Potato Country November 2018

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PotatoCountry.com • November 2018 Western focus. National impact.

GROSS FARMS

Born & Grown in Idaho

Fighting Fungus Planting Essentials Supply Imbalances Create Uncertainty


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©2018 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved. CaTs ® is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.


w w w . Po t a t o Co u n t r y . c o m

Vol. 34 No. 7

PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Phone: (208) 520-6461

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

November 2018

Contacts Dave Alexander ...........................dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Publisher, Advertising

Denise Keller ..............................editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Editor

Andy Jensen.......................................... www.nwpotatoresearch.com Insect Identification

Jeff Miller .....................................................jeff@millerresearch.com Disease Identification

6 Born and Grown in Idaho

Bruce Huffaker ................................................. napmn@napmn.com Market Report

Gross Farms, Inc.

12 Bio-Chemicals: An Array of Applications 16 Plants That Fight Back WSU Researchers Join Forces to Combat Nematodes

18 Planting Essentials Buyers' Guide

22 Can the New NAFTA Set a New Tone on Trade? National Potato Council

30 Fighting Fungus

Dale Lathim ............................................................... dale@pgw.net

Potato Growers of Washington

Brian Feist ...................................brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Operations Manager, Advertising

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Potato Country is interested in newsworthy material related to potato production and marketing. Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com. ADVERTISING For information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submission, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call Dave Alexander at (208) 520-6461 or email dave@PotatoCountry.com.

Development, Management of Verticillium Wilt in Potato

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION U.S. $24 per year / Canada $40 per year / Foreign $80 per year Subscriptions can be entered online at www.potatocountry.com or call (503) 724-3581. Email address changes/corrections to brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or send to Potato Country, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444.

Entire Industry

Potato Country magazine (ISSN 0886-4780), is published eight times per year and mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices.

36 Changing Perceptions of Potatoes Will Require Potatoes USA

It is produced by Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444

38 Quality Versus Quantity

Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group. For information on reprints call (208) 520-6461.

Potato Growers of Washington

Editorial Board

Bill Brewer

Chris Voigt

Find the latest equipment for next spring’s planting season in our Planting Essentials Buyers’ Guide starting on page 18. Photo by James Rumble

On The Cover

Mary Hasenoehrl and Doug Gross grow more than 560 acres of potatoes in Wilder, Idaho. See the story on page 6.

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November 2018

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(509) 765-8845

(503) 239-4763

Departments 24 25 26 28 33 34

Insect Quiz Disease Quiz In the News Calendar New Products Market Report

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

(406) 994-3150

President/CEO

(208) 334-2350

President/CEO

(719) 852-3322



Born & Grown in Idaho Story by Allen Thayer Photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

M

ary Hasenoehrl looks back on her first year as the first woman representing growers on the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) with satisfaction. “It has been good,” she says. “The potato industry is critical to Idaho, and I felt I could offer help in that area by promoting Idaho potatoes. It was a learning curve the first six or seven months. Now I feel I’m contributing. I went to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago and helped promote Idaho potatoes at our booth and spoke with industry people from Canada and the United States.” Hasenoehrl next will attend the IPC’s annual Big Idaho Potato Harvest Meeting on Nov. 14 at Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center in Fort Hall. “It’s for all the potato growers to attend and discuss issues and learn what the IPC has done for them,” she says. Frank Muir, IPC president and CEO, says the meeting brings various industry leaders together for a single post-harvest event to discuss the growing season, field trends and forecasts and research.

Idaho Potato Commission

The nine-member IPC marketing board is a state agency formed in 1937. It’s responsible for promoting and safeguarding the Idaho potato brand. Of the nine commission members, five are grower representatives, two are potato shipper representatives, and two are potato processor representatives. Hasenoehrl’s IPC district stretches from western Idaho to the Northern Panhandle. Gov. Butch Otter appointed Hasenoehrl as just the second woman to serve on the board of directors. She joins current board member Peggy Arnzen, an official with Rexburg-based Bench Mark Potato, who 6

Potato Country

November 2018

Mary Hasenoehrl with Gross Farms serves as chairman of the IPC Research Committee.

Rick Maxwell and Mary Hasenoehrl sort through spuds as they come in from the field.


Doug Gross works to fix a wiring problem during harvest.

represents fresh shippers. The IPC’s main initiative is “Grown in Idaho,” a collective trademark program for marketing Idaho-grown potatoes and accompanying advertising campaigns. Its efforts are funded by an assessment of 12.5 cents per every 100 pounds of potatoes Idaho farmers grow. It has a budget of $15 million. Hasenoehrl serves as chairman of the IPC Research Committee. Part of the money collected from assessments goes to fund research. “We work with different universities and private researchers to find solutions to some of our needs,” she explains, adding that priorities include problems posed by certain viruses and insects. “Each year, we meet about three different times,” Hasenoehrl says. “The first time we meet, we look at all the proposals submitted by researchers and determine which ones we want to pass off to the larger group to vote on.” That process began at the end of October.

A conveyor piles spuds into every square inch of space at Gross Farms.

Anthony Molitor with Industrial Ventilation, Inc. checks on spuds being sprayed with a BioSafe product as they go into storage at Gross Farms.

PotatoCountry.com

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Gross Farms

Gross Farms, Inc.

Hasenoehrl was raised on a small farm in Midvale and has been involved in agriculture for most of her life. She and her husband, Doug Gross, are partners in more than 560 acres of potatoes on their Wilder farm. “We raise about 40 million pounds of processed potatoes, which includes Bannock, Ranger and Clearwater and 4 million pounds of Russet Norkotah potatoes for the fresh market,” Hasenoehrl shares. “We also raise some corn occasionally and wheat, but our main crop is potatoes. We have a four-year crop rotation.” “Doug started helping his dad when he was in grade school, and then in college started renting ground from him and then buying his own ground,” she says. They also reside in Lewiston, where her sons lease her dryland native grass seed farm. Hasenoehrl became the first female

Port of Lewiston Commissioner President in 2011 and is running unopposed in November to retain her seat. Lewiston is home to Idaho’s only seaport. Hasenoehrl and Gross met after their spouses died. Her first husband was killed in a farming accident. About a year after that, Gross lost his wife. Hasenoehrl reached out to Gross, letting him know she understood what he was going through. They married in 2014. “It’s a long, hard road,” Hasenoehrl says. “I have sympathy for anybody who has to go through that. We’ve formed relationships where we’re free to talk about memories of our deceased spouses with our kids and with each other. We both loved and respected our first spouses very much, and I think that built a strong foundation for where we are now. We know what it takes to have a successful marriage. We feel very blessed that we found each other.”

A worker picks out debris from a load of freshly harvested potatoes.

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November 2018

Spuds make their way into storage during harvest at Gross Farms in Wilder, Idaho.


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Five Minutes With…

Mary Hasenoehrl, Idaho Potato Commissioner What’s your background, your education, that kind of thing? My background has always been in agriculture. I grew up on a small farm in Midvale, Idaho. I raised sheep, and when I graduated from high school, I had about 70 head of registered Suffolk. I went to college and became a respiratory therapist. I did that for probably only two or three years and decided that I didn’t always like being on call. I wanted to be a little more flexible. Then I went into public relations, and as I said, I’ve always been involved in farming. I have a dryland farm up north in Idaho around Highway 12 between Orofino and Lewiston. We sell mostly to Bureau of Land Management, forest service, that type of thing, after forest fires go through. I’m a partner with about four other growers. We started a grass seed company called Clearwater Seed. We harvest the grass and sell it to Clearwater Seed. They clean it, blend it and market it. That part of it. And my husband, Doug, is owner of a potato farm. He has had his farm for 50 years. I partner with him on about 60 acres of fresh potatoes. The fresh potatoes go to Arrowhead. We’re fortunate for our climate because we’re one of the first fresh potatoes to reach the shed.

What advice do you have for growers competing in today’s market? You always need to have at least a 10-year plan. You have to be thinking in the future in this day and time because you might have one good year, and if you spend all that money in that year, you’re not going to survive as a farmer. You need to make sure you always have enough set aside for at least five years in your finances.

