Potato Country December 2020

PotatoCountry.com • December 2020 • Western focus. National impact.

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MADE IN THE USA

Help Improve Next Year’s Potato Yield Potential Regardless of how high the yield potential or how pretty the potatoes, harvest is when we start thinking about making adjustments to raise crop potential higher.

If soil-borne diseases and Verticillium wilt were a challenge for you this year, Elatus® fungicide is a powerful product to consider for next year’s disease management program. Applied in-furrow at planting, Elatus protects the potential yield and quality of your potatoes by controlling soil-borne diseases, such as Rhizoctonia, and suppressing Verticillium. Along with excellent disease control, Elatus can help increase uniformity at emergence, enhance plant health and optimize tuber sizing and distribution. With two active ingredients, Solatenol® technology and azoxystrobin, Elatus offers longlasting residual control and built-in resistance management you can count on.

Providing Potato Solutions, All Season Long

Improve your 2021 potato quality and yield potential by starting with an in-furrow application of Elatus fungicide at planting.

From insect challenges to diseases and beyond, the Syngenta Spud Doctor program is here to help.

With unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products, growers can count on the Syngenta Spud Doctor for guidance from seed until storage.

Treated with Elatus

Untreated

K Buxton, USVF0F2002013

To learn more about the Syngenta Spud Doctor and the power of Elatus fungicide, visit SyngentaUS.com/SpudDoctor or use the QR code.

Photos are either the property of Syngenta or used under agreement.

Performance assessments are based upon results or analysis of public information, field observations and/or internal Syngenta evaluations. Trials reflect treatment rates commonly recommended in the marketplace.

Product performance assumes disease presence. ©2020 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status.

Syngenta supports a FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendation for suppression of Verticillium Wilt on potatoes in AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, MW 0ELA02561-Elatus-AG66 11/20 UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY. Elatus,® Solatenol® and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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

Vol. 36 No. 8

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

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

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

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

Andy Jensen.......................................... www.nwpotatoresearch.com

December 2020

Insect Identification

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

Bruce Huffaker ................................................. napmn@napmn.com

6 2021 Buyers' Guide 24 It’s in the Genes

Market Report

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

Potato Growers of Washington

Research at OSU Seeks to Provide PVY Solutions

26 Five Minutes With‌

The Spud Doctor, Kiran Shetty, Syngenta Technical Development Lead for Potatoes

28 Metam Movement

40,000 Soil Readings, Five Takeaway Insights

34 Interchangeable?

Market Report

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.

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.

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 In It for the Long Haul

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

Potatoes USA

Copyright 2020. 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.

Editorial Board

Gary Roth

Chris Voigt

Kiran Shetty examines potatoes at a Syngenta trial plot in Ephrata, Wash.

Spend five minutes with the Spud Doctor on page 26.

Photo courtesy Syngenta

On The Cover The 2021 Buyers' Guide will give you choices in crop inputs, equipment, parts, potato seed, storage and more.This list is by no means comprehensive, but provides enough contacts to get any job done.

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(509) 765-8845

(503) 239-4763

Departments 30 31 32 38

Calendar New Products In the News PGW Column

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

President/CEO

President/CEO

See guide starting on page 6.

4

Potato Country

December 2020

(406) 994-3150

(208) 334-2350

(719) 852-3322

Who You Calling A Side Dish

idahopotato.com

With so many people stuck at home and stocking up on Idaho® Potatoes these days, it’s only natural they’d be looking for interesting new ways to serve them.

So now, we’re giving them some.

Our new national TV commercial moves our potatoes to the center of the plate and

provides consumers with inspiration for a whole new way to serve them—as the main course. Look for the spot airing on stations including CNN, Fox News, The Food Network, Headline News, Hallmark and more. And help spread the word.

Idaho® Potatoes—they’re more than just a side dish.

2021 Buyers’ Guide T

here are a lot of moving parts involved in growing and marketing a potato crop - from needing the right products to protect your crop from pests and pathogens to having the right equipment to efficiently navigate the season.

For most growers, packers and shippers, this translates into a constant to-do list, shopping list and wish list.

Whether your list has you searching for a new harvester or just some innovative irrigation equipment, you’ll find an extensive list of suppliers in Potato Country’s 2021 Buyers’ Guide. Think of the following pages as your rolodex of resources available to help you enjoy a successful season, from seed to storage.

CROP INPUTS...... 7-8

Fertilizers and Growth Promoters Fungicides Herbicides Insecticides/Pesticides/Fumigants Nematicides

EQUIPMENT ........ 10-12 Bagging/Packaging Harvesters/Harvesting Planters/Planting Scales/Weighing Seed Cutters and Seed Treaters Tillage Trailers Used Equipment

MISCELLANEOUS .13 Fabrication/Millwright Consulting Labs Irrigation

PARTS .................. 14 Belting/Chain Wear Parts

SEED .................... 15-19 STORAGE ............. 20-22 Bins Chemicals for Storage Construction Dehumidifying Equipment Refrigeration & Cooling Temperature Monitoring Ventilation/Humidification

6

Potato Country

December 2020

CROP INPUTS FERTILIZERS & GROWTH PROMOTERS AgroLiquid

www.agroliquid.com

Pro-Germinator, Sure-K, Kalibrate, Liberate Ca

Chemport, Inc.

