’s

Time to Shine at 63rd Annual Meeting

Wisconsin Potato Coalition, State Farm and researcher reports take center stage

The Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association (WSPIA) shared its program with invited guests during the 63rd Annual Meeting, February 1, 2023, at North Star Lanes in Antigo.

The schedule was full, including Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program (WSPCP) reports, a State Farm update, guest researcher spots, the WSPIA Annual Business Meeting and Board elections, refreshments, and dinner.

Roy Gallenberg, out-going president of the WSPIA Board of Directors, welcomed guests, saying that it has been nice for him personally to get to know the seed growers in Antigo better during his time serving on the Board.

Brooke Babler, certification and diagnostic manager of the WSPCP, gave winter potato grow-out results

for Hawaii. Five hundred and seventy lots were entered into the winter grow-out program for certification at

Twin Bridge Farms in Hawaii.

“This is the first year we’re back to complete winter grow-out after two years of incomplete trials,” she noted.

Cole Lubinski, WSPCP plant disease specialist, added, “Planting conditions were great, sunny and warm, we got water to the seed right away, we had zero problems with one large rain event, crop growth was perfect, size was good, conditions were great, and dormancy was awesome.”

Amanda Gevens, chair, professor and Extension specialist, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Plant Pathology, discussed potato wart in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, explaining what symptoms look like, diagnostic tests, and amendments to importation requirements of potato.

PEI cannot export seed potatoes to the United States but can ship some potatoes with oversight to make sure

The 2023 WSPIA Board of Directors are, from left to right, Charlie Husnick, Andy Schroeder, Clover Spacek (secretary/treasurer), Jeff Suchon (vice president), and Matt Mattek (president).

Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program members took a photo opportunity at the 63rd Annual Seed Meeting. In the back row, from left to right, are Josie Spurgeon, Erin Harmelink, Niles Franc, Jim Meyer, and Amanda Gevens, and in the front row, left to right, Dianna Kessler, Brooke Babler, and Cole Lubinski.

tubers aren’t carrying pathogens. The potato wart pathogen is not known to be in the continental United States.

WISCONSIN POTATO COALITION

Mike Baginski of Baginski Farms, Antigo, gave an overview of the newly formed Wisconsin Potato Coalition.

“About a year ago, a group of growers and the UW came together to put

forth a plan to keep the State Farm viable and moving forward,” Baginski said. “Growers include Schroeder Bros. Farms, J.W. Mattek & Sons,

Eagle

Farms.”

River Seed Farm and Baginski

Left: Mike Baginski (center) of Baginski Farms, Antigo, gave an overview of the newly formed Wisconsin Potato Coalition and introduced the new farm manager, Cody Bandoch (right), who has experience working at Frito-Lay, and assistant farm manager, Matt Young (left), a Fox Valley Tech Institute graduate.

Right: Amanda Gevens, chair, professor and Extension specialist, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Plant Pathology, updated Annual Seed Meeting attendees on potato wart detections in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada.

“It’s a good group of team members who put a lot of time and money together,” Baginski stated. “Wisconsin is one of the only states that has an elite farm for early generation seed.”

Baginski also introduced the new farm manager, Cody Bandoch, who has experience working at Frito-Lay, and assistant farm manager, Matt Young, a Fox Valley Tech Institute graduate.

Guest speakers included Ophelia Tsai, UW Department of Horticulture, who

gave a presentation on “Evaluating Seed Potato Yield as Influenced by In-Season Split Application of Nitrogen,” and Shane Hansen, a graduate research assistant and Ph.D. student who talked about “Exploring Ultraviolet Light as a Control for Oomycete Storage Diseases.”

New Langlade Agricultural Research Station Manager Niles Franc gave an update on work he and his crew have been conducting in seed certification and integrated pest management

since he took the position in June 2022.

Kevin Gallenberg of VAS/AgSource Laboratories provided a trial update on managing lime in potato production to reduce scab.

In his Annual Report, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Tamas Houlihan said 2022 was another good year for the Wisconsin potato industry, and that he could sum it up in four words, “Late start, great finish.”

FULL SPUD AHEAD

“The number one item sold in grocery stores is potatoes, the number one side dish in restaurants is French fries, and the number one snack item in the U.S. is potato chips, so we’re strong. The Wisconsin potato industry continues to move

Newly elected President of the WSPIA Board of Directors Matt Mattek (left) presented Out-going President Roy Gallenberg with a nice plaque in appreciation for his service.

Kevin Gallenberg of VAS/AgSource Laboratories provided a trial update on managing lime in potato production to reduce scab.

Left: Shane Hansen, a graduate research assistant and Ph.D. student talked about “Exploring Ultraviolet Light as a Control for Oomycete Storage Diseases.”

Right: Roy Gallenberg (left) presented Brooke Babler with the Wisconsin Seed Potato Industry Leadership Award for outstanding service, being an asset to the WSPIA, and her work with the State Farm and WSPCP.

full spud ahead,” Houlihan remarked.

The WSPIA Board held its annual business meeting, including election of officers and one new board member, Clover Spacek of Eagle River Seed Farm, and the presentation of a nice plaque to out-going board president, Roy Gallenberg, in appreciation for his service.

In turn, Roy presented Brooke Babler with the Wisconsin Seed Potato Industry Leadership Award for outstanding service as an asset to the WSPIA and her work with the State Farm and WSPCP.

“This is really a group effort from the whole program, the employees we have within the program and their devotion. They’ve been phenomenal and really stepped up,” Babler said.

63rd Annual Seed Meeting Sponsors

GOLDRUSH SPONSORS

AgCountry Farm Credit Services

CoVantage Credit Union

Insight FS

Nutrien Ag Solutions-Great Lakes

Oro Agri, Inc.

Sand County Equipment

Swiderski Equipment, Inc.

Syngenta Crop Protection

Volm Companies

SILVERTON SPONSORS

AMVAC

Bio-Gro, Inc.

Nicolet National Bank

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company

Riesterer & Schnell, Inc.