Tell us something about yourself that people might find surprising. I like to ride bicycles, road bikes. I have done several weeklong bike rides.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a child, I actually wanted to be a nurse. That was what I wanted to do, was become a nurse or a doctor. And then, as I said, I worked in the medical field for a while, and I decided it just… somebody always has to be there, holidays or whatever.

Stay at hotels? I like to camp. I participate in organized trips where someone picks up all my gear, and then when I get to the next spot, it’s all there.

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What’s your favorite potato dish? A plain old Idaho baked potato. What’s on your bucket list? On my bucket list is actually to do some mission work. Go to some area – it might be in the United States, it might be in some foreign country – and help however I can, whether it’s re-building after floods or whatever. I would like to do that. For your church? It doesn’t have to be for my church; it could be for any organization, Red Cross, whatever. It’s something I’ve always kind of wanted to do, but I’ve just never had time. Do you have a personal motto or mantra? Never stop learning.

What’s the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had? You know, I think it has to be being a female farmer. It’s unusual. What has been the most important innovation you have witnessed? You know, it’s hard to say. Anything that makes our job easier and more productive, and there are so many things that have done that in the last 50 years. We used to dig potatoes and sack them, put them in sacks so there was a lot of handling. Now that’s all mechanical. The potatoes are dug; you dig six or eight rows of potatoes at a time. You never touch them. Yeah, it goes into the truck, it goes into storage. Storage has been phenomenal. Used to be, you had to sell your potatoes; the most you could probably store them is three or four months. Now we’ve stored potatoes up to a year. If Hollywood made a movie of your life, who would you like to see cast as you? Sandra Bullock If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? It would be halibut and a baked potato. I love baked potatoes. Do you have any sports teams you follow? The Detroit Lions Okay, that’s an interesting one. And you laugh when you say that because it is hard to be a Lions fan.


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Bio-Chemicals: An Array of Applications By Keith Jones, Executive Director, Biological Products Industry Alliance

W

ith plant pathogens challenging potato crops from planting through harvest, biological products present one option to help growers keep crops healthy. EPA-registered biological fungicides on the market today can help potato growers effectively manage damping-off, and root and crown diseases caused by the usual suspects, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora and Pythium species, in integrated disease management programs. Microbial bio-fungicides contain active

ingredients that are specific fungal or bacterial strains selected and developed for their highly unique disease-control characteristics. Unlike most other members of their species, these rare strains consistently suppress plant diseases with two or more modes of action.

Disease Management

There are numerous foliar biological products including bactericides, fungicides and insecticides available to potato

Bio-chemicals can be applied to stored potatoes to inhibit sprouting.

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producers. Bio-fungicides and bactericides are the broadest category and offer many control solutions for some of the most devastating diseases impacting potatoes such as early blight, late blight and white mold. There are several categories of biologicals labeled and used for foliar pathogens. Bacillus amyloliquefacians/ subtilis are commonly used for bacterial leaf blights, early blight and white mold. These beneficial bacteria also double as


soil-applied fungicides to control Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora. In recent years, two novel “plant activators” that activate the plant’s own defense mechanisms have been introduced. One is derived from plant extract Reynoutria sachalinensis, and the other is a biological, Bacillus mycoides J. Both of these plant activators have shown excellent control of late blight, early blight and white mold. Bacillus mycoides J also suppresses Potato virus Y (PVY). Bio-chemicals that have a physical or mechanical impact on many pathogens are also available and include peroxyacetic acid and potassium bicarbonate, which have shown efficacy on early blight and late blight. Biological insecticides are also an emerging technology in potato production. The most popular category is entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), which are fungal spores that control a wide range of soft-bodied pests including whiteflies, aphids, thrips and potato psyllids that vector the bacterium that causes zebra chip disease. The most common EPFs belong to the genera Beauveria, Metarhizium and Isaria. Once the spore makes contact with the insect pest, the fungus starts to grow and eventually cannibalizes the host, causing death in one to three days. Bacillus thuringensis tenebreonis (Btt), once an integral component in controlling Colorado potato beetle, is being reintroduced to potato growers for resistance management. Recent field trials have shown that a combination of one of the EPFs and a Btt in a tank mix enhances control of Colorado potato beetle. As well, potato growers have always had access to traditional products such as insecticidal soap or products that contain naturally occurring pyrethrum for quick knockdown action of soft-bodied insects. For residual control of foliar insects, growers can incorporate azadirachtin, a naturally occurring plant extract that behaves like an insect growth regulatory to control immature stages of whiteflies, aphids, thrips and psyllids.

the maximum amount recommended for each soil type and cultivar. Globally, breeders continue to work to bring new genetics to market that can increase the efficiency of phosphorus uptake and utilization. The catalog of work using biological sources of nutrition and use of biological cultural practices is beginning to grow. One area involves the use of specific biological soil amendments and natural nutrient sources to drive beneficial soil

microbes to improve uptake, utilization and conservation of plant nutrients. Soils with histories of poor phosphorus availability are candidates for biological nutrition strategies. It appears that particular cultivars that are notoriously inefficient at utilizing phosphorous should also be considered. Biological soil amendments that have been demonstrated to improve nutrient availability and uptake can provide growers options to improve crops without necessarily increasing fertilizer inputs.

MAXIMIZE YOUR WINDOW of OPPORTUNITY. S U CC E S S F U L F U M I G AT I O N W I T H S E CTAG O N® S TA RT S W I T H P RO P E R M O I S T U R E A N D T I LT H Just remember two simple things to maximize effectiveness of Sectagon-42® and Sectagon®-K54 Agricultural Fumigant on your irrigated potato, onion, beet, or carrot fields: moisture and tilth. Establishing and maintaining moisture throughout the treatment zone, especially in the top few inches, is essential for successful soil fumigation. Begin pre-irrigation early to moisten the soil profile, and manage the soil to maintain that moisture up to, and throughout, the application. This season, close the door on pests - and open the window to greater productivity.

Nutrient Use Efficiency

There are volumes of research on phosphorus fertilization for potato production, with many studies recognizing

NovaSource® and Sectagon® are registered trademarks of Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. Pat. novasource.com. ©2018 Tessenderlo Kerley inc. All rights reserved.

Visit novasource.com or call 800-525-2803. Always read and follow label instructions. Sectagon-42® and Sectagon®-K54 are restricted use pesticides.

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Bio-Chemicals

Sprout Inhibition

By definition, a bio-chemical pesticide is a naturally occurring substance that controls pests by a non-toxic mode of action. The naturally occurring substance requires manmade synthesis in order to produce sufficient quantities for industrial use. This differs from a conventional chemical pesticide in which all active ingredients are not biologically present in nature. Therefore, bio-chemicals use a more natural means to control sprouting in storage than conventional chemicals. Research in the 1950s indicated that potatoes naturally produced volatile chemicals that inhibited sprouting of potatoes in storage. Bio-chemicals can enhance the natural process of sprout inhibition that potatoes normally use to maintain dormancy. Bio-chemicals can be applied as a thermo-fog to stored potatoes to heighten the levels of the naturally produced volatile chemicals that inhibit sprouting.

By utilizing a natural process to enhance dormancy, the mode of action is recognized as a gentler form of chemistry as opposed to conventional chemicals. As the volatiles decrease in concentration within the storage over time, sprouting of potatoes can resume, indicating that the mode of action is reversible. This further indicates that bio-chemicals are safe for use on seed potatoes as opposed to conventional chemicals that can permanently disrupt the cellular division of potato sprouts during mitosis and, therefore, negatively affect the emergence of seed potatoes. Bio-chemicals can utilize this reversible mode of action on potato seed, allowing growers to treat their potatoes for sprout control until planting occurs. By resetting the physiological clock of the seed, the number of skips in the field is reduced and the timing of emergence and row closure of the plants is similar across the entire field. Several species of the bacterium Bacillus are used in biological products to control diseases in potatoes.

