FITS TO A

The Perfect Fit for CPB Control

With Torac ® Insecticide, you get control of Colorado Potato Beetle and a broad spectrum of other troublesome pests including aphids, psyllids, leafhoppers, and thrips. Torac works quickly, causing rapid feeding cessation, and it is effective on all life stages of target pests. Additionally, the unique mode of action of Torac makes it an excellent rotational option to manage pest resistance in potato, onion, and vegetable crops. With all this, you’ll want to fit Torac in your CPB spray program this season. To learn more, contact your distributor or local Nichino America sales representative.

On the Cover: The pivot was “just coming off a Burbank potato field into cover crop seeding” when Matt Patoka of Patoka Farms, LLC, in Amherst, Wisconsin, took the beautiful photo of his daughter, Ali, walking toward the setting sun. “The pivot is showing our new Valley GPS corner arm machine,” Matt, this issue’s interviewee, says. “The corner arm drives off satellite positioning.”

8 BADGER COMMON’TATER INTERVIEW:

The Patoka Farms, LLC potato field was a hub of activity when this photo was taken during the 2017 harvest. “We dig direct off the field for Del Monte,” says Gary Patoka, uncle of this issue’s interviewee, Matt. “A few neighbors and family members ride on the harvester (top right) to clean the dirt off the potatoes and pick out any rocks or spuds with soft spots as they go into the truck.” Patoka Farms grows 110 acres of Superior canning potatoes for Del Monte.

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

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WPVGA

Subscription rates: $2.50/copy, $28/year; $45/2 years.

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 while in our hands.