1716 Montana Ave El Paso, TX 79902 (800) 247-2480 or Walt Grigg (509) 952-7558 www.nutri-cal.com

Nutri-Cal: The calcium solution

Crop Vitality

(800) 525-2803 www.cropvitality.com

CaTs calcium thiosulfate liquid fertilizer

UPL SQM North America

2727 Paces Ferry Rd SE Bldg. 2, Ste 1425 Atlanta, GA 30339 (888) 241-0233 spn-northamerica@sqm.com www.sqmnutrition.com Ultrasol K Plus and Qrop KN potassium nitrate

FUNGICIDES Bayer

800 North Lindbergh Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63167 (866) 99-BAYER www.CropScience.Bayer.us Luna

Corteva Agriscience Oro Agri

2788 S. Maple Ave. Fresno, CA 93725 www.oroagriusa.com

Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us

Tanos fungicide, Vertisan fungicide, Dithane F-45 fungicide

NANOCAL sub-micronized calcium

(800) 438-6071 www.upl-ltd.com/us

Elixir fungicide, Manzate Pro-Stick fungicide, Oranil 6L fungicide, Penncozeb 75DF fungicide

HERBICIDES Corteva Agriscience

Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us Matrix herbicide

UPL

(800) 438-6071 www.upl-ltd.com/us

Metricor DF/4F herbicide, Moccasin II Plus herbicide, Moccasin MTZ herbicide, Satellite Hydrocap herbicide, Tripzin ZC herbicide

Vive

www.vivecrop.com AZteroid FC 3.3

INSECTICIDES PESTICIDES FUMIGANTS Bayer

Redox

130 S 100 W Burley, ID 83318 (208) 678-2610 www.redoxgrows.com

Redox is a bio-nutrient company that focuses on sustainable plant nutrition. Each Redox product has been scientifically developed to address specific plant needs in four key areas: Abiotic Stress Defense, Soil Health, Yield & Quality, and Root Development.

Jet Harvest Solutions (877) 866-5773 www.jetharvest.com Biological fungicides

Syngenta

Customer Center 1-866-SYNGENTA www.SyngentaUS.com/Potatoes Elatus and Orondis fungicides

800 North Lindbergh Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63167 (866) 99-BAYER www.CropScience.Bayer.us Movento, Velum Prime

Corteva Agriscience Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us

Transform insecticide, Vydate C-LV insecticide/nematicide, Lannate insecticide, Delegate WG insecticide

PotatoCountry.com

7

2021 Buyers’ Guide CROP INPUTS INSECTICIDES PESTICIDES FUMIGANTS (CONT.)

Vive

www.vivecrop.com

Nichino America, Inc.

4550 Linden Hill Road, Suite 501 Wilmington, DE 19808 (888) 740-7700 www.nichino.net Torac insecticide

Liphatech, Inc.

Bifender FC, Xyler FC, Midac FC, Averland

NEMATICIDES Corteva Agriscience

Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us

Vydate C-LV insecticide/nematicide

(888) 331-7900 www.liphatech.com/ag-fieldorchard/voles/

Rozol Vole Bait Pellets are labeled to control voles on border areas / buffer strips adjacent to any crop.

Not labeled for use in food or feed crops. Rozol Vole Bait is labeled for two broadcast treatments of 10 lbs. per acre and bait station use. Perfect for Fall-Winter use around potato and sugar beet fields to lower vole populations after harvest and reduce winter breeding, and for Spring use to reduce vole migration into fields, and limit feeding on newly-planted seed.

In Idaho there is an aerial Special Local Needs (SLN) label for border application.

Rozol paraffinized pellets are moisture resistant, something growers need to consider throughout the vole treatment season. Voles often feed continuously under snow cover.

Rozol Vole Bait is a restricted-use pesticide.

NovaSource Crop Protection Products (800) 525-2803 www.novasource.com

Sectagon-42 and Sectagon-K54 fumigants

Trident Ag Group

PO Box 1909 Woodland, CA 98674 (360) 225-3588 www.StrikeFumigants.com Strike Fumigant

UPL

(800) 438-6071 www.upl-ltd.com/us

Assail insecticide, Comite II miticide, Rimon insecticide

The NUTRI-CAL Difference Unlocking The Key To Calcium INCREASES OVERALL POTATO YIELD

PROVIDES LONGER STORAGE QUALITY • REDUCES INTERNAL DEFECTS AND WEIGHT LOSS

Western States

509-952-7558 Kent Wasden 208-390-7878 Call Walt Grigg at 8

Potato Country

December 2020

www.nutri-cal.com

CHEMPORT, INC. 800-247-2480

What’s under your crop is under your control.

You can’t see nematodes, but you can protect from their damage. Use Velum® Prime to protect your root and tuber crops from damage caused by nematodes.

Long-lasting and wide-spectrum nematode protection that also suppresses Early blight, Early dying and White mold.

Convenient in-season chemigation application.

Innovative chemistry: not a restricted use product.

Effectively manages nematodes, leading to an average increased yield of +41 CWT/A1 with an average increase in profits of $279/A.2

For more information, visit www.VelumPrime.com.

Trial conducted by Miller Research, Acequia, Idaho, 2015.

Average price per CWT based on USDA Crop Production 2017 Summary Report.

1

2

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Not all products are approved and registered in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local product dealer or representative or U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency for the product registration status in your state. Bayer, Bayer Cross, and Velum® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

2021 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT BAGGING, PACKAGING, PACKING PALLETIZING Ernst Roll Sizer

P.O. Box 70155 Bakersfield, CA 93387 (661) 831-7553 ernstmfg@aol.com

HARVESTERS HARVESTING SYMACH Palletizers

(612) 760-8864 Marco.Maljaars@BWPackagingSystems.com www.bwflexiblesystems.com/brand/ SYMACH Potato bag palletizing systems

Sizers, sorters, conveyors, bin dumpers, complete lines

ThorPack

Greentronics, Inc.

Adjustable automatic master potato baler

75 Arthur Street North Elmira, ON N3B 2A1 (519) 669-4698 www.greentronics.com

W6788 5th Avenue Road Bryant, WI 54418 (715) 627-7333 www.thorpack.com

RiteWeight In-line Conveyor System

Haines Equipment, Inc.

P.O. Box I, 20 Carrington St. Avoca, NY 14809 (607) 566-2234 HainesInc@aol.com Baggers/fillers

Harriston-Mayo

Hermiston: (844) 261-0508 Pasco: (509) 544-9030 www.HarristonMayo.com

Kerian Machines P.O. Box 311 Grafton, ND 58237 (701) 352-0480 sales@kerian.com www.kerian.com Kerian Speed Sizer

Rietveld Equipment

4067 E. 4000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 936-9800 john@rietveldequipment.com www.rietveldequipment.com

Distributor for Allround, Tosca, PIM, and Meconaf

10

Potato Country

December 2020

Volm Companies

Antigo, WI (Corporate Headquarters) 1804 Edison St., Antigo, WI 54409 (800) 253-4737 Idaho Falls, ID 3721 W 65th South Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 524-0600 Pasco, WA 5702 Industrial Way Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 547-3437 Fresno, CA 2909 S. Elm Ave., Suite 105 Fresno, CA 93706 (800) 253-4737 Monte Vista, CO 1100 S Country Rd. 3 E Monte Vista, CO 81144 (719) 852-3499 Ancaster, ON 1283 Cormorant Dr. Unit 1 Ancaster, Ontario L9G 4V5 (905) 648-7300 www.volmcompanies.com

Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd.