Spudequipment.com Pilers 2007 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2003 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 1998 Spudnik 560 hyd 36” BC, 480 volt 3ph 1995 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3phase 1989 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3phase Davis 30” belted chain 45’ tel. Boom 1ph Scoopers 2014 Logan 30” Scoop Pro 230 volt 3ph 2002 Double L 30” 230 volt 3ph hyd. 1990 Spudnik 150 30” 3ph 1982 Spudnik 24” 16’ conveyors Reconditioned 1ph Conveyors 1998 Spudnik TC 36/42/60 230 V 3ph Recond. 1994 Spudnik 1250 TC 30/36/ 60 3phase 10- 93 Double L 809 SC 30” x 38’, 3ph 94 Milestone TC 30/36 x 60’, 3ph 1991 STI 30” x 75’ TC 230 volt 3ph 1992 Double L 810 Tel. conv. 30’’x50’ 3ph Dirt Elim./Sizer 2009 Double L 978 DE/sizer 3ph Double L 1996 with a 2015 rebuild, 62” DE, Sizer, Sorter 230 volt 3ph 03 Spudnik 995 72” BC Peg Belt, Finger rolls, sizer, 3ph 1997 Milestone MSDES 72” 3ph Dirt Elim Sizer 1995 Double 806 Collector 44” 2-pups, DE/Sizer 3ph 94 Spudnik 900 Sizer 60” 230V 3ph Vsp pulley’s 89 Milestone 72” Belt, Finger Rolls, Sizer, Table 1ph Dirt Eliminators 99 Milestone 60” Finger rolls, Table, 3ph 94 Double L 806 DE 44” 230 volt 3ph 87 Spudnik 900 48” 220 volt 1ph 76 Spudnik 900 48” sorter

Rock/Clod/Eliminators 2014 Spudnik Air Sep 2014 Lockwood Air Vac 2014 Harriston Clod Hopper 4240 x 4-96”drums 2007 Harriston Clod Hopper 240 x 2 -96” drums 1996 Harriston Clod Hopper 200/80” 230 Volt 3ph 1995 Harriston Clod Hopper 200/80” 230 volt 3ph 1994 STI 1260 Sand Machine Even Flows 2002 Spudnik 1000 cwt 3ph 2000 Spudnik 1800 600cwt 3ph 1995 Agritech 250cwt 1ph /Stinger Agritech 100cwt elevator with eye Stingers 2015 Logan 30” x 10’ belt 230 Volt 3ph 1990 Double L 832 30” BC/Finger rolls x 2 1988 Spudnik 2200 30” x 10’ BC/ fingers x 2 Beds 2012 Logan LP24’ bed Combo PTO/Elec white 2012 Logan LP24’ PTO tarp Red 2009 Logan LP 24’ bed PTO blue 2004 Spudnik 2100 bed 24’ PTO 1997 Logan 20’ bed Electric, ext. tail white Trucks 2007 Sterling 13spd MB 425hp, no bed, frame for 22’ bed, has PTO. 1991 Ford Aero/Max L9000 Cat 425hp 9spd 260K original miles, DL 20’ bed dual drive 1979 Kenworth Dump truck 1976 Peterbuilt Dump Truck

Crossovers / Wind Rowers 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row 50/50/50 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row 50/50/45 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row 40/40/36 2004 Double L 851 four row 2003 Lockwood 5000 Four Row LH 2002 Double L 851 Four row Lenco 6 row pull type Harvesters 2014 Lockwood 574 4 row 2010 Lockwood 474 50/56/56/56/50 2010 DL 953 4 row 36” 2009 Spudnik 6400 50/50/45/45/45 2008 DL 973 4 row return flo, galaxy table 2008 DL 953 4 row 36” 2008 Lockwood 474H 4 row 2007 Double 853 4 row 50/50/45/45 2002 Spudnik 5640 4 row 2002 Double L 853 4 row 2000 Double L 873 4 row 1996 Lockwood 4620 two row 1994 Logan 90 series two row Seed Cutters 2013 Better Built 72” 2011 Milestone 72” 2009 Milestone 72” 1998 Milestone 60” 1999 Milestone 48” 1993 Milestone 36” Treaters New Excel 10”x 10’ Liquid/ powder Stainless New Excel 10” x 10’ Liquid/powder Mild Steel 1998 Milestone 42” duster 1993 Better Built 10’ x 8” Milestone 30” barrel

Planters 2014 Lockwood 6 row Pick 36”row Fertilizer 2010 Lockwood 6 row Air Cup 36” 2009 Harriston cup planter 8 row pull loaded 34” 2009 Lockwood 6 row Pick 34” Mechanical 2009 Underhaug 3760 8 row 34” Raven controls 2 products 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row low acres 2005 Harriston model 4016 cup, Raven Controller 36” 2005 Lockwood 6 row Pick 36” 2003 Kverneland 3300 Six row 34” 2002 Spudnik 8400 cup 4 row 36” 1995 Kverneland 3300 6 row 34” 1994 Logan Four Row cup 36” 1993 Logan Six Row cup 36” Planter/Tare/Piler 1990 Milestone Utility Piler 16” DL 815 24” x 24’ reconditioned red Water Dammers 2006 Spudnik 8060 Cultv. Bed Shaper Diker 1991 Ag Engineering Four Row Hyd reset 1991 Ag Engineering 6 row hyd reset Shredder/Vine Beaters 2012 Newhouse P1952 Pull hitch Tire Roller 36” 2005 Alloway/Woods 6 row 1987 UFT 6 row pull hitch Warehouse/Packaging Tilt belt Warehouse Even flow 600cwt 8’6” x 26’ x 14’ 30” belt 230 V 3ph Odenburg Halo 2000 80” optical grader /rolling table 2011 Tong & Peel Roll Sizer 4 drop large volume, used gently 2012 Kwik Lok 865 Bag closer 2001 Tri Steel Conveyor 18” x 9’ 2013 Tri Steel Elev. Conv 12” x 21’ flights Miscellaneous John Deere 24’ Folding Drills 6”

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15


Plants That Fight Back WSU Researchers Join Forces to Combat Nematodes

R

oot-knot nematodes cause mammoth problems for Northwest farmers. But potatoes and other crops could gain a new, nature-based way to fight back, thanks to research at Washington State University (WSU). Nematodes cause billions of dollars in crop losses nationwide every year. In Washington, they cause significant losses to crops such as onions, garlic and the state’s $734 million potato industry. The soil-borne parasites move into the roots of crops and feed on plants, stealing nutrients and water. Nematodes don’t kill the plants, but they leave them stunted, wilted from lack of water, and more susceptible to other pathogens, ultimately reducing crop yield. “Plants don’t have many natural resistances to root-knot nematodes, so we need a way to combat them,” says WSU plant pathologist Cynthia Gleason. “There aren’t many chemical options left, and they’re very expensive. I’m looking for new, chemical-free controls that help growers move on.” Gleason is using a $47,400 Emerging Research Issues grant from WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences Office of Research to

Jennifer Watts, a researcher with WSU’s School of Molecular Biosciences, is helping introduce genes into plants to secrete a fatty acid that stops the nematode reproductive cycle. Photo courtesy WSU

seek genetic defenses that help potatoes fight back against the persistent pest. “I’m developing plants that are basically toxic to nematodes,” she explains.

Partnering with Jennifer Watts, a researcher with WSU’s School of Molecular Biosciences, Gleason is adding genes that tell plants to secrete a specific fatty acid that stops the nematode reproductive cycle. Watts and her team of student researchers discovered that a certain fatty acid, referred to as DGLA (20:3n-6), stops egg production in a cousin species of the root-knot nematode. “These fatty acids aren’t normally produced in plant tissue,” Watts says. “My team and I are working with Cynthia to introduce genes into plants so they can make them. If it works, it could be a new, chemical-free method to control nematodes.” While the fatty acid is not known to be toxic to people or animals at low levels, the researchers plan to only express it in cover crops and plant tissues that aren’t normally eaten. Gleason says that growers could one day plant a seed that grows into a cover or cash crop with its own natural pest control. As nematodes feed on the plants, their populations will fall, leading to healthier plants, bigger crops and an improved food supply.