Roberts Irrigation Company, Inc.

Southside Tire Co., Inc.

TH Agri-Chemicals, Inc.

T.I.P., Inc. / AgGrow Solutions

SUPERIOR SPONSORS

AgSource Laboratories

BASF

Big Iron Equipment, Inc.

BMO Harris Bank

Chase Bank

Jay-Mar, Inc.

Kretz Truck Brokerage LLC

Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems

Quinlan’s Equipment, Inc.

Rural Mutual Insurance Co.-Antigo

Warner & Warner, Inc.

Matt Mattek of J.W. Mattek & Sons, Antigo, was elected WSPIA Board of Directors president for 2023, succeeding Gallenberg of Gallenberg Farms, Inc., Bryant.

Jeff Suchon of Bushman’s Riverside Ranch, Inc., Crivitz, was elected vice president, and Spacek was elected secretary/treasurer.

In addition to the three officers, the other two WSPIA Board Directors are Charlie Husnick, Baginski Farms,

Antigo, and Andy Schroeder of Schroeder Bros. Farms, Antigo. Suchon took the stage for some final words, saying, “I went to Hawaii and got to watch Cole and Dianna [Kessler] inspect potatoes. It’s humbling, not lavish. They do their things out there. I also inspected the greenhouses up in Rhinelander, and they were beautiful. I’m excited about what the Seed Farm has to offer.”

SPUDNIK 8-Row Cultivator

SPUDNIK 6400

4-Row Harvester/Tub Digger with Roller Table, 36-Inch, Field Ready!

Ethiopian Families Depend on the Potato for Food

Potatoes produce more food per square meter than any other crop these small farmers can grow

By Charles Higgins, Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project Fund, Norika America, and Higgins Farms

The potato impacts every country. My friend, Sigrid Hanson, died of liver failure recently. He helped me on the Ethiopian potato project.

Sig was raised on a farm in Onalaska,

Wisconsin. Like most Wisconsin-bred citizens, he came home each year for deer season. He worked for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia during his career.

He lived with his wife, Yemi Sebsibe, in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Sig specifically aided in the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project. Sig is pictured in the picture leading off this story with Ermias Abate at a potato market located at an elevation of 12,000 feet in the Ethiopian mountains.

Can you imagine feeding your family on a five-acre farm? Eighty thousand small farm families depend upon potatoes for food in the Amhara area of Ethiopia.

Potatoes produce more food per square meter than any other crop

Top

Top

Left: The late Sigrid Hanson (left) is pictured with Ermias Abate at a potato market in the Ethiopian mountains. Before his passing, Hanson helped the author with the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project.

Right: The late Sigrid Hanson stands in front of one of nine seed potato storages that are built each year through the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project, with area farmers providing the wood for the frames of the storages as well as the labor.

The new disease-resistant potato varieties (a healthy field shown at top-left) produce 250% more potatoes in Ethiopia than standard varieties (right side of the field).

these small farmers can grow. The new disease-resistant varieties produce 250% more potatoes than standard varieties, or 350 cwt. (hundredweight)/acre versus 140 cwt./acre.

Fifteen years ago, no seed of these disease-resistant varieties was available in the Amhara area. Now, the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project is providing 60,000 plantlets of the new disease-resistant varieties to local farmers each year. Also, this project helps produce 430,000 mini-tubers of diseaseresistant varieties and provides 16 tons of seed potatoes to small farmers each year.

Farmers pay back 10% of their seed production. Eight screen houses are produced each year so farmers can increase their own seed potatoes. Nine seed potato storages are built each year by this project, with farmers providing the wood for the frames of the storages as well as the labor.

SEED POTATO PRODUCTION

Seven workshops are conducted every year to train farmers in seed potato production and disease management.

The recipients of the early generation

seed potatoes have increased their income from about $35 to $4,000 U.S. dollars per year by selling the seed potatoes. Thus, the demand for more seed potatoes of these diseaseresistant varieties is enormous.

Food Science is conducting five workshops on preserving excess potatoes for about 1,000 farm women each year, and over 100 kg. (kilograms) of potatoes per family a year.

Five solar dehydrators are being distributed to farm coops each year. Costs have risen quickly.

Potato flour made in the dehydrators is starting to be used in bread production, and other uses of potatoes are quickly expanding each year because of the world shortage of wheat. The war in

Ukraine has a wide impact.

Workshops demonstrate to about 1,000 farm women each year the use of potatoes and oats to reduce weight loss of weaning-age children. The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin provides certified auditing of the donations, distributions, and tax-free status for the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project under U.S. law. Donations are tax deductible.

For more information, contact the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, 2801 Hoover Road, Unit 1B, Stevens Point, WI 54481, 715-342-4454, info@cfcwi. org, https://www.cfcwi.org.

“Eighty thousand small farm families depend upon potatoes for food in the Amhara area of Ethiopia.”

– Charles Higgins, the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project

The war in Ukraine has caused the cost of wheat flour to inflate, so workshops are showing women how to use 50% flour to cut cost in 2022.

The Ethiopian Sustainable Food Project is providing 60,000 plantlets of new disease-resistant potato varieties to local farmers each year. The author’s collaborator, the late Sigrid Hanson, holds up a couple large spuds.

WPIB Focus Nomination Period Open for WPIB Election

Wisconsin Potato Industry Board composed of nine producers in three state districts

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting nominations through March 31, 2023, for three seats on the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB).

Producers who grow and sell potatoes in the following districts are eligible to nominate growers or be nominated for the Board:

• District 1 – Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn counties

• District 2 – Marathon, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, and Waushara counties

• District 3 – Adams, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant,

Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Winnebago, and Wood counties

DATCP will mail nomination forms to eligible growers. Producers must sign, notarize, and postmark completed nomination forms by March 31, 2023, and include signatures from at least five eligible growers other than the nominee.

Growers should mail completed forms to P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911. Growers who did not receive a nomination form by March 1, 2023, or have other questions about the nomination process should email DATCPMarketOrders@ wisconsin.gov.