(902) 672-2510 www.allanequipment.com

Greentronics, Inc.

75 Arthur Street North Elmira, ON N3B 2A1 (519) 669-4698 www.greentronics.com

RiteTrace automated track and trace system. Records and tracks loads from known field locations to known storage locations. Included HarvestView software generates Field and Bin maps with reports by load, field, and date. Integrates with Greentronic’s RiteYield yield monitor, specially developed for root crop and vegetable harvesters. Both systems are available to run on displays from John Deere and Trimble, allowing users to view a yield map and other details in real time. Free demo program.

Harriston-Mayo

Hermiston: (844) 261-0508 Pasco: (509) 544-9030 www.HarristonMayo.com

Lockwood Manufacturing (800) 247-7335 www.lockwoodmfg.com

Planting, Handling, and Harvesting Equipment

Milestone

395 West Hwy 39 Blackfoot, ID 83221 (800) 574-1852 www.Milestone-Equipment.com

Spudnik

584 West 100 North Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-0480 www.spudnik.com

EQUIPMENT

PLANTERS PLANTING Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd.

SCALES / WEIGHING

Monosem Inc.

1001 Blake St. Edwardsville, KS 66111 (913) 438-1700 www.monosem-inc.com

(902) 672-2510 www.allanequipment.com Planter Press Wheel Kit

Greentronics, Inc.

75 Arthur Street North Elmira, ON N3B 2A1 (519) 669-4698 www.greentronics.com

Custom Planters Built-to-Order

Dammer Diker

Rashco Farm Supply

P.O. Box 2814 Tri-Cities, WA 99302 (509) 582-8900 www.dammerdiker.com

3206 Citation Rd NE Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509) 764-8466 www.rashcofarmsupply.com

Lockwood Manufacturing

RiteWeight in-line conveyor system

Sales, Service and Parts

(800) 247-7335 www.lockwoodmfg.com

Rietveld Equipment

Spudnik

4067 E. 4000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 936-9800 john@rietveldequipment.com www.rietveldequipment.com

584 West 100 North Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-0480 www.spudnik.com

Planting, Handling, and Harvesting Equipment

Micro-Trak Systems, Inc.

P.O. Box 99, 111 E. LeRay Avenue Eagle Lake, MN 56024 (800) 328-9613 www.micro-trak.com

Distributor for Allround, Tosca, PIM, and Meconaf

Precision auto-rate controllers and flow meters PILERS

2009 Spudnik 780 42” piler BC 230 volt 3ph remote 2007 Milestone 42” all belt, Piler 230 3ph remote 2002 Spudnik 560 36” Piler BC 230 volt 3ph remote 2000 Wemco 36” all belt, 480 3ph, remote 1999 Double L 831 BC, 36”BC Elev.x 49’ Tel. 230 V 3ph, remote 1996 Double L 831 BC Elev., 36”x 49’ Tel. 230 V 3ph, remote 1993 Double L 831 All belt Elev., 36”x49’ Tel. 230 volt 3ph 1992 Double L 811 30” BC Elev. x 49’Tel., remote 1991 Spudnik 550/525 36” BC Elev x 48’ Tel., 3ph remote 1990 DL 811 30” BC Elev. x 49’Tel. 3ph Remote 1986 Double L 831 BC Elev., 36”x 49’ Tel. 230 volt 3ph, remote 1986 Spudnik 36” x 48’ BC Elev., 220 V single ph 1985 DL 813 BC Elev. 30”x49’Tel. 3ph 1984 Spudnik 450 36” 3ph all belt Remote

SCOOPERS

1990 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1984 Spudnik 100 24” 1ph 1982 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1993 Double L 837 24” 3ph 2014 Logan Trac Pro 10’ x 30” x 10’ belt 3ph 2013 Logan Tele. 36” x 5’ telescope 230 3ph 2002 Spudnik 2200 30” belt Double L 36” x 12’ all belted chain 3ph Double L 832 BC 30” fingers 1984 Spudnik 2200 Belt 30” x 8’ 3ph x 2

U P

S

CONVEYORS - STRAIGHT

DIRT ELIMINATOR W/ SIZER

2009 Spudnik 990 84” DES 230 volt 3ph 2000 Double 878 DE 78” 3ph flip down 72” sizer 1999 Spudnik 995 72” DE rolls, peg /blower, acorn sizing 3ph 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim. 62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer

DIRT ELIMINATOR ONLY

2000 Spudnik 900 60” 230 volt 3ph hang on tare 97 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1984 DL 806 44” BC with 2 stingers 3ph

ROCK/CLOD/ELIMINATORS 2014 Spudnik 991 72” Multi Sep /Air Sep

EVEN FLOWS

U Q

Recond. DL 802 dual drive 22’ electric 1994 Double L 801 20’ Electric 1984 Logan SB20 Electric

2009 Spudnik 36” x 40’ 230 volt 3ph x 2 2009 Spudnik 36” x 30’ 230 volt 3ph x 3 2009 Spudnik 36” x 15’ tip down 230 volt 3ph Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph x 10 Double L 808 30” x 25’ 3ph x 4 Spudnik 1200 24” x 20’ 3ph Spudnik 1200 30” x 40’ 3ph

2006 Lockwood 554 2008 Spudnik 6140 2006 Double L 851 4 row RH 1998 Double L 851 Four Row RH 50/50/45 1982 Logan 2 row

2013 Lockwood 474 4 row 2012 Double L 965 3 row, w/Multi-sep table 2009 Double L 953 4 row 2009 Spudnik 6400 2007 Double L 853 2005 Spudnik 6400 bunker 2004 Double L 873 2001 Spudnik 6400

N E

SEED CUTTERS

2013 Milestone 72” 3ph 2000 Better Built 46520 60” 3ph 2000 Milestone 6020 1 phase 220 volt 1999 Milestone 48” 1ph 1998 Milestone 60” 3ph Refurbished 1996 Milestone 48” 1ph 1994 Milestone 60” 3ph 1993 Milestone 36” 1ph