Plant pathologist Cynthia Gleason works with experimental plants in a WSU greenhouse as part of her research to combat root-knot nematodes. Photo by Seth Truscott, WSU

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The Pocket Pitter is the latest addition to the Dammer Diker line of reservoir tillage equipment. The Pocket Pitter was developed for onions and narrow row crops, or bedded crops, but has been used with excellent results in not only onions but also in beans, grass seed, peas, wheat, greens, sugar beets, garlic, corn and potatoes. The Pocket Pitter uses a five-spoke wheel with heavy castings to create a reservoir, or narrow slice, 18 inches long between the rows, or on top of the bed. The advantage, besides creating a water holding reservoir, is that there is very little soil disturbance as the wheel rolls between the rows of plants. The Pocket Pitter is designed for long life with minimal maintenance requirements.

All Star Manufacturing & Design LLC

www.allstarmfgllc.com

Better Built Potato Seed Treater

The Better Built liquid and powder combination potato seed treater has been improved for the 2019 potato season. By taking the guesswork out of mixing slurry, the new design allows the user to set the desired rate, and the treater will adjust the slurry to the proper amount to be applied to the cut seed. This eliminates the requirement of an agitation mixing tank.

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Potato Country

November 2018


Lockwood

www.lockwoodmfg.com 606 Air Cup Series Planter

Lockwood’s 606 Air Cup Series planter is built to improve productivity. It includes an oversized hopper to allow more acres to be planted in one pass, as well as a hydraulic drive that is radar-controlled for seed planting accuracy. A 30-inch vacuum wheel allows for increased planting speed, combined with sensors to enhance the performance of the vacuum wheel. Rounding out this model are steerable axles with GPS capabilities for ease of operation in the field.

Harriston Industries

www.harriston-mayo.com Clamp Planter

The Harriston Clamp Planter is a lowmaintenance machine built to provide exceptional quality, reliability and accuracy. The planter’s positive seed clamping action greatly reduces skips and assures accurate seed placement. The specially designed shoe allows some loose soil into the furrow to prevent seed roll, which helps maintain accuracy at greater planting speeds. The Harriston hydraulic drive has many features including easy, on-the-fly seed spacing adjustments, seed bowl height control and planting efficiency stats all from inside the tractor cab.

PotatoCountry.com

19


planting Essentials

Milestone

www.milestone-equipment.com 84-D Potato Seed Cutter

The 84-D potato seed cutter is the newest addition to Milestone’s cutter lineup and represents the company’s ultimate example of capacity, technology and raw performance. The 84-inch cutter runs at 650 cwt per hour and is manufactured with new materials and systems. The cutter uses high-grade belting for improved tracking and wear, a poly belt drive for quiet operation and stainless steel blades for a cleaner cut. Milestone’s Quick Adjust Sizing System and Sizing Star provide easy adjustments, accurate sizing and gentle handling.

Spudnik

www.spudnik.com Foldable 12-Row Potato Planter

Spudnik Equipment has released a new foldable, 12-row potato planter. When transporting, the operator can fold the machine to the width of a six-row planter in less than one minute. The axle allows the machine to be transported on the road at up to 20 miles per hour. Unfolded, the machine balances on a sixrow frame. Sensors control the three-row decks, which follow the contour of the ground, floating on each side of the frame. With the 12-row planter, one operator can plant twice as much as a six-row planter, reducing headland turnaround time, as well as passes through the field.

20

Potato Country

November 2018


Alberta seed potatoes are the best you can buy.

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MANHATTAN Seed Potato Growers Family Operations Committed to the Highest Standards in the Industry  Isolation Ideal for Insect Control  All Seed Summer and Southern Tested for Virus  Excellent Quality Controlled by Rigid Rouging and Sanitation Practices  Many Varieties Available with Good Readings  Top Yields and Tuber Uniformity from Years of Line Selecting  2016 Late Blight-Free Potatoes Eugene Cole Bill Cole Glenn & Vern Droge Dan Dyk Doug Dyk TRB Dykema Foth Farms Sid & Tim Kamps Bill & Scott Kimm

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Dan Kimm Kimm Bros. London Hills Farm Schutter Seed Farm Skinner Spuds VanDyke Farms NW Spring Creek Farms Brian Weidenaar White’s Potato Farm, Inc.

406-282-7519 406-284-3378 406-581-7567 406-284-3718 406-388-4609 406-282-7983 406-284-4233 406-282-7931 406-284-6075

www.manhattanseedspuds.com PotatoCountry.com

21


National Potato Council

Can the New NAFTA Set a New Tone on Trade? By Kam Quarles, NPC Vice President of Public Policy

O

f all the policies by the new administration, trade has caused the most concern for agriculture. Regulatory reform has been positive. Changes in the tax code have been wellreceived. Science-based decisions in regulating crop protection tools were applauded. Yet the trade agenda has been a notable outlier. The reasons for those concerns were well-founded. Retaliatory tariffs against U.S. agricultural exports have continued to rise as the administration doubled down on steel and aluminum tariffs and Section 301 tariffs against Chinese products. Substantial export benefits

22

Potato Country

November 2018

for U.S. agriculture were lost when the administration abandoned the TransPacific Partnership (TPP). When rumors swirled that the U.S. would also pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the potential cumulative loss of so many export opportunities in such a short period of time could not be ignored. Together, NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico comprise roughly $575 million in exports for the potato industry and are the second and third largest export markets, respectively. Therefore, the industry was extremely focused on ensuring that NAFTA’s benefits remained in place. Could improvements be made in a 25-year-old agreement? Absolutely. Just don’t lose the valuable ones already in our possession.

First, Mexico announced that it had agreed to a revised deal, but Canada was nowhere to be found. It appeared that issues over dairy might mean only two of the three members of NAFTA would remain in a new agreement. Then in the eleventh hour, Canada was finally able to come to terms, and the new U.S.-MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA) was unveiled. Within the agreement are some positives for the industry. It includes new provisions that limit countries’ ability to impose trade barriers based upon pest and disease issues that lack scientific foundation. This “SPS+” section was originally created under the TPP and would have applied to all countries under that agreement. It is extremely beneficial that it has survived in this new deal and


hopefully will serve as a template for the future. Two outstanding issues remain to be resolved outside of the new agreement. First, Mexico has raised tariffs on U.S. frozen fries from the 0 percent duty under NAFTA to 20 percent. These are retaliation for the tariffs the U.S. imposed against Mexican steel and aluminum. The new agreement does not solve this issue, so those 20 percent tariffs will remain on until a separate resolution is found. The second unresolved issue involves the lack of fresh potato market access to Mexico. That access is currently tied up in litigation in the Mexican court system and is therefore outside the bounds of the new USMCA. In all, this revised agreement makes good on the administration’s promise to renegotiate NAFTA. In accomplishing that goal, it may provide a new tone and renewed optimism that additional trade benefits can be achieved with Japan, the European Union, China or other valuable trading partners.

R ITE T RACE Advanced Track & Trace System

Tracks from known locations in the field to precise layers and areas in storage

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Fully-automated traceability solution. Generates detailed Field and Bin Maps. Click on loads to pop up details and reports. n Provides clear links between field and storage g track quality characteristics and provide transparency to buyers and processors. n Provides data for efficiency analyses and a variety of management reports. n

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519-669-4698•greentronics.com PotatoCountry.com 23


Insect Biology Quiz Dr. Andy Jensen

In school, most of us liked tests with “true or false” answers. So, let’s have an easy quiz this month of “true or false” questions.

A

This material is provided courtesy of Andy Jensen, Ph.D., Manager of the Northwest Potato Research Consortium. For more information, visit www.nwpotatoresearch.com.

B

B. True or False: Some aphids don’t like ants to tend them.

A. True or False: Almost all moths caught in tuberworm traps are tuberworm.

C

C. True or False: Stink bugs in potato fields are always pests. 24

Potato Country

November 2018

D

D. True or False: Yellow pan traps catch all kinds of aphids equally well. ANSWERS, PAGE 28


Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho. He can be contacted by phone: (208) 531-5124; cell: (208) 431-4420; jeff@millerresearch.com

Dr. Jeff Miller

A

B 1. As you are walking through your lush potato field one summer, you see plants with wilted upper stems (Photo A). What could be causing this wilt? 2. When you pull back the vines, you see a brownish gray structure that looks like it has small eggs inside (Photo B). Should you be worried about this structure?