DATCP will conduct the WPIB election from May 10 through June 15, 2023.

Elected growers will serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2026.

About the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board

The Wisconsin Potato Industry Board is composed of nine producers in three districts across the state, including one at-large member elected every third year.

The Board oversees the collection and use of approximately $1.7 million in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin potato growers. This funding is used to support the potato industry through research, education, and promotion of Wisconsin-grown potatoes.

DATCP administers elections for Wisconsin commodity marketing boards. To learn more about the market order boards, visit https:// datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/ MarketingBoards.aspx.

Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison

Marketplace Alice in Dairyland Visits Meijer Stores

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education

Different—a word like many others where the meaning changes with context. Different can be refreshing and it can be overbearing. It can help and it can hinder. It can make situations easier and more difficult.

This year, the 75th Alice in Dairyland embarked on a new and invigorating opportunity that was out of the norm compared to the last several years. And with it came some creative fun in new and unexpected ways.

After earning the title of Alice in Dairyland, in 2022, Taylor Schaefer partnered with Wisconsin potatoes for a four-week media campaign that incorporated a few different avenues compared to her partnerships with other Wisconsin agricultural commodity groups.

She was able to host a virtual cooking class, visit a gym in Madison, and speak with consumers at two Meijer store locations, a feat she has not experienced in a number of years, and her first time in a Meijer store.

“The Alice in Dairyland program is excited to partner with Meijer grocery stores to promote Wisconsin potatoes,” Schaefer says. “Educating consumers where they are making food purchase decisions will create a memorable connection.”

With Wisconsin being the thirdlargest potato-producing state in the nation, Schaefer highlights growers within the state and emphasizes the importance of buying local. She says showcasing this versatile vegetable that is packed with vitamins and minerals within Meijer stores will “help consumers keep an eye out for

their farm neighbor.”

Alsum Farms and Produce has been instrumental in making the connection to Meijer as a customer.

HEALTHY CHOICES

“With today’s shoppers seeking healthy choices for their families and more information about how their food is grown, this collaboration aspires to build consumer trust, and provide a value of freshness and connection at the marketplace in our regional food supply,” says Alsum Farms & Produce Marketing Manager Christine Lindner.

The four-week media campaign was broken into two-week segments with the first half occurring between January 22 and February 4. This is when Alice visited the two Meijer

stores, in Greenfield (5800 W. Layton Ave.) on Friday, January 27, from 2-5 p.m., and also Sheboygan (924 N. Taylor Dr.) on Friday, February 3, from 2-5 p.m.

At the stores, she handed out samples of a baked potato nacho recipe for customers to try while also giving away free swag items along with recipes and brochures.

Potato nutrition, the importance of buying local and how to find Wisconsin potatoes in retail stores were among the messages communicated to passersby.

Additionally, Alice hosted a virtual cooking class on Wednesday, February 1, at 6 p.m. The free hourlong class was open to anyone who wanted to learn how to cook, and

Taylor Schaefer, the 75th Alice in Dairyland, proudly shares samples of a prepared Wisconsin potato dish at the Meijer store in Sheboygan on Friday, February 3. Visitors to the Meijer store enjoyed baked potato nachos, which are taco-seasoned wedges with popular taco toppings. Along with a potato sample, Meijer consumers also walked away with koozies sporting the “Powered by Wisconsin Potato” logo as well as brochures and recipe tear pads.

eventually taste, a new potato dish. The recipe was a “French Roasted Potato Power Bowl,” courtesy of Meijer.

Roughly 20 people, including those from the Wisconsin potato industry, Alice in Dairyland and Meijer logged on to join in the fun. Three participants were from out of state in Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Everyone gave the recipe, which was simple and light, yet still filling, rave reviews.

It was the perfect setting to relax, grab a beverage of choice and simply have fun cooking in the kitchen … right in the comfort of everyone’s own home!

During downtimes of the class when the group was washing, cutting, and stirring, Alice in Dairyland, who was leading discussions along with Meijer’s Registered Dietician Beth Eggleston, worked in introductions from various individuals that helped provide perspective on the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers

Association (WPVGA), Wisconsin potato nutrition and cooking tips, Meijer, and the Alice in Dairyland program.

GOOD INTERACTION

There was a good amount of interaction and questions from the group relating to different potato varieties, what to look for when buying, and which varieties are grown in Wisconsin, to name a few.

One fact that stuck out to the group was that a true Yukon Gold potato has pink eyes.

In all, the venture aligns with Meijer’s vision and the value they place on quality partnerships with suppliers and the community.

“As a family company, Meijer is committed to supporting local, family businesses like Alsum Farms. And as a Midwestern retailer, we know the importance potatoes play in our customers’ lives and on their dinner tables,” says Sheboygan Meijer Store Director Jeff Kietzman.

“We’re pleased to partner with the WPVGA, Alice in Dairyland, and Alsum to share even more ways our communities can enjoy potatoes,”

Jennifer Hill (left), director of Meijer retail store in Greenfield, Wisconsin, holds a bag of russet potatoes from Alsum Farms and Produce, Friesland, while standing next to Taylor Schaefer, the 75th Alice in Dairyland, who is sporting a bag of baby reds from Gumz Farms in Endeavor.

Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 53

Kietzman remarks.

Besides the virtual cooking class and Meijer store visits, Alice also visited Princeton Club East, in Madison, on Wednesday, January 25 from 4-7 p.m., and again on Tuesday, January 31, from 4-7 p.m.

During these appearances, Alice

prepared potato samples and handed out items like koozies featuring the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes logo, and recipe tear pads, while also verbally sharing the benefits Wisconsin potatoes naturally provide and how they can power your performance.

FACEBOOK VIDEO

She also interviewed Brett Sommers, son of Jeff Sommers of Wysocki Family of Companies, in Bancroft, who works at the gym Schaefer visited, for a Facebook live video on social media.