TRAILERS

03 Trinity 2 axle 42’ Elec. 25” chain EZ tarp 01 Trinity 2 axle 42’ Elec. 25” chain EZ tarp Trinity 53’ 3 axle All Stainless new bin 25” chain

TRUCKS/TRUCKS & BEDS

2007 Mack 330hp Allison Auto x 5 2017 Freightliner Semi with 5th wheel plate 1999 Freightliner Auto/ 08 Spudnik 20ft bed EZ tarp 1991 GMC Top Kick Auto/ 03 Spudnik 20’ bed EZ tarp 1990 GMC Top Kick 13spd/06 Spudnik 20’ bed EZ tarp 1989 IH 4900 Auto/ 06 Spudnik 20’ bed EZ tarp 2002 Mack EZ350 10spd 4.17Ratio 2012 Logan LP24 PTO 1999 Mack EZ350 10spd 4.17ratio 2012 Logan LP24 PTO

BRUCE: (208)390-5120 | BRUCEN@TRISTEELMFG.COM

TREATERS

New Excel 10” combo liquid & dust 2013 Milestone 42” duster 2013 Milestone 42” Liquid Treater 1996 Milestone 36” Duster

PLANTERS

2018 Spudnik 8069 bed planter 9 row units 3 beds 2013 Spudnik 8069 bed planter 9 row units 3 beds 2010 Harriston cup planter 8 row pull loaded 34” 2008 Spudnik 8060 Planter 6 row cup 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row off set hitch 1995 Kverneland 4 row 3200 – 36”

PLANTER/TARE/PILER

WATER DAMMERS

New Logan Yield Pro 6 row 36” Water Dammer 1990 A.E. Dammer Diker Hyd reset 6 row 6 spoke paddles 2010 Logan Yield Pro Diker 6 row 36” 2008 Logan Yield Pro Diker 6 row 36”

M O

C .

T

HARVESTERS

M IP

2002 Spudnik 1800 cwt 3ph 1993 Spudnik 1800 600cwt 48” Elev. 3ph Double L 860 600 cwt 3ph Milestone 90cwt 30”Elev.Auto fill 3ph VFD Milestone 30cwt tilt belt 3ph VFD Milestone 30cwt 3ph VFD

E D

CONVEYORS - TELESCOPIC

CROSSOVERS/WINDROWERS

2000 Spudnik 925 72” 3ph 480 V 1998 Spudnik 995 72” 3ph 480 V

BEDS

STINGERS

2009 Spudnik 1255 36”/42” x 65’ Shop built 30”/36” x 65’ 480 V 3ph Double L 810 30” x 50’ 3ph Spudnik 1200 TC 24” x 50’ 220 V 1ph

SIZER ONLY

New Logan 36” Tare Piler 3ph VFD 1994 Spudnik 1115 Elec 220 volt 1ph 30” 1981 Spudnik 400 24” BC 24’ boom 1975 Spudnik 400 24” x 25’ x 20” boom All belt

SHREDDER/VINE BEATERS/ POWER HILLER 1986 Loftness 4 row 36” Steel rollers

MISC.

Scooper belly dump unloader attachment Mayo Scooper belly dump unloader attachement Harriston 12 row Marker Semi mount Shop Built 8 row folding Marker 3point

WAREHOUSE/PACKAGING

Tri Steel felt dryer 60” x 18’6”L 4 brushes 26 felt drying rolllers Mayo 60” x 8 ‘ flat table washer, 18- 6” brushes & spray bar Kerian 60” wide sizer 2- Steel flumes 30” wide by 50’ long 2- Tri Steel 6” flume pumps 1000 gpm 10hp Flat conveyor 36” W x 40’ L 2014 Odenburg model Halo 2000 80” 1000 cwt warehouse Even flow with tilt conveyor Mayo 24” x 53’ Telescopic Van Loader conveyor Mayo 30” Elevating conveyor to Van Loader Kerian 60” sizer Portable Washer with brushes, pumps, holding tank on wheels 2008 Mayo single Tote bag filler Rolling table 30” x 11’

NOT COMPLETE LIST. CHECK SPUDEQUIPMENT.COM OR CALL

EVAN: (208)757-8481 | EVANN@TRISTEELMFG.COM PotatoCountry.com

11

2021 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT SEED CUTTERS & SEED TREATERS

All Star Manufacturing & Design LLC

1557 South SandHill Road Orem, UT 84058 (801) 225-4180 www.allstarmfgllc.com

584 West 100 North Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-0480 www.spudnik.com

TRAILERS Haines Equipment, Inc.

Milestone

395 West Hwy 39 Blackfoot, ID 83221 (800) 574-1852 www.Milestone-Equipment.com

TILLAGE Ag Engineering

P.O. Box 2814 Tri-Cities, WA 99302 (800) 627-9099 (509) 582-8900 sales@dammerdiker.com www.dammerdiker.com

Reservoir tillage, Dammer Diker and Pocket Pitter

P.O. Box I, 20 Carrington St. Avoca, NY 14809 (607) 566-2234 www.hainesequipment.com Hainesinc@aol.com Bulk hopper

Harriston-Mayo

Hermiston: (844) 261-0508 Pasco: (509) 544-9030 www.HarristonMayo.com

All Star Manufacturing & Design LLC

1557 South Sand Hill Road Orem, UT 84058 (801) 225-4180 www.allstarmfgllc.com

Harriston-Mayo

Hermiston: (844) 261-0508 Pasco: (509) 544-9030 www.HarristonMayo.com

Lockwood Manufacturing (800) 247-7335 www.lockwoodmfg.com

Planting, Handling, and Harvesting Equipment

Spudnik

584 West 100 North Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-0480 www.spudnik.com

Milestone

395 West Hwy 39 Blackfoot, ID 83221 (800) 574-1852 www.Milestone-Equipment.com

R & H Machine

115 Roedel Avenue Caldwell, ID 83605 (800) 321-6568 rh@rhmachine.com www.rhmachine.com

USED EQUIPMENT

Spudnik

Spud Equipment Western Trailers

Long-wearing chrome alloy

Rashco Farm Supply

3206 Citation Rd NE Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509) 764-8466 www.rashcofarmsupply.com

251 W. Gowen Rd. Boise ID 83716 (888) 344-2539 www.WesternTrailers.com

Build the best, than keep making it better

Bruce: (208) 390-5920 Evan: (208) 757-8481 www.SpudEquipment.com

Spudnik

584 West 100 North Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-0480 www.spudnik.com

Sales, Service and Parts

MOVING THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY AHEAD FOR OVER 70+ YEARS!!