C

3. As you look a little more, you see these light yellow to orange funnel-like structures (Photo C). Should you be worried about these? 4. You see some dead leaves lying on top of a healthy stem. When you pull the leaves off the stem, you see the lesion shown in Photo D. What is causing this?

D

5. You see white growth at the base of one potato stem (Photo E). Is this more of the same disease?

E

6. You then find an older lesion near the base of the wilting plants. When you grab the stem, it appears brittle and breaks open, revealing a hard, black structure which looks like a mouse dropping. What is that?

F

ANSWERS, PAGE 26

PotatoCountry.com

25


In the News

Lender Predicts Profits

Northwest Farm Credit Services’ 12-month outlook suggests grower returns will remain slightly profitable for uncontracted potatoes and profitable for contracted potatoes. Fresh market potatoes may slip toward breakeven during harvest; however, prices will likely improve for the remainder of the marketing season depending on crop quality and pack-out. Drivers for the potato industry include tight supply, international production and trade. Smoke from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest likely contributed to potato yield variation. In addition, the USDA’s September forecast showed fewer harvest acres nationally. International production is marked by lower yields in Europe and Canada.

Potatoes USA Expands Marketing Team Potatoes USA has hired Erena Connon as a new assistant global marketing manager supporting the ingredient, school foodservice and nutrition marketing programs. Connon brings strong digital marketing knowledge to Potatoes USA and has a master’s degree in marketing.

See the Online Seed Directory

at: PotatoCountry.com/seed-directory

26

Potato Country

November 2018

Washington Researchers Garner Grants

The USDA awarded more than $600,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants to three potato research projects in Washington. Kiwamu Tanaka with Washington State University (WSU) received $249,414 to develop a method to simultaneously detect multiple potato pathogens in potato tissue or soil. The method would streamline pathogen detection and would benefit seedpotato certification, enhance trade and allow pre-plant assessments of potato fields. Rodney Cooper with the USDA-ARS was awarded $215,538 to study the feeding history of potato psyllids and their status as carriers of the zebra chip pathogen. This will lead to the identification of plant species that support the pathogen and act as point-sources for outbreaks in potato fields. WSU’s Steven Seefeldt received $137,128 to investigate the life histories and ecology of four annual wild buckwheat species in western Washington that are detrimental to potatoes. The goal is to discover aspects of the biology of these plants that can be targeted through integrated pest management strategies to improve control.

Know Your Disease Answers (from page 25)

1. Aerial stem rot, Rhizoctonia canker and white mold are all possible candidates for this type of wilt. In this case, the culprit is white mold. 2. No reason to be worried about seeing this. This is the bird’s nest fungus (Nidulariaceae family of fungi). These fungi are saprophytes, meaning they feed on dead, decaying organic matter. This fungus does not cause harm to the potato. 3. You do have reason to worry about this. These are apothecia of the white mold fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. These apothecia can release over 8,000,000 spores! Spores can land on flowers or other potato tissues. 4. This is a white mold lesion. When potato tissues, such as flowers or leaves, infested with spores fall from the plant and begin to decay, the spores germinate and white mycelial growth begins to develop. The mycelia can grow into healthy, living plant tissue, resulting in a lesion like that shown in Photo D. An example of the white mold fungus growing on decaying tissue can be seen on the flower blossoms just above the bird’s nest fungus in Photo B. 5. This is growth of the fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris. This is the sexual stage of Rhizoctonia solani, the fungus that causes Rhizoctonia canker and tuber black scurf. This symptom is not related to white mold. 6. This structure is a sclerotium (the singular form of sclerotia) of the white mold fungus. These structures are hardened masses of fungal growth which fall into the soil as the potato vines decay. Sclerotia can produce the apothecia shown in Photo C or germinate directly and infect plant tissue near the soil line.


US Potato Export Value Sets Record

The value of U.S. potato and potato product exports reached $1.8 billion for the July 2017-June 2018 marketing year. That’s the highest ever for the U.S. and an increase of 2.37 percent compared to the previous marketing year. The biggest gain came in fresh exports, up 8.5 percent, with dehy up 6 percent and frozen up 1.8 percent. The only decline was a drop of 4 percent in the value of chip exports. However, the fresh weight equivalent volume of exports declined by 0.86 percent to 3,246,830 metric tons or 71.6 million hundredweight. This represents approximately 20 percent of total U.S. potato production for the marketing year. The only products to show export volume increases were dehydrated potatoes and seed potatoes, each up 2 percent. The fresh potatoes category, which includes table-stock and chip-stock, had the steepest decline at 7 percent. Frozen export volume was down just 0.1 percent. Figures are compiled by Trade Stats Northwest.

Oregon Potato Commission Seeks Director

The Oregon Potato Commission (OPC) is accepting applications for an executive director. The new hire will replace Bill Brewer, OPC president and CEO. The executive director will work on industry relations, planning, marketing, communication, administrative and fiscal matters. Handling international trade issues and communicating with growers are very important parts of the job, Brewer says. A detailed job description is available by visiting www.oregonspuds.com and clicking on “Director Recruitment.” Brewer is retiring in June 2019 after 14 years in the position and a previous 30 years growing potatoes. Brewer wants to spend more time with his grandkids and is optimistic that a talented individual will fill his shoes at the OPC and take the commission in a positive direction.

Generation 3 Certified Seed Potatoes Burbank • Shepody • Norkotah 296

Convenient Location

Situated along I-84 in Northeast Oregon Save on freight with La Grande’s easily accessible location 2 hours to Caldwell, Idaho 2 hours to the Tri-Cities in Washington

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Grown in the isolated Grande Ronde Valley Grown in accordance with Oregon’s strict seed standards

lanefarms.com Rob Lane

Cell: 541-786-LANE (5263) Fax: 541-963-9737 PotatoCountry.com

27


Growing Quality Seed For 50 Years!

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 24)

A. False. In the Northwest, tuberworm pheromone lures attract many native species that are not pests of potato. This is different from most other parts of the world where tuberworm lures more reliably capture only tuberworm. Therefore, we need to know how to recognize tuberworm among all its native relatives. Left to right: Sid, John, Jonathan, Carl, Nick and Cliff.

LINE Selected: Russet Burbank, Umatilla, Teton Russet, Dakota Russet, Clearwater

 Derived

from Meristem Culture Uniform and High Producers  Rigid Sanitation Program in Field and Storage  Long Rotations on Isolated Fields  Modern Air and Humidity Control in All Storages  All available Seed Generation II & Generation III  A beautiful, smooth crop  Very

SCHUTTER SEED FARM 25 Wytana Rd., Manhattan, MT 59741 Sid: (406) 539-6478  John: (406) 580-6446 Nick: (406) 539-6125  Cliff: (406) 580-6818

B. True. Many species of aphids will not accept ants tending them; they fight them off and don’t feed the ants honeydew. C. False. Some stink bugs, such as the one pictured (a Perillus adult), are predators of other insects. Perillus are good predators of Colorado potato beetle. D. False. Some aphid species are far more attracted to yellow than others. This is one of the reasons that monitoring aphid flights with yellow traps is problematic.

Calendar Nov. 7-8

Jan. 22-24

Holiday Inn Missoula, Mont. MSU Potato Lab, (406) 994-3150

Pond Student Union Building and Holt Arena Pocatello, Idaho Contact Jill Randall, jillr@uidaho.edu

Montana Seed Potato Seminar

Nov. 14-15

Jan. 23-25

Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, Wash. Sheri Nolan, (509) 585-5460 or www.pnva.org

Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, Wash. www.potatoconference.com

Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show

2019

Potato D.C. Fly-in

Potato Expo 2019

Austin Convention Center Austin, Texas www.potato-expo.com

Jan. 11

NPC 2019 Annual Meeting

Hilton Austin Austin, Texas Hillary Hutchins, hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org Potato Country

Washington-Oregon Potato Conference

Feb. 25-28

Jan. 9-10

28

Idaho Potato Conference and Ag Expo

November 2018

Capital Hilton Washington, DC Hillary Hutchins, hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org Editor’s note:To have your event listed, please email Denise Keller at editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com. Please send your information 90 days in advance.