The latter two weeks of the media campaign will take place in May when Alice visits up to 20 classrooms on behalf of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary, the second Wisconsin potato industry organization that is contributing to the Alice in Dairyland partnership. The school visits are scheduled for May 8-10 and 15-17. While the exact locations are yet to be determined, they are likely to be in southeast Wisconsin as WPVGA and the WPGA attempt to capitalize on the release of Spudly videos that are targeting consumers in the same region.

The school visits for the Auxiliary are also in conjunction with the “Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes” program and will be the perfect complement to that curriculum.

Additionally, Alice conducted up to four classroom visits for the Auxiliary’s “Ag in the Classroom” program. These took place on Monday, December 12, 2022, at Wausau West High School in Wausau and on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse.

As a true ambassador for Wisconsin agriculture, Alice in Dairyland puts on roughly 40,000 miles annually to spread the word about the importance of agriculture in the state and help consumers learn about the many multi-generational farms that put food on families’ plates.

It’s a partnership that is making a difference in connecting younger generations with the origins of their food, one plate at a time.

Potatoes Demand Sulfur

The chemical element aids in nitrogen uptake, chlorophyll production and tuber development

By OMEX Agrifluids

Why is sulfur so important to potato production? Sulfur’s role in every crop can’t be ignored. It has similar importance to yield, quality and marketability as do nitrogen and phosphorus.

Potatoes demand adequate sulfur levels for nitrogen uptake, chlorophyll production, tuber development, stress and pest resistance, carbohydrate generation, amino acid formation, and vitamin synthesis.

Decreased efficiency in any area becomes a limiting factor on crop yield and potential, while it also plays a significant role in how crops taste and smell, and how they perform in subsequent use.

What’s more, across all crops, sulfur deficiencies rarely present visible symptoms. Hidden deficiency is often more damaging than acute deficiency, as it’s usually only discovered when it’s too late to remedy.

Sulfur also has another role, as a fungicide. Indeed, sulfur-based fungicides were among the first available to farmers and remain important today, whether applied to cut seed or as a supplement in

conjunction with modern blight control chemistry.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

It’s important to understand how plants absorb sulfur. Their preference is for sulfates, which are in the only form that plant roots can access the nutrient.

There’s a limited role for leaves. Not only can they absorb small quantities of sulfur dioxide directly from the atmosphere, but also help to regulate nutrient absorption while combating disease.

When applied as a foliar spray, the nutrients slowly enter the plant tissue as required. But when present on the leaf surface, sulfur’s diseasesuppressing abilities act in synergy with later applications of fungicide and insecticide.

This is why OMEX® SulpHomex Ultra® is a great fit into your nutritional program, having both elemental and sulfate-sulfur in one product. The combination allows growers to get the benefits of elemental sulfur on the leaves and sulfate-sulfur to seal up wounds on the leaves and provide a source of nutrition for the plant.

SulpHomex Ultra is the company’s

solution for potatoes. Although it contains multiple sulfur sources, it is not registered as a fungicide, but as a fertilizer, reflecting the importance of sulfur already described.

Its co-formulation of sulphate and nitrate allows immediate use of the nitrogen form most readily absorbed by plant roots.

Contact OMEX USA for the rate of SulpHomex Ultra that’s right for your crop. Learn more at www.omexusa.com.

The product names and brands referenced here are registered and trademarks of OMEX® Agrifluids, Inc. © OMEX® Agrifluids, Inc. 2021.

Among its many attributes, sulfur aids in tuber development.

Badger Beat Patterns of Resistance in Wisconsin Colorado Potato Beetle Populations

Is it time for proactive pest management programs that integrate non-neonicotinoid insecticides?

By Russell L. Groves, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology

For almost three decades neonicotinoid insecticides containing clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam have been the cornerstone of at-plant insect pest management in cultivated potatoes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted the first imidacloprid registration to Miles Laboratories (now Bayer Crop Science), in 1994, for use on turfgrass and ornamentals. One year later, the initial registration of imidacloprid

(Admire 2F) posted for potato growers.

Producers had access to a new group of water-soluble, systemic insecticides that provided excellent control of leaf-feeding pests like the

Adult Colorado potato beetles colonize on early emerging potatoes. Photo courtesy of D. Cappaert (www.insectimages.org)

Colorado potato beetle (CPB), or Leptinotarsa decemlineata, as well as piercing-sucking insect pests (e.g., green peach aphid [Myzus persicae], potato aphid [Macrosiphum], and potato leafhopper [Empoasca fabae]), and below-ground insect pests,

including immature stages (grubs) of wireworms, white grubs, and flea beetles.

Since the initial registration of imidacloprid, other neonicotinoid insecticide registrations like clothianidin and thiamethoxam soon followed for at-plant or below-ground uses.

Over the past 27 years, the benefits afforded to producers by this mode of action (MoA) group (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee MoA Group 4A, http://www.irac-online. org/) have included versatility in application method (e.g., at-plant in-furrow, seed-treatment, foliar, chemigation, irrigation drip, and side-dress), longer periods of residual control when applied at planting, and a broad spectrum of pest control.

When initially registered, the U.S. EPA had designated several neonicotinoids as either “reduced

risk” (RR) or as “organophosphate alternatives” during these initial registration processes.

The RR designation resulted in an expedited review and regulatory decision-making process given what was understood about these compounds and that they met one or more of the following criteria: i) limits impacts on nontarget organisms; ii) reduces acute and chronic exposure to farm workers; and iii) decreases additional pesticide use (U.S. EPA 2013).

INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE

Although the adoption of these soilapplied neonicotinoid insecticide uses could be regarded as largely beneficial to the potato industry given that far fewer broad-spectrum foliar insecticides (e.g., carbamates, pyrethroids, and organophosphates) have been used, the emergence of insecticide resistance and other nontarget and environmental impacts

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threaten the long-term sustainability of the compounds.