One TOn Bag Fillers BAG FILLER DUAL

Bagger TakeaWay BAGGERWiTh WITH TAKEAWAY

Bulk BULK hOpper HOPPER

Washer WASHER 1993

Haines equipment inc. 20 carrington 14809 BAGGER WITH TAKEAWAY BULK HOPPER st., avoca, nY WASHER 1993 www.hainesequipment.com 607-566-2234 or 8531 • Fax: 607-566-2240 Hainesinc@aol.com BAG FILLER DUAL

12

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Potato Country

146447HaiEqu16h.indd 1

December 2020

5/30/14 11:30 AM 5/30/14 11:30 AM

WORLD’S LARGEST USED

IRRIGATION IRRIGATION

Specialists in Onion and Potato Grading and Handling Equipment

Bag & Box Dumpers, Fillers and Movers, Conveyors, Flumes, Bulk Hoppers and Loaders, Sizers, Stonepickers, Washers

Ranger Russets Virus TESTED • Generation III Since 1952 Pat & Neil Fleming • Pablo, MT 59855 (406) 675-8620 • (406) 253-2365

R ITE T RACE Advanced Track & Trace System

MISC

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

NEW!

FABRICATION / MILLWRIGHT Cut Above Enterprise Inc.

P.O. Box 11355 Spokane Valley, WA 99211 (509) 368-9666 www.CutAboveEnterprise.com Millwright, Crane Services, 3D Scanning & Design, Custom Fabrication, Certified Welders

CONSULTING LABS EASILY TRACE loads from field to storage

Potato Inspections Ag World Support Systems PO Box 1696 Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509) 765-0698 www.AgInspections.com

The Leader In Ag Inspection Services

n Modular design to suit any size operation. n Straightforward components are easy to install. n Integrates with Greentronics yield monitor.

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

Stukenholtz Laboratory Inc.

FI E

from FIELD

LD to TRUCK

fr o m

P.O. Box 353 2924 Addison Ave. E Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 734-3050 (800) 759-3050 www.stukenholtz.com

IRRIGATION Rashco Farm Supply

3206 Citation Rd NE Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509) 764-8466 www.rashcofarmsupply.com

to DETAILED MAPS

Sales, Service and Parts

Skone Irrigation & Supply 2051 W. 1st Warden, WA 98857 (509) 349-7364 1304 E. Hillsboro Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 545-8420 www.SkoneIrrigation.com

to STORAGE

Accurate Sprinkler Packages

519-669-4698•greentronics.com PotatoCountry.com 13

2021 Buyers’ Guide PARTS BELTING / CHAIN Haines Equipment, Inc.

P.O. Box I, 20 Carrington St. Avoca, NY 14809 (607) 566-2234 Hainesinc@aol.com

Noffsinger

500 6th Ave. P.O. Box 1150 Greeley, CO 80632 (970) 352-0463 or (800) 525-8922 Menahga, MN: (218) 564-5149 Filer, ID: (208) 326-4306 www.noffsingermfg.com

WEAR PARTS Noffsinger

500 6th Ave. P.O. Box 1150 Greeley, CO 80632 (970) 352-0463 or (800) 525-8922 Menahga, MN: (218) 564-5149 Filer, ID: (208) 326-4306 www.noffsingermfg.com

R & H Machine

115 Roedel Ave. Caldwell, ID 83605 (800) 321-6568 rh@rhmachine.com www.rhmachine.com Long-wearing chrome alloy parts

Stay on target

Precision application control Don’t miss your shot at a great crop. Micro-Trak’s advanced measuring, monitoring, and control systems deliver the accuracy and dependability you need to hit your business goals.

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14

Potato Country

December 2020

Rashco Farm Supply

3206 Citation Rd NE Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509) 764-8466 www.rashcofarmsupply.com Sales, Service and Parts

Spudnik

584 West 100 North Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-0480 www.spudnik.com

ALASKA

For more information and a copy of the Alaska Certified Seed Potato Grower listings, contact:

Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture 1800 Glenn Highway, Ste. 12 Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-7200 or www.potatocountry.com/seed-ak

CALIFORNIA

For more information and a copy of the current California Certified Seed Potato Applicant Directory, contact:

California Crop Improvement Association Parsons Seed Certification Center University of California One Shields Ave. Davis, CA 95691-8540 (530) 752-0544 ccia@ucdavis.edu, ccia.ucdavis.edu

COLORADO

For more information on the Colorado program and a copy of the current Crop Directory and Field Inspection Readings, contact:

San Luis Valley Research Center 0249 East Rd. 9 N. Center, CO 81125 (719) 754-3496 slvctr@colostate.edu potatoes.colostate.edu www.coloradocertifiedpotatogrowers.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-co

San Acacio Seed, LLC

P.O. Box 451 San Luis, Colorado 81152 (719) 588-0131 (505) 787-7054 (719) 850-4014 www.sanacacioseed.com

Varieties: Russet 296,278,8, Revelle Russet, Centennial Russet, Yellow Soraya, Red Modoc

SEED IDAHO

Copies of the Idaho Certified Potato Seed Grower Directory, containing field readings and other important information, may be obtained by contacting: Idaho Crop Improvement Association 1680 Foote Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 522-9198 Meridian office: (208) 884-8225 www.idahocrop.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-id

Arnold Farms

10361 N. Hwy 32 Felt, ID 83424 (208) 456-2873 Jeremy: (208) 313-2875 Eric: (208) 313-5422 office@arnoldseed.com www.arnoldseed.com

Varieties: Russet Burbank, Norkotah (278, 296, Jorde), Clearwater, Teton Russet, Ranger, Northwest Norkotah (111, 218)

MAINE

For more information and a copy of the State of Maine Seed Certification Book:

Seed Certification Division of Animal & Plant Health 744 Main Street, Ste. 1 Presque Isle, ME 04769 (207) 769-5061 flannery@mainepotatoes.com www.mainepotatoes.com Maine potato dealer list: www.potatocountry.com/seed-me

MICHIGAN

For more information and a copy of the Michigan Certified Seed Potatoes Crop Year Directory, contact: Michigan Seed Potato Assoc.