2019 University of Idaho Potato Conference

40 th Annu Eastern Id al aho Ag Expo AG EXPO

Holt Arena January 22-24, 2019

Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Trade Show and 51st Annual University of Idaho Potato Conference

ISU Pond Student Union Building

Canela Russet Mesa Russet Rio Grande Russet Colorado Rose

Russet Norkotah 3 Purple Majesty Russet Norkotah 8 Mountain Rose

www.coloradocertifiedpotatogrowers.com

January 23-24, 2019

Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to noon For more information call: 208-529-8376 Toll Free: 800-635-2274 Fax: 208-522-2954

Sponsored by:

To sponsor or participate in

www.ThePotatoPodcast.com Contact dave@PotatoCountry.com

PotatoCountry.com

29


Fighting Fungus

Development, Management of Verticillium Wilt in Potato By Dennis A. Johnson and David Wheeler, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University

If

Microsclerotia of Verticillium dahliae shown as tiny black spots on five stems of mustard collected from a field near Moses Lake, Wash. Photo courtesy David Wheeler, WSU

SKINNER SPUDS

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UNIFORM 2018 CROP

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ALL SEED WINTER TESTED

Bill 406-581-1783

HISTORY OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS

Clark 406-579-5198

IT ALL ADDS UP THE SAME!

Skinner Spuds, Inc 8250 Dry Creek Road Belgrade, MT 59714 email: skinnerspuds@gmail.com · fax: 406-388-6673 30

Potato Country

November 2018

rates of disease development were compared for plants and humans, late blight and cholera would be similar in that the pathogens of both diseases rapidly infect and kill their hosts; whereas, with Verticillium wilt and aggressive forms of cancer, the host is killed relatively slowly. Potato plants infected with the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahlia become chlorotic, necrotic and then die prematurely. Initial inoculum of the V. dahliae are microsclerotia that survive in soil. Microsclerotia germinate in response to plant root exudates after which hyphae colonize the root surface and cortex. The pathogen then penetrates the stele and invades the xylem (water conducting tissues), where the fungus produces conidia which are systemically translocated through the vascular system of susceptible hosts. Disease symptoms develop as the xylem becomes dysfunctional. Microsclerotia form in colonized host tissue during plant death and contribute to future inoculum levels when incorporated into the soil, where they can persist 10 or more years. More than 90,000 microsclerotia can be introduced into soil by a single infected potato stem of a susceptible cultivar. More microsclerotia are produced and turned to the soil from susceptible than moderately resistant potato cultivars. Microsclerotia are then distributed throughout a field with the movement of colonized host debris by soil cultivation. Verticillium dahliae can be transported long distances in infected certified seed tubers used for planting and in infested soil accompanying tuber transport. Soil associated with seed tubers (tare dirt) was found to be infested with V. dahliae in over


82 percent of seed lots sampled in 2009 to 2011. Additionally, infested tare dirt was shown to be important for infecting plants in the field, especially when levels of the fungus were originally low in field soil. Seed tubers can be internally infected with V. dahliae, but such infections generally do not result in severe expressions of the disease. The importance of tuber-borne inoculum is that the pathogen, or a particular strain of the pathogen, can be transmitted to stems and introduced into soils not previously used to grow potatoes or where a management practice such as fumigation has been applied to reduce soil-borne inoculum. Verticillium dahliae has a broad host range on which disease symptoms are produced. A degree of host adaptation occurs, with some isolates exhibiting different levels of aggressiveness depending on the host species and sometimes cultivar within a species. Some plant species, depending of the strain of V. dahliae, support cryptic systematic infections (no symptom expression) and are termed asymptomatic hosts. Several mustards, Austrian winter peas, sweet corn, cereal crops, sudangrass and some weed species are asymptomatic hosts. However, the level of vascular colonization and microsclerotia development varies according to fungus strain and host species. Microsclerotia produced on roots and in stems of asymptomatic hosts are potentially a means of pathogen replenishment and prolonged persistence in soil. However, parasitic colonization of asymptomatic hosts by V. dahliae was not a significant survival mechanism under field conditions in a previous study.

severity is reduced in the current crop, and the amount of inoculum returned to the soil is reduced for subsequent crops. Expression of resistance is influenced by environmental factors, and resistant cultivars can become infected and show wilt symptoms when planted in soils with high inoculum levels. Resistant cultivars will continue to restrict colonization during this later stage of crop development. Wilt resistance needs to be incorporated into more commercially viable cultivars. Partially resistant cultivars that have been developed and commercially grown

include Alpha, Alturas, Bannock Russet, CalWhite, Centennial Russet, Chipeta, Clearwater Russet, Gemchip, Goldrush, Legend, Ranger Russet, Russet Nugget, Umatilla Russet and Western Russet. Bannock Russet tubers are very susceptible to Phytophthora infestans (late blight), hollow heart and shatter bruise, so the cultivar has not gained acceptance. Western Russet is very susceptible to Alternaria solani (early blight). This illustrates that new resistant cultivars must also have acceptable agronomic traits with no major defects.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC MASTER POTATO BALER

Management Strategies

A management strategy for Verticillium wilt should focus on reducing initial inoculum levels in soils. Practices should be implemented to prevent the introduction of the pathogen to areas where the pathogen population is below the action threshold, such as fields where potatoes have not been previously grown or where sanitation practices such as soil fumigation have reduced initial inoculum to below thresholds. Host resistance restricts infection, vascular colonization and subsequent microsclerotia formation. Disease PotatoCountry.com

31


Fighting Fungus

Leaves of a Russet Norkotah plant show interveinal chlorosis and necrosis caused by Verticillium dahliae.

A challenge to potato improvement programs is to replace cultivars that are highly susceptible to Verticillium wilt, such as Russet Norkotah, Gem Russet, Russet Burbank and Shepody. The repeated cropping of susceptible and especially very susceptible potato cultivars has increased inoculum levels of both V. dahliae in soil with subsequent increased incidence of Verticillium wilt symptoms in commercial fields. Additionally, tolerant cultivars such as Kennebec may provide desirable yields in the short term, but will contribute to inoculum levels and subsequent wilt symptoms over the long term. Soil fumigation with efficacious materials can effectively reduce viability of microsclerotia in soil. This results in

• Ranger Russets

Upright, necrotic stems of Russet Norkotah potato plants show advanced Verticillium wilt symptoms.

Burbank

Pat & Neil Fleming • Pablo, MT 59855 (406) 675-8620 • (406) 253-2365

Potato Country

crop species, pathogen populations and environmental conditions that promote suppression. Additionally, several green manure crops can be asymptomatically infected with V. dahliae and produce numerous microsclerotia. However, Verticillium wilt may not be severe in subsequent potato crops with such rotations. Explanations are that relatively high numbers of microsclerotia may not develop in green manure crops because of their relatively short fall-growing season with late cool temperatures. The population structure of V. dahliae may also change in the soil due to green manures, and non-aggressive strains associated with selected rotation crops may provide cross protection against the more aggressive strains. Nevertheless, green manures are successfully used in some locations in the Columbia Basin where mustard is double cropped after wheat during the relatively long growing season for that region.