Increasing concern about neonicotinoid resistance in CPB populations and unknown environmental risks posed by this MoA group have elevated the importance of proactive pest management programs that integrate non-neonicotinoid insecticides.

insecticide. Photo courtesy of A Huseth (http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/)

Due to these concerns and developing resistance, many Wisconsin producers have been transitioning from a continuous, at-plant neonicotinoid pest management program to one that incorporates sequences of newer and RR-classified insecticides. Nearly all these alternative insecticides are applied as foliar programs and, by design, are organized in sequences for seasonlong control.

The alternative insecticides belong to different MoA groups (e.g., avermectins, benzoylureas, diamides, METI-inhibitors, meta-diamides, oxadiazines, and spinosyns). Not all the newer active ingredients possess similar efficacy, or a similar pest spectrum of control as do (did) the neonicotinoids.

Additionally, few of these new registrations are sufficiently watersoluble and systemically mobile through the plant xylem tissues, which was a property of the at-plant neonicotinoid insecticides that growers valued.

Over the pest several field research seasons, the University of WisconsinMadison Vegetable Entomology program has researched the potential for new active ingredients to be

added to our at-plant arsenal of pest control programs (https://vegento. russell.wisc.edu/field-trials/).

AT-PLANT & FULL SEASON TRIALS

Trials designated as “At-plant” or “Full season” attempt to evaluate the performance of novel MoA compounds and make direct comparisons in terms of performance or level of control against key pests in Wisconsin potato (CPB, potato leafhopper, green peach aphid, potato aphid).

These results are summarized and also available at the Vegetable Entomology publications link (https://vegento.russell.wisc.edu/ publications/), and special reference should be paid to listings designated as Arthropod Management Trials.

Briefly, only a few active ingredients (beyond the current neonicotinoid registrations) remain registered with at-plant use patterns in potato. And some of these registrations are principally focused on control of soil-dwelling insects (wireworms, white grubs, flea beetle larvae) and nematodes.

Among the currently registered atplant uses that formally list CPB as an insect control target on the label are cyantraniliprole (Verimark®), phorate (Thimet® 20G), and the at-plant uses

for the neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam).

With decades of well-known and documented resistance to the organophosphate class of insecticides (MoA Class 1B ACHE— acetylcholinesterase—inhibitors), our program has discontinued evaluations of phorate as an active ingredient of interest for control of CPB.

The remaining active ingredient and current registration that we continue to evaluate and compare to the at-plant neonicotinoids is FMC’s Verimark® insecticide.

In recent investigations, we observe that at-plant applications (either in-furrow or seed treatment) of Verimark provide comparable CPB control performance when compared with seed and in-furrow uses of the neonicotinoids (Tables 1-3).

CPB POPULATIONS ASSESSED

Within these summaries, CPB populations were assessed on 10 randomly selected plants in the center of each plot for the following life stages: small larvae (1st-2nd instars), large larvae (3rd-4th instars), and percent defoliation.

a Means followed by same letter code(s) are not significantly different (Tukey’s HSD, α=.05).

b Treatment main effect p-values determined by ANOVA.

Table 1: Colorado potato beetle (CPB) small larvae counts

Table 1. Colorado potato beetle (CPB) small larvae counts

CPB counts were performed over seven successive weeks beginning May 31 through July 11, 2022. Because second generation adults emerged in large numbers by July 11, the experiment was concluded at that time.

Considering all treatments were applied at plant, we are presenting CPB counts as cumulative counts to better illustrate the longevity and efficacy of each treatment across the first generation.

Large larvae were first observed on June 21, appearing in large numbers by the following week (June 27), with significant differences between treatments noted.

Both Verimark and Belay applied as either seed or in-furrow treatments performed well against large larvae, with weaker control observed using Admire Pro®, Cruiser®, and Platinum®.

potato leafhopper and colonizing aphid species.

References

Bradford, B. Z., Chapman, S. A., & Groves, R. L. (2022). Evaluation of Several Seed Treatment and InFurrow Programs for First-Generation Colorado Potato Beetle Management on Potato in Wisconsin, 2021. Arthropod Management Tests, 47(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/ tsac030.

March 2023

Small larvae hatched and became prevalent in the plots starting June 14. Small larvae counts were among the lowest in the Belay® and Verimark treatments.

R.L. Groves, Badger CommonTater_BadgerBeat

Successful incorporation of these newer RR compounds into appropriate insecticide product sequences and rotations will not only benefit neonicotinoid resistance management of CPB, but also increase the importance of scouting for other common pests, such as

Bradford, B. Z., Chapman, S. A., & Groves, R. L. (2020). Evaluation of Full-Season Colorado Potato Beetle Management Programs in Wisconsin, 2019. Arthropod Management Tests, 45(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/ tsaa019.

a Means followed by same letter code(s) are not significantly different (Tukey’s HSD, α=.05).

b Treatment main effect p-values determined by ANOVA.

Table 2: Colorado potato beetle (CPB) large larvae counts

Table 3: Whole-plot defoliation estimates.

Table 2. Colorado potato beetle (CPB) large larvae counts 6

Table 3. Whole-plot defoliation estimates. 12

Eyes on Associates

By WPVGA

As I wrote this, my last “Eyes on Associates” column, the Industry Show was in its final day. The 2023 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show was well attended as evidenced by vehicle parking spilling over into side streets and neighboring parking lots.

One gentleman pulled me aside and offered a suggestion on the format of the show. We appreciate and encourage any feedback on any of the events that we host. Thank you!

Wednesday morning, we had our WPVGA Associate Division Annual Meeting. One of the key items on the

agenda was to approve some changes to the by-laws that govern the Associate Division Board of Directors. We ran into a situation this term where one of the elected members of the Board changed jobs and was no longer employed by an Associate Division member company. The

Cartwright,

new employer had no interest in becoming an Associate Division member and the by-laws did not give clear direction for handling this.

Since we were making changes to this area, we decided to pour through the whole document. Corrections as simple as punctuation and spelling all the way up to term length guidelines were made.