P.O. Box 1865 Gaylord, MI 49734 (989) 732-4433 jwamspa@gmail.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-mi

MINNESOTA

For more information and a copy of the current Minnesota Certified Seed Potato Directory, contact: Seed Potato Certification Office 312 4th Ave. NE East Grand Forks, MN 56721 (218) 773-4956 www.mda.state.mn.us or www.potatocountry.com/seed-mn

MONTANA

For a copy of the Montana Certified Seed Potato Directory, including certification rules and regulations, contact: Dr. Nina Zidack, director Seed Potato Certification P.O. Box 172060 MSU-Bozeman Bozeman, MT 59717-2060 (406) 994-3150 potatocert@montana.edu www.montanaspud.org or www.potatocountry.com/seed-mt

Buyan Ranch Inc.

242 Bivens Creek Rd. Sheridan, MT 59749 Bill: (406) 842-5142 Cell: (406) 596-5142 Marcus: (406) 596-7353

Varieties: Umatilla (G2 & G3), Russett Burbank (G3), Clearwater Russet (G2 & G3)

Droge Farms Inc.

7590 Stagecoach Trail Rd. Manhattan, MT 59741 Glenn: (406) 282-7588 Vern: (406) 282-7580 Tim’s cell: (406) 539-7200 Glenn’s cell: (406) 580-7588 Vern’s cell: (406) 539-6586 gdroge@littleappletech.com vpdroge@gmail.com Varieties: Alturas, Clearwater, Burbank, Teton Russet

See the Online Seed Directory: PotatoCountry.com/seed-directory PotatoCountry.com

15

2021 Buyers’ Guide SEED Schutter Seed Farm Inc. MONTANA (CONT.) Fleming Farms Inc.

P.O. Box 220 Pablo, MT 59855 Pat: (406) 675-8620 Neil: (406) 675-2241 Pat’s cell: (406) 253-2365 Varieties: Ranger Russet

Kimm Brothers Farming Inc. 6293 West Dry Creek Road Manhattan, MT 59741 (406) 580-4537

Varieties: Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet

Kimm Seed Potatoes

6140 Kimm Rd. Manhattan, MT 59741 (406) 282-7592 Bill’s cell: (406) 580-7592 Varieties: Russet Burbank, Clearwater, Umatilla

Lake Farms Inc.

59969 Hwy. 93 Ronan, MT 59864 Jack: (406) 676-4297 Jack’s cell: (406) 253-4297 jlake@ronan.net

3627 Wooden Shoe Rd. Manhattan, MT 59741 Nick’s office: (406) 284-6422 cell: (406) 539-6125, scale: (406) 282-7777

Varieties: Russet Burbank, Umatilla, Dakota Russet, Clearwater

Streich & Associates Inc. 955 Columbia Falls Stage Kalispell, MT 59901 Steve: (406) 756-8644 Steve’s cell: (406) 253-2276 Paul: (406) 253-0642 spudtruck@montanasky.net

Varieties: Russet Burbank, Umatilla

NEBRASKA

For more information and a copy of the current Nebraska Certified Seed Potato Directory, contact: Potato Certification Association of Nebraska P.O. Box 339/100 Depot St. Alliance, NE 69301 (308) 762-1674 www.nebraskapotatoes.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-ne

Varieties: Burbank, Atlantic, Rangers, Clearwater

CSS Farms

Lake Seed Inc.

35822 Spring Creek Rd. Ronan, MT 59864 Dan: (406) 253-3638 Dave: (406) 261-4432 Pat: (406) 253-3284 Tim: (406) 253-3689 Warehouse: (406) 676-2174

Varieties: Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet

Manhattan Seed Potato Growers

6265 West Dry Creek Road Manhattan, MT 59741

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Potato Country

December 2020

CSS Farms, LLC 5911 2nd Ave W Kearney, NE 68847 www.cssfarms.com

NEW YORK

For more information and a copy of the New York Certified Seed Potato Crop Directory, contact: New York Seed Improvement Project 103C Leland Lab Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-9869 nysip@cornell.edu or www.potatocountry.com/seed-ny

NORTH DAKOTA

For more information and a copy of the North Dakota Seed Potato Directory: North Dakota State Seed Department P.O. Box 5257 Fargo, ND 58105 (701) 231-5400 www.ndseed.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-nd

OREGON

For a directory of Oregon certified seed potato growers, including Oregon seed potato certification standards, contact:

Oregon Seed Certification Service 31 Crop Science Building Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-3003 (541) 737-4513 osu-cert@oregonstate.edu seedcert.oregonstate.edu/potatoes or www.potatocountry.com/seed-or

WASHINGTON

For a copy of the current Washington Certified Seed Potato Directory, including field readings, contact:

Washington State Seed Potato Commission P.O. Box 286 Lynden, WA 98264 (360) 354-4670 www.waseedpotato.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-wa

WISCONSIN

For more information and a copy of the Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Directory, contact: Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association P.O. Box 328 Antigo, WI 54409 (715) 623-4039 abcrockford@wisc.edu www.potatoseed.org or www.potatocountry.com/seed-wi

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19

2021 Buyers’ Guide SEED ALBERTA, CANADA

For more information and a copy of the current Alberta Seed Potato Directory, contact: Potato Growers of Alberta c/o Stacey Bajema, Seed Coordinator 17507 Fort Rd. Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3 (780) 415-2305 stacey@albertapotatoes.ca www.albertapotatoes.ca or www.potatocountry.com/seed-ab

Edmonton Potato Growers

12220 - 170 Street Edmonton, AB T5V 1L7 Darcy Olson: (800) 362-9791 or (780) 447-1860 darcyo@epg.ab.ca Grower List: www.potatocountry.com/seed-ed