• Russet

Virus TESTED • Generation III Since 1952

32

a delay of wilt development, but has no effect on rate of disease development. Soil fumigation is costly and subject to future governmental restrictions. The method of application of fumigants must place the active ingredient at the desired depth in the soil profile for the duration required to kill microsclerotia. While soil fumigation with an effective fumigant provides adequate control for the current growing season, generally not all of the soil-borne inoculum is eliminated, so some plants still become infected and build up inoculum for future crops. After fumigation, precautions must be taken to not re-infest the field with the pathogen. The effects of soil fumigation may be negated by several asymptomatic weeds such as black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) that produce numerous microsclerotia that survive and serve as future sources of infection. Other susceptible weeds include wild oats (Avena fatua), Chenopodium album L., Capsella bursa-pastoris and Taraxacum spp. Rotations with susceptible solanaceous crops such as eggplant and susceptible tomato cultivars should be avoided. The effects of soil fumigation with metam sodium can be simulated by the incorporation of green manures (i.e. biofumigation) into soil before planting potatoes. Green manures can be effective in reducing wilt symptoms in subsequent potato crops; however, despite the potential of green manures for disease suppression, there is considerable variability observed under field conditions. This variability is likely due to differences in green manure

November 2018

Clearwater


New Products

Lindsay Launches Pair of Products

Lindsay Corporation has developed two products built to improve efficiency and boost yields. The new Zimmatic Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) has new software, a new controller and a larger 5.7-inch color touchscreen designed for quick set-up and easy-to-understand monitoring. The new VFD is fully integrated into the FieldNET remote telemetry platform, giving growers the ability to monitor and control it offsite. The NFTrax 2.0 is an updated airless wheel assembly that will never go flat and keeps wheel ruts to a minimum, according to the company. Built with maximum flexibility, it has a heavy-duty vulcanized rubber belt with a steel cable core tensioned over 10 newly designed, winged drive points meant to apply even pressure across the entire belt surface. This forms a larger surface area to evenly distribute the machine’s weight, resulting in improved performance over varying terrain and field features, according to Lindsay. The company also plans to make available an optional new tread pattern for NFTrax 2.0. With an aggressive, alternating tread, the Z-Tread is designed for areas where more traction is required such as slopes, low spots or areas with slick, clay-based soil. Visit www.Zimmatic.com.

Fluid Injection System Enters the Market

Reflex Connect, a new product from Agri-Inject, provides programmable variable rate application of fertilizers and ag chemicals through center pivot, lateral move and drip irrigation systems. Features include remote control, realtime monitoring and alerts, and detailed charts and reports available through any smart device. Operators can use the web interface to change the chemical injection rate, and set alarms including set-points, system shutdown values and notification targets. Users can also monitor chemical flow, chemical pressure and irrigation water flow. Reflex Connect automatically adjusts injection rates to ensure proper fertilizer dosing, compensating for extending corner spans, changes in pivot speed or variable prescription rates. Visit www.agri-inject.com.

Simon Says Soil Steamer Increases Efficiency Simon is stepping up marketing efforts for its new range of soil steam disinfection machines. The company is recommending its Steam’R line for use in any crop, including potatoes, especially in organic production. The Steam’R machine is described as being equipped with the latest generation boilers, combining thermal performance with high efficiency. This is due to the use of superheated steam, which optimizes transport of the steam to the steam plates without resulting in excessive fuel consumption, according to the manufacturer. The design of the steam plates is said to ensure optimal distribution of steam across the entire surface and depth of the area to be treated. The Steam’R has a small turning radius. It also stops automatically when the job is done or when a problem is detected. Visit www.machines-simon.com.

Do YOU Have Enough Dikers?

www.DammerDiker.com

Ag Engineering • 509-582-8900 PotatoCountry.com

33


Market Report

Supply Imbalances Create Potato U

ncertainty is increasing as the potato marketing season progresses. As we go to press, harvest activity is peaking across North America and Europe. The production outlook is becoming clearer, though there are concerns that growers in some areas may have difficulty getting crops under cover before winter weather sets in. What is becoming clear is that some parts of the country have excellent crops, while other growing areas face disasters. There seems to be very little middle ground. The variability of this year’s potato crops is creating major challenges, both geographically and by industry sector. In this article, we outline issues and challenges that had surfaced by Oct. 1, both for North America and globally.

North American Production Storage crops in Idaho, Colorado, Oregon and Texas are likely to set yield records. Washington also is producing a large crop, though yields may fall short of that state’s record. Processing and handling capacity should be sufficient to utilize crops in the Columbia Basin, but growers in Idaho, Colorado and Texas may have difficulty moving table potatoes at profitable levels, unless they can find alternative markets for this year’s crop. Idaho’s processing capacity will be maxed out, as fryers and dehydrators move to cover both domestic and export requirements to the best of their ability.

Packers have more than enough capacity to handle the available supply of table potatoes, but early shipments have been overrunning demand. There currently is an imbalance between supplies of smaller potatoes, usually sold through retail chains, and larger sizes that typically are packaged in count cartons and sold primarily to foodservice customers. Cartons typically sell for a premium, relative to consumer packs. However, by the beginning of October this year, there was no difference between Idaho prices for consumer bags and prices for 40-70 count Russet Norkotahs. In addition, grower returns on open potatoes had fallen short of the cost of production. Wisconsin sits on the other end of the spectrum. That state has experienced a series of disasters since a late start to the 2018 growing season. Heavy rains throughout the growing season leached out nutrients from the soil and drowned out low spots in fields. Most of the state’s potato fields received a minimum of 6 inches of water between the middle of August and early September. When the rains stopped, unseasonably warm weather slowed harvest through much of September. The weather has cooled down, but the rains have returned. Growers will need at least a month of open weather to get crops under cover. Yields will be down 5 to10 percent, or more, from last year. Storing the potatoes that growers manage to harvest will be challenging. The wet weather challenges started with crops in Missouri and North Carolina. Other areas that have faced challenges with too much water include Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania. Crops in Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota appear to be in better condition, NEW/USED WALK-IN COOLER-FREEZER REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS HUGE INVENToRy-All SIZES BUy  SEll  NATIoNwIDE 

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Potato Country

November 2018

though harvest is running behind usual, which is raising concerns in those states. Canadian crops also face numerous challenges. Local observers on Prince Edward Island indicate that a Sept. 24 frost killed vines on a large portion of this year’s potato crop two to three weeks earlier than usual. The crop went in late. Full-season varieties did not have an opportunity to bulk up. Yields in much of the remainder of the country are likely to be down from last year’s levels. Manitoba growers still had almost 50 percent of their crop left in the ground on Oct. 1. It appears that the remainder of that crop will be harvested in cold weather, which is likely to result in excessive bruising. In addition, the potatoes are likely to be off-color and in need of reconditioning.

European Production

Production estimates for Europe vary widely, but none of them are very good. The North-Western European Potato Growers Foundation (NEPG) pegs the “consumption” harvest in its five member countries, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain, at 18 percent below the 2017 crop. NEPG also reports that quality issues, including low solids and secondary growth, will further reduce supplies of usable potatoes. The organization indicates that processors and handlers are modifying quality standards in order to utilize as much of the crop as possible. Other sources are not as optimistic as NEPG. Germany is forecasting a 25.4 percent drop in its total potato production. Belgian growers have delayed harvest in hopes that crops will bulk up. There is no official yield estimate yet, but yields could be off by 25 to 30 percent, with quality issues reducing usable supplies even more. Problems in the Netherlands are similar to those in Belgium, but not as severe. Growers in France planted more potatoes this year than last year, but the government says yields will be down 8 percent. Private estimates put French yields 15 percent


Market Uncertainty below average. The UK has not issued an official forecast, but growers have held back on harvest, in hopes that crops will bulk up more, with mixed results. Irrigated crops seem to be in good condition, but non-irrigated potatoes are having serious problems with secondary growth and low solids. Poland does not belong to NEPG, but it is a major French fry exporter and often has been a source of raw product for other countries when Europe has had problems in the past. The government is forecasting an 18.9 percent drop in Poland’s 2018 potato crop.