TERM LENGTHS

One of the notable changes made was to the term length of board

Each year, on Wednesday morning of the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, the WPVGA Associate Division holds a breakfast, meeting, and board elections. The 2023 WPVGA Associate Division Board is, from left to right, Matt Selenske (president), Ethan Olson, Paul Salm (treasurer), Emily Phelps (secretary), Sally Suprise, Melissa Heise, Andy Verhasselt (vice president), and Brandon Taylor. Inset is Morgan Smolarek.

Associate Div. Outgoing President Julie

Jay-Mar, Inc.

members. Each will now serve two 3-year terms instead of two 2-year terms. This will also result in nine total members on the Board.

We felt that an odd number of members would facilitate a tiebreaker when voting on issues. Longer terms would provide better continuity across the Board and more experience for those elected to officer positions. Voters at the annual meeting unanimously adopted the changes to the by-laws.

Three new board members were elected to fill vacant seats at the Annual Meeting—Melissa Heise of Swiderski Equipment, Emily Phelps of Jay-Mar, Inc., and Brandon Taylor of Exit Realty CW. Congratulations!

There were no incumbents on the ballot this year. Existing board members agreed to take on additional years of service as part of the transition to the new two 3-year terms format.

The new officers elected to the Board of Directors are:

• President – Matt Selenske from Allied Cooperative’s Pest Pros Division

• Vice president – Andy Verhasselt of T.I.P., Inc.

• Secretary – Emily Phelps of Jay-Mar, Inc.

• Treasurer – Paul Salm of BMO Harris Bank

Wednesday evening was the annual WPVGA Associate Division Banquet, and the food was excellent! Awards were given to deserving WPVGA members, and cash prizes drawn.

Malorie Paine, Farming for the Future Foundation (FFTFF) marketing and communications manager, gave an update on the construction and fundraising progress for the new Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover.

She reinforced the importance of the FFTFF mission “to educate current and future generations

about agricultural innovation and sustainability.”

Wrapping up the evening was entertainment by Greg Peterson of the Peterson Farm Brothers from Kansas. Greg and his brothers and family use music parody videos to send a similar message and educate the public about agriculture. He did a fantastic job, and it was fun to watch the crowd’s response to their videos.

The Associate Division’s next big fundraising event, the Putt-Tato Open, July 12, 2023, at Bullseye Golf Club, in Wisconsin Rapids, seems like a long ways off, but it will be here before you know it.

I am the only member leaving the Board this year. It has been an honor to serve these last four years on the WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors. I continue to be humbled by the cooperation and support from all corners of the agriculture industry. Thank you to all, and God bless!

Julie Cartwright

Outgoing WPVGA Associate Division President

At lunch on Tuesday, February 7, during the 2023 Industry Show, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Executive Director Tamas Houlihan presented Julie Cartwright with a plaque honoring her dedicated service on the Associate Division Board of Directors. Cartwright, of Jay-Mar, Inc., completed her last year on the Board in 2023, having served as president in her final term.

Auxiliary News

By Datonn Hanke, vice president, WPGA

Hello, everyone!

Welcome back to Auxiliary News. If you’ve ever wondered why the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA) would be a great group to join, I can wholeheartedly tell you that, besides the wonderful programs we create and fund to promote Wisconsin potatoes in classrooms, our events are a ton of fun!

We had our last event for all members at the Axe Garage in Wisconsin Rapids, on January 31, and it was a night full of snacks and laughs! A few of us had never been to an axe throwing venue, so we could all learn together (it’s safe to say we may have a few undercover lumberjacks in our midst.)

We try to rotate the location of our member events, so our next one will be in the Antigo area this March. Watch for more information to come on the date and location.

If becoming a member of the WPGA piques your interest, call the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association office at 715623-7683 for more information.

Datonn Vice president, WPGA

A group shot shows all the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary members who attended the axe throwing event in Wisconsin Rapids, on January 31, enjoying the evening.

The instructor demonstrates proper axe throwing form for, from left to right, Heidi Schleicher, Becky Wysocki, and Misti Ward.

Top Left: In this action shot, Dani Edelburg takes aim at the axe throwing target.

Above: The Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors poses in an axe-throwing lane. From left to right are Misti Ward, Datonn Hanke, Heidi Schleicher, Becky Wysocki, Brittany Bula, and Devin Zarda. Erin Baginski also sits on the Board but was not present at the Axe Garage.

Left: From left to right, Tyler Calmes, Deniell Bula and Sara Agena are all smiles at the Axe Garage.

and 8 Row

NPC News

NPC Issues Recommendations for 2023 Farm Bill

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance coalition releases its policy initiatives

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, on February 1, released its recommendations for the 2023 Farm Bill.

The SCFBA was established to advocate for broad-based Farm Bill policy initiatives to address the unique needs of a diverse sector of the agricultural economy, known as specialty crops, and to aid overall competitiveness in the face of increasing imports and rising global pressures on American exports.

It is led by Co-Chairs Mike Joyner,

president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Dave Puglia, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Western Growers, and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.

Robert Guenther, chief public policy officer for International Fresh Produce Association, serves as secretary for the alliance.

“These recommendations are the most comprehensive and ambitious in the two-decade history of the

Alliance,” the co-chairs said in a joint statement. “Their implementation will enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. industry for years to come.”

In a letter to Agriculture Committee leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, the SCFBA co-chairs emphasized that investments in the competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. specialty crop industry will produce a strong return for all Americans, not just farmers.

The SCFBA’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations represent the most comprehensive set of ideas from the coalition to date, including 109 specific recommendations covering eight Farm Bill titles. The recommendations prioritize a set of core principles:

• Healthy Americans: Expanding access and availability to safe, wholesome, healthy, and affordable foods, as well as trees, flowers, and plants, will encourage lifelong healthy eating habits, mental and physical well-being, and help address national priorities such as obesity, heart disease, and food and nutrition insecurity.

• Competitiveness and Sustainability: In recognition of its significance to American agriculture, the American food supply, and the communities it supports across the United States, a proportional share of Farm Bill resources and mandatory spending should be allocated to specialty crop priorities.