18

Potato Country

December 2020

Solanum International Inc. Parkland Potato Varieties Paul Sawatzky Adam Nelubowich 2908 Ellwood Drive, SW Edmonton, AB T6X 0A9 (780) 435-3122 paul@parklandpotato.com; adam@parklandpotato.com www.parklandpotato.com

Varieties: AAC Hamer, Anouk, Arizona, Bellanita, Bridget, Constance, Excellency, Roko, Rosagold, Volare, Yellow Star, as well as open varieties

Hendrik Bakker Stony Plain, AB, T7Z 0B1 (780) 991-4302 inquire@solanum-int.com

Varieties: Abbot, Alaska Bloom, Austrian Crescent, Autumn Rose, Banana, Big Rossa, Bonnata KWS, Cerata KWS, Cerisa, Connect, Erika, Fioretta, French Fingerling, Gemson, Goldeye, Gourmandine, Jazzy, Krone, Labella, Lady Amarilla, Laperla, Little Giant, Lollipop, Melody, Mimi, Musica, Purple Magic, Queen Anne, Rande’s Golden Gem, Red Apple, Red Snapper, Red Thumb, River Russet, Snow Finger, Soprano, Violetta

SEED NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

For more information and a copy of the current seed guide, contact: BC Certified Seed Potato Growers Association c/o 5628 64th Street Delta, BC V4K 4E2 bcseedpotatoes.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-bc

MANITOBA, CANADA

For more information and a copy of the current seed guide, contact:

Seed Potato Growers Association of Manitoba Leonard Rossnagel Box 545 Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3B9 (204) 856-9171 leonard@manitobaseedpotatoes.com www.manitobaseedpotatoes.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-mb

For more information and a copy of the current New Brunswick Seed Potato Growers’ Certification List, contact:

Potatoes New Brunswick P.O. Box 7878 succ. Main Grand Falls, NB E3Z 3E8 (506) 473-3036 gfpotato@potatoesnb.com www.nbseedpotatoes.com or www.potatocountry.com/seed-nb

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA

For more information and a copy of the current Prince Edward Island Seed Potato Certification List and Grower Directory, contact:

M.K. Sonier, Seed Coordinator Prince Edward Island Potato Board 90 Hillstrom Avenue Charlottetown, PEI C1E 2C6 (902) 892-6551 potato@peipotato.org www.peipotato.org or www.potatocountry.com/seed-pei

QUEBEC, CANADA

For more information and a copy of the current Quebec Certified Seed Potatoes Directory, contact:

Les Producteurs de pommes de terre du Québec, 555, boul.

Roland-Therrien, bureau 375 Longueuil, QC J4H 4E7 (450) 679-0530 www.pptq.ca

SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA

For more information and a copy of the current Saskatchewan Seed Potato Directory, contact:

Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association Desseri Ackerman, Manager Box 386, Outlook, SK S0L 2N0 (306) 867-2078 sspga@sasktel.net www.sspga.ca or www.potatocountry.com/seed-sk

See the Online Seed Directory: PotatoCountry.com/seed-directory

For a FREE Certification Directory, email Dr. Nina Zidack at potatocert@montana.edu

Uncompromising Standards, Generation after Generation. We have the seed for you! www.montanaspud.org

PotatoCountry.com 167820MonPot13h.indd 1

9/18/17 11:45 AM

19

2021 Buyers’ Guide STORAGE BINS

IPL Macro

2250 Huntington Dr. Fairfield, CA 94533 (509) 952-3896 jengland@macroplastics.com www.iplmacro.com Plastic, reusable bins

CHEMICALS FOR STORAGE

Agri-Stor Companies (208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Agri-Stor has crop protection from the field, through storage, and all the way to the fresh market or processor. We carry a full line of Organic products for those specialty markets as well.

From disinfectants to sprout control, we have the quality products and the application expertise to handle a wide variety of crop protection solutions.

In addition to crop protection, we provide all ventilation, refrigeration, and humidification for your storage – including climate controls.

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 info@groupag.com www.groupag.com

JMC Enterprises

P.O. Box 6984 Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 586-3252 www.jmcvr.com

A pioneer leader for post-harvest treatment for potatoes and onions for over 23 years, JMC Enterprises understands the hard work and time growers have spent in growing their crop. That is why JMC developed post-harvest management strategies to help minimize yield losses and preserve crop quality. Post-harvest treatment is just as important as any other stage in the crop production cycle. Let us help develop your postharvest management strategies.

One Four Group

(800) 881-0823 www.14group.com 14 Sight Biocontrol

CONSTRUCTION Pacific Building Systems 2100 N. Pacific Hwy. Woodburn, OR 97071 (800) 727-7844 (503) 981-9581

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 info@groupag.com www.groupag.com

GroupAg is a full-service postharvest care company. GroupAg represents and distributes the following:1,4Group, Decco, Biosafe Systems, BTU Ventilation Products, Forte Humidifiers, JTS Refrigeration

Manufacturer of high quality steel / metal building systems & components for 55+ years

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st St. Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

Potato Storage Structure Kits

Jet Harvest Solutions (877) 866-5773 www.jetharvest.com

Jet-Ag (Thermal Fogging), Jet-Oxide, Jet-Wash & Bio-Save

20

Potato Country

December 2020

DEHUMIDIFYING EQUIPMENT

GroupAg is a full-service postharvest care company. GroupAg represents and distributes the following:1,4Group, Decco, Biosafe Systems, BTU Ventilation Products, Forte Humidifiers, JTS Refrigeration

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st St. Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

REFRIGERATION & COOLING Agri-Stor Companies

(208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Agri-Stor has crop protection from the field, through storage, and all the way to the fresh market or processor. We carry a full line of Organic products for those specialty markets as well.

From disinfectants to sprout control, we have the quality products and the application expertise to handle a wide variety of crop protection solutions.

In addition to crop protection, we provide all ventilation, refrigeration, and humidification for your storage – including climate controls.

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 info@groupag.com www.groupag.com

GroupAg is a full-service postharvest care company. GroupAg represents and distributes the following:1,4Group, Decco, Biosafe Systems, BTU Ventilation Products, Forte Humidifiers, JTS Refrigeration

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

STORAGE JMC Ventilation & Refrigeration

P.O. Box 6984 Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 586-9893 www.jmcvr.com

Farmers rely on JMC Ventilation and Refrigeration because they have been serving potato and onion growers for over 22 years. By supplying, designing, and manufacturing most of their own products, it allows them to customize a ventilation or refrigeration system to fit growers’ specific needs.