Market Uncertainties

The European situation will complicate North American potato markets. European fryers are hoping to cover 90 percent of customer needs by reducing quality standards and pulling potatoes away from other uses, including table potatoes, dehydration and starch production. They are unlikely to take on any new business. In addition to the obvious implications for export demand, the U.S. imported the raw product equivalent of 2 to 3 million cwt of EU potatoes in the form of potato flakes, about 2 million cwt as French fries and over 11 million cwt as potato starch last year. Much of that product will need to be replaced with North American potatoes this year. However, potato starch production capacity in North America is extremely limited. A lack of starch imports could create problems for production of coated French fries. North America’s French fry production capacity is likely to be another constraint on potato usage. Processing plants in the Pacific Northwest are likely to run at, or beyond, their design capacity. Raw product supplies may constrain usage in other parts of North America unless the industry can find ways to economically move potatoes from where surpluses exist to where the processing capacity is located. Chip potato buyers are concerned about supply quantities, quality and storability

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

in Midwestern and Eastern growing areas. They will wait until they can get a full assessment of the 2018 crop before setting contract volumes, but they are likely to be looking for more potatoes in Florida, Texas and other early growing areas than they have contracted in several years. Overall, potato supplies in North

America and globally will be tight through the 2018-19 storage season. However, it appears that growers in several growing areas have more potatoes than they will be able to move through their normal market channels. The challenge will be to find ways to profitably move those potatoes to areas and uses where they are needed.

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS • Growers that face surplus local potato supplies need to explore opportunities to move those potatoes to locations where they are needed.

• Several growing areas in North America are expected to have a supply deficit this year. • Potato crops in Europe could be down 18 percent, or more, from 2017 production. • Quality issues could reduce usable supplies in North America and Europe beyond the drop in gross production. Editor’s note: To contact Mr. Huffaker, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: 2690 N. Rough Stone Way, Meridian, ID 83646; (208) 525-8397; or e-mail napmn@napmn.com.

PotatoCountry.com

35


Potatoes USA

Changing Perceptions of Potatoes Will Require Entire Industry By John Toaspern, Chief Marketing Officer, Potatoes USA

F

or years, the potato industry has been telling people why they can eat potatoes. Potatoes USA is now telling people why they should eat potatoes – because potatoes fuel performance. Most people don’t consider the potato a performance food and are surprised when they learn it is. That surprising truth is our big opportunity. Moving from “you can” to “you should” is a huge marketing shift for the industry that can fundamentally change how people perceive potatoes. Potatoes contain the complex carbohydrates, potassium and energy people need to perform at their best. Potatoes are a naturally nutrient-dense complex carbohydrate (26 gm/5.3 oz skin-on potato). Carbohydrate is the primary fuel for your brain and key source of energy for muscles. Potatoes with the skin on have more potassium (620 mg) than any of the other 20 top-selling fruits and vegetables including a medium-sized banana. Potassium is an important electrolyte that aids in muscle, cardiovascular and nervous system function.

Potatoes are more energy-packed than any other popular vegetable (110 calories). Potatoes also contain many other important nutrients that people need and athletes seek, including vitamin C (27 mg), fiber (2g) and protein (3g). The Potatoes USA performance strategy is coming to life in a new campaign that shows how potatoes fuel athletic performance and poses the question “What Are You Eating?” The campaign is based on the idea that beating your personal best isn’t just about how you train; it’s about what you eat. The campaign is designed to provoke a moment of re-evaluation among consumers with a clear message: “Potatoes. Real Food. Real Performance.” For the first year, the campaign will come to life through social media, digital advertising, influencer marketing and events such as the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon series and Shape America. At the core of this campaign is PotatoesFuelPerformance.com, a website dedicated to showcasing potatoes as performance fuel. The website provides valuable content including nutritional information, recipe and preparation inspiration, athletes who fuel with potatoes and more. Additionally, new social media sites have been created for both Facebook

and Instagram that will feature ongoing stories, athletes and updates. A very important focus of the campaign will be on nutrition professionals, from sports dieticians, to nutritionists, to coaches, to trainers and others who talk to athletes about what to eat. By getting these influencers to fully understand and believe in the performance power of potatoes, they will spread the word for us. But even with all of these efforts by Potatoes USA, the campaign will only be a complete success if every member of the industry gets involved. We need all companies to include messaging on how potatoes impact performance on their packaging, website, advertising, etc. We need industry members to sponsor events where they convey this new messaging to athletes and their friends and families. We need industry members to proudly wear “Potatoes. Real Food. Real Performance.” gear. We need you all to follow the campaign on social media and repost and forward to all of your friends and family. We need you to be talking about how potatoes fuel an active and healthy lifestyle and asking everyone you meet, “What Are You Eating?”

Online Resources

Via Potatoes USA’s industry campaign hub, industry members can:

• Download a variety of event-specific materials, including directions on getting involved with Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons and local events, with media tips and sampling guidelines • Request event supplies for loan, including branded pop-up tents, flags, retractable banners and tablecloths • Download campaign creative for advertising and posting • Purchase branded gear including baseball caps, shirts, water bottles and more • Learn about how the campaign is coming to life and the successes of other industry members • Access sign-up materials for Team Potato, a group made up of athletes who are dedicated to consuming potatoes to perform at their best To access the industry’s performance hub, visit http://growers.potatoesusa.com/what-are-you-eating. 36

Potato Country

November 2018


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Potato Growers of Washington

Quality Versus Quantity

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

A

s another potato harvest wraps up, we have time to reflect on the year and what we have learned. One thing that is abundantly clear is that Mother Nature is still the one in charge. The Columbia Basin had a significantly later than normal start to the planting season and later than normal emergence of the early-harvest portion of the crop. That was followed by nearly perfect growing conditions in May and June. In early July, as the first of the Shepody potatoes were being harvested, it looked like this may be one of, if not, the best crops we would ever harvest in the Columbia Basin. Then the heat and smoke hit, and each day it seemed like this great crop was being pulled back closer and closer to average. While the overall crop will come in very close to average, we have a much wider spectrum of yields and quality than we have seen in many years. Over the years, there has been relatively silent debate amongst growers regarding whether it’s better to have higher yield or higher quality. Obviously, everyone would like to see both yield and

quality above average, but that is rarely the case. The unique weather we have had this year gave us some pretty prime examples of which is better in terms of profitability when growing full-season variety potatoes under a processing contract. Multiple growers have told me that they had some of their highest yields ever on some varieties, but because the payable and some of the quality incentives are coming in lower than normal, they are not making any money on those fields. Conversely, some growers have been more than a little disappointed in their yields, but when all is said and done, they are making as much or more than normal on those fields because the payable and other quality attributes are above normal. This reinforces what we have been trying to say for many years: growers should focus on quality first and foremost. And by quality, I mean shooting for the max points in the contract, but not more. When a contract maxes out at 70 percent 6-ounce, for example, having 80-plus percent potatoes over 6 ounces does not pay any more per ton, but often that size profile will result in lower bruise-free numbers, less U.S. #1 percentage by weight and lower payables due to more internal defects.

I know that many of you are thinking that I am crazy because you cannot control the weather enough to get that exact in your planning. You are correct. However, there are times during the year that you do have decisions to make in regard to seed spacing, timing and amounts of nutrients applied and planting dates that directly indicate which outcome you are targeting. My point is to focus less on getting the best quality you can with the highest yield and focus more on getting the best yield you can with the highest quality. While those two statements appear to say the same thing, they actually are quite different. Quality should be your first focus when making decisions throughout the growing year. With our blessed growing conditions, yields vary only slightly from the average, but those growers who are consistently near the top of the matrix for quality at the processors are making the best returns. This has been a challenging year in many regards, but I commend all of you for meeting the challenges and showing the world that the Columbia Basin is still the best growing region in the world. Enjoy your time off this winter, and let’s have an even better crop year in 2019.

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WASHINGTON

Monday, January 21 1 p.m. - 4p.m.

Booth Move In

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Early Bird Reception, Spring Hill Suites

Tuesday, January 22 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Booth Move In

8:50 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Spanish Language Session

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Trade Show

1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Cultivar Performance Workshop

5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Trade Show Reception & Potato PAC Auction @ TRCC

Wednesday, January 23 7:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

7:50 a.m. - 11 a.m.

General Sessions

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Trade Show

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Ladies Program

11:00 a.m.

Keynote Address-Pablos Holman

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Hosted Potato Bar

1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

General Sessions

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Leadership Recognition Banquet @ TRCC

Thursday, January 24 7:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast General

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sessions

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Trade Show

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Hosted Lunch

1 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.

General Sessions

CONFERENCE

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