• Trade and Foreign Competition: Establishing a competitive playing field for American specialty crop producers includes assisting American producers with unfair foreign competition, promoting American specialty crops in foreign markets, and eliminating trade barriers that discriminate against American specialty crop exports.

• Research and Innovation: A sustained federal investment into research and innovation must be of a meaningful scale to catalyze opportunities for the industry, alleviate existing challenges, and propel the U.S. specialty crop industry to a new level of global competitiveness.

• Natural Resources and Climate: Recognizing the diverse nature and unique challenges involved in specialty crop production enhances the ability of specialty crop producers to participate fully in all U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs as well as

any initiatives to address global climate change.

Specialty crop production, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery and greenhouse commodities, contributes significantly to the U.S economy, accounting for $64.7 billion in farm gate value and 30 percent of farm cash receipts for crops.

The announcement of SCFBA’s recommendations followed the release of the organization’s

statement of principles in August 2022 and a July statement and letter to the leadership of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees officially opposing any attempt to expand the definition of specialty crops beyond the commonly understood meaning set forth in the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act of 2004 or to direct specialty crop funds to non-specialty crops, including natural stone, wild rice and hemp.

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New Products

Spectrum Unveils WatchDog Portable Wind Sensor

Device captures real-time weather conditions at the field or crop site for avoiding pesticide drift

Spectrum Technologies, Inc. expands its broad product offering with the release of the WatchDog® Portable Wind Sensor. The ultrasonic wind sensor sends wind speed and direction values to any smartphone via Bluetooth.

Custom applicators or growers applying their own pesticides can now capture real-time weather conditions at the field or crop site and include this important information in the spray records.

Wind is one of the most common contributors to pesticide droplet drift. Now there is an affordable solution to measuring and capturing weather data for spray records.

The WatchDog Portable Wind Sensor measures wind speed and direction. Data can be saved on a smartphone and emailed to provide a permanent

record of weather conditions. Avoid potential litigation, legal liability, and fines associated with injury to adjacent crops and other non-target areas from pesticide drift. Utilize the WatchDog Portable Wind Sensor to provide the knowledge needed to spray effectively.

GOOD STEWARDSHIP

“With this new wind sensor, pesticide applicators can document weather conditions at the field site in the event of a drift complaint,” says Mike Thurow, president and chief executive officer of Spectrum Technologies. “It’s important to demonstrate good stewardship when applying pesticides.”

Spectrum Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois. The company manufactures and

distributes affordable, leading-edge, plant-measurement technology to agricultural, horticultural, environmental, and turf markets throughout the world, serving more than 14,000 customers in over 80 countries.

Spectrum Technologies’ brands include WatchDog®, FieldScout®, WaterScout®, DataScout®, LightScout®, TruFirm® and SpecConnect™.

Spectrum has won 25 AE50 Awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, which demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovation and quality.

For more information, call 815-436-4440 or visit www.specmeters.com.

AgBiome Receives EPA Approval for Esendo Fungicide

Product contains proprietary mixtures of synthetic and biological actives for broad control

Esendo™ fungicide is the latest in AgBiome’s lineup of microbialbased solutions and the first of its proprietary Connate™ portfolio to receive approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.

AgBiome, Inc., a leader in developing innovative products from the Earth’s microbial communities, is the developer of both Howler® fungicide and recently EPA-approved Theia® fungicide.

“We are thrilled to introduce Esendo fungicide to the market,” says Adam Burnhams, chief commercial officer at AgBiome. “It is our mission to create environmentally mindful solutions for producers that allow for effective resistance management and promote healthier crops.”

This broad-spectrum fungicide provides powerful systemic and protectant activity, allowing for excellent control and resistance management for key foliar diseases such as rust and alternaria in highvalue fruit, vegetable, and tree nut crops.

Esendo fungicide’s premixed formula combines the synthetic fungicide azoxystrobin with the active biological ingredient in AgBiome’s premier biological product, Howler® fungicide.

BROAD-SPECTRUM CONTROL

Esendo fungicide is the first product

in AgBiome’s Connate portfolio which contains proprietary mixtures of synthetic and biological actives, which allow for broad-spectrum control and preservation of key active ingredients. These mixtures increase efficacy as they expand the breadth of disease coverage the products provide.

“As the first of our Connate line, Esendo fungicide is an exciting and important development for the market,” says Gustavo Marcos, senior product manager at AgBiome.

“Not only will it provide significant

protection for a variety of crops covering a wide disease range,” he adds, “but it will also optimize the chemical load introduced into the environment and help producers extend the life cycle of important synthetic ingredients.”

State registrations are now pending, with Esendo fungicide’s commercial availability expected in early 2023. For more information, contact AgBiome, POB 14069, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-228-8196, or visit https://www.agbiome.com.

Potatoes USA News

Could Mashed Potato Boards Be the Next Viral Trend?

You’d be

You’d

The butter board trend that took global social media by storm has no doubt showcased that presentation is key. Butter boards garnered a massive following when home cooks saw they could make enticing, crowd-pleasing recipes with whipped butter and a wide variety of toppings, from savory to sweet.

Hopping on the trend while it is popular, the Potatoes USA culinary team developed new recipes in the Spud Lab. Global flavor trends such as Greek, Indian, fall harvest, and Latin inspired the potato boards from the Spud Lab.

This board consists of mashed potatoes blended with curry powder and coconut milk, all spread out and topped with various Indian staples such as paneer cheese, tomato chutney, cucumber yogurt sauce, English peas, and mint.

You’d be healthier, too, if you spent your winters in Hawaii.

This concept can easily be applied to potatoes by taking fluffy, whipped potatoes and adding delicious ingredients to the mix, such as avocado, butternut squash soup, curry powder, coconut milk, or roasted garlic.

The flavorful mash mix makes a great base, spread across a large cutting board or serving platter before topping it with tasty ingredients.

However, the combinations are endless. For instance, a Japaneseinspired board could have a base of miso mashed potatoes with sesame seeds, topped with pickled daikon radish, thin slices of salmon or tuna, and a drizzle of sesame oil for a fun spin straight from Tokyo.

The best part is that you can make these boards with fresh, frozen, and dehydrated potatoes. All it requires is your imagination!

We challenge you to try one of these boards, put your creativity to the test and make a new combination. Then, share your creation on social media to inspire your friends and family to make their own.

Use the hashtag #MashedPotatoBoard in your caption to make it easy to find, and tag @PotatoGoodness on Facebook or Instagram for the chance to have it featured with the industry.

100% of Wisconsin Seed

100% of Wisconsin Seed

100% of Wisconsin Seed

Potatoes must be winter tested to be eligible for certified seed tags.

Potatoes must be winter tested to be eligible for certified seed tags.

Potatoes must be winter tested to be eligible for certified seed tags.

• While all state seed potato associations winter test their foundation lots, some do not winter test 100% of their certified seed lots.

• While all state seed potato associations winter test their foundation lots, some do not winter test 100% of their certified seed lots.

100% of Wisconsin Seed Potatoes must be winter tested to be eligible for certified seed tags.

• While all state seed potato associations winter test their foundation lots, some do not winter test 100% of their certified seed lots.

potatoes. Check the winter test results and Begin with the Best

• While all state seed potato associations winter test their foundation lots, some do not winter test 100% of their certified seed lots.

• Wisconsin does, and this assures you get only the top-quality seed.

• Wisconsin does, and this assures you get only the top-quality seed.

• Wisconsin does, and this assures you get only the top-quality seed.

• Wisconsin does, and this assures you get only the top-quality seed.

• While all state seed potato associations winter test their foundation lots, some do not winter test 100% of their certified seed lots.

• With the Wisconsin Badger State Brand Tag, you get one grade, one standard–certification that counts.

• With the Wisconsin Badger State Brand Tag, you get one grade, one standard–certification that counts.

• Wisconsin does, and this assures you get only the top-quality seed.

• With the Wisconsin Badger State Brand Tag, you get one grade, one standard-certification that counts.

• With the Wisconsin Badger State Brand Tag, you get one grade, one standard–certification that counts.

• With the Wisconsin Badger State Brand Tag, you get one grade, one standard–certification that counts.

Don’t bet your farm on untested seed potatoes. Check the winter test results and Begin with the Best — Wisconsin! WISCONSIN

Don’t bet your farm on untested seed potatoes. Check the winter test results and Begin with the Best — Wisconsin!

Don’t bet your farm on untested seed potatoes.

Don’t bet your farm on untested seed potatoes. Check the winter test results and Begin with the Best — Wisconsin!

healthier, too, if you spent your winters in Hawaii.

be healthier, too, if you spent your winters in Hawaii.

Ali's Kitchen

You’ll Crave Lemon Dill Potato Salad

Waxy potatoes are suggested for the warm dish with a bright, tangy flavor

Column and photos by Ali Carter, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary

This is a warm salad with a bright, tangy flavor thanks to the lemon, garlic, and olive oil dressing.

While you can use any type of potato in this salad, it’s best to stick with waxy varieties like reds or fingerling potatoes. I used a bunch of baby yellow potatoes because, well, that’s what was in my pantry the day a craving for this salad hit me.

DIRECTIONS

Cut the potatoes in half, leaving the skin on.

Place the potatoes in a large kettle and add enough water to submerge them completely. Add 1 teaspoon salt continued on pg. 70

INGREDIENTS:

Lemon Dill Potato Salad

• 1 pound small-sized potatoes

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1/4 cup dill, chopped

• 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions

Dressing

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 3 Tbsp. lemon juice

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 1 garlic clove, finely minced

• 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

• Salt and pepper to taste

and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are just tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork (approximately 15-20 minutes).

While the potatoes are cooking, place all ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and whisk them together to combine. Set the dressing aside.

Drain the cooked potatoes and

place them in a bowl. Drizzle on the prepared dressing while potatoes are still hot. Sprinkle on the chopped dill and green onions.

Toss well and let this salad sit for about 10 minutes before serving to let the potatoes soak up the flavor. Enjoy!

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

Friday, June 16, 2023

Bass Lake Country Club

W10650 Bass Lake Road

Deerbrook, WI 54424

Deadline for sponsorship commitments to be included in June Badger Common'Tater: May 5, 2023*

DINNER SPONSOR $2,500

• Company name/logo on two banners placed in prominent areas

• Company name/logo on dinner ticket & one beverage cart

• Company name and logo in Badger Common'Tater

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

• Registration and dinner for four golfers

LUNCH SPONSOR $2,000

• Company name/logo on one banner and lunch ticket

• Company name/logo on one beverage cart

• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

• Registration and dinner for four golfers

GOLDRUSH SPONSOR $1,500

• Company name/logo on one banner

• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

• Registration and dinner for two golfers

CONTACT KAREN RASMUSSEN for more details (715) 623-7683

Make checks payable to WSPIA

*We WILL accept sponsors after this date.

MAIL PAYMENT TO: WSPIA, P.O. Box 173 Antigo, WI 54409

SILVERTON SPONSOR $1,000

BUSHMAN’S RIVERSIDE RANCH

• Company name/logo on one banner

• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

• Registration and dinner for one golfer

SUPERIOR SPONSOR $500

• Company name/logo on one banner

• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

OCCUPIED HOLE SPONSOR $300

• Company name on hole sign

• Rights to occupy a hole on the course and provide giveaways*

*If alcohol is being served, it must be purchased through the golf course

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

BASIC HOLE SPONSOR $200

• Company name on hole sign

• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

Since 1998, this tournament raised over $166,000, which was donated to Wisconsin potato research.

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Contact <Dealership name> to learn more about the FieldNET family of remote irrigation management tools – FieldNET® Pivot Watch™, FieldNET Pivot Control and FieldNET Pivot Control LiteTM