Our goal at JMC VR is to provide the storage manager with flexible controls and energy-saving designs in both air systems and refrigeration systems to help minimize losses and preserve crop quality from start to finish.

&

Storage Systems Northwest Inc.

900 Chemical Drive Kennewick, WA 99336 509-543-3353 www.storagesystemsnorthwest.com When it is time to build and design a new potato or onion storage, call the experts at Storage Systems Northwest. Locally owned and operated since 2008, their experienced team can customize and design a storage system that will fit your specific needs and will protect your crop while in storage.

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st St. Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

to all of you from all off us!

Twin Falls, IDAHO 208.733.7000

WASHINGTON 509.349.7000

COLORADO 719.850.7783

Blackfoot, IDAHO 208.785.7000

OREGON 541.798.5655

Alberta, CANADA 403.715.6960 PotatoCountry.com

21

2021 Buyers’ Guide STORAGE TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY MONITORING

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

Forte Humidifiers

(208) 970-0091 www.fortehumidifiers.com

Suberizer, Inc.

Agri-Stor Companies (208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Agri-Stor has crop protection from the field, through storage, and all the way to the fresh market or processor. We carry a full line of Organic products for those specialty markets as well.

From disinfectants to sprout control, we have the quality products and the application expertise to handle a wide variety of crop protection solutions.

In addition to crop protection, we provide all ventilation, refrigeration, and humidification for your storage – including climate controls.

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 info@groupag.com www.groupag.com

GroupAg is a full-service postharvest care company. GroupAg represents and distributes the following:1,4Group, Decco, Biosafe Systems, BTU Ventilation Products, Forte Humidifiers, JTS Refrigeration

14222 NE 21st St. Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

VENTILATION/ HUMIDIFICATION Agri-Stor Companies (208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Agri-Stor has crop protection from the field, through storage, and all the way to the fresh market or processor. We carry a full line of Organic products for those specialty markets as well.

From disinfectants to sprout control, we have the quality products and the application expertise to handle a wide variety of crop protection solutions.

In addition to crop protection, we provide all ventilation, refrigeration, and humidification for your storage – including climate controls.

•Russet Varieties: Norkotah 296’s, 278’s, 8’s, Reveille Russet, Centennial Russet

Clean Seed Grown in Complete Isolation!

Forte Humidifiers are proven to be the most cost-effective solution for achieving ideal humidity levels in potato storages. While being offered at a fraction of the cost of the current market alternatives, Forte Humidifiers produce a superior fog quality and allow for more adaptable installations.

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st St. Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

•Yellow Variety: Soraya

•Red Variety: Red Modoc

“We only sell what we strive to grow…the best”

Contact Us: Amanda Wakasugi, Farm Manager/Sales 505.787.7054 amandak@sanacacioseed.com LeRoy Salazar, 719.588.0131 leroysalazar@usa.net Website- sanacacioseed.com Facebook- @sanacacioseedpotatoes

22

Potato Country

December 2020

PotatoCountry.com

23

It's in the Genes Research at OSU Seeks to Provide PVY Solutions

By Aymeric Goyer, Associate Professor, Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center

R

ecent research at Oregon State University (OSU) could ultimately result in potato plants that are resistant to Potato virus Y (PVY) and make it easier to spot asymptomatic plants in the field.

PVY continues to be a major problem for potato growers, especially seed potato growers since PVY is the number one reason for seed lot rejection. Seed growers rely heavily on the application of insecticides to help minimize populations of aphids, the main insect vectors of PVY. However, insecticides have limited effectiveness due to the rapidity of acquisition and transmission of PVY by several species of aphids.

Therefore, there is a need to find solutions to help producers reduce the number of insecticide applications. In turn, this will save dollars while decreasing the negative impact of pesticides on the environment.

Building Resistance to PVY Aymeric Goyer at the Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center has been studying the interactions between potato and PVY at the molecular level to understand potato plants’ components (e.g. genes or proteins) that are involved in the defense response to PVY. His lab has identified genes that potato plants switch either on or off shortly after PVY is detected by the plant surveillance system. Goyer’s hypothesis is that these genes produced by plants are important components of the defensive shield against PVY. To validate this hypothesis, Max Combest, a master’s student in Goyer’s lab, created potato plants that have these genes permanently switched on and then monitored the behavior of these plants

Aymeric Goyer (right) and Carol Bvindi (left) monitor PVY-related symptoms on potato plants in a greenhouse research experiment at the Oregon State University Hermiston Ag Research and Extension Center.

24

Potato Country

December 2020

in response to PVY. Combest found that potato plants that have one of these genes permanently switched on (we will call this gene “PIP”) contain lower levels of PVY, thus providing evidence that the PIP gene is indeed part of the defense system used by plants to combat PVY. Understanding the various components of the plant defense system and its weaknesses is an essential step taken

by Goyer’s group to assist breeders in assembling the most efficient parts needed to build resistance against PVY. Identifying PVY-Positive Plants The exciting thing about research is that there are always surprises – and sometimes, good ones. When observing plants that they had infected with a necrotic strain of PVY, Goyer and Combest observed that plants that had the PIP gene permanently switched on developed clearly visible rugose mosaic symptoms on the younger leaves. Plants that did not have the PIP gene permanently switched on were asymptomatic.

Goyer believes that this observation could lead to practical applications useful for seed certification. Indeed, many varieties infected with PVY are asymptomatic; therefore visual detection of PVY-infected plants in such varieties is very difficult, increasing the possibility of propagating contaminated seed through potato production systems.

Carol Bvindi, a postdoctoral scholar in Goyer’s lab, is testing the idea that foliar spray application of the small peptide produced by the PIP gene, which can easily be synthesized by a commercial lab, could trigger clearly visible rugose mosaic symptoms, like those observed in plants with the PIP gene permanently switched on, in an otherwise symptomless PVY-infected plant. If successful, this

could provide a new practical technology for growers and seed certification programs to identify and rogue out PVY-positive plants not identified by traditional visual inspections.

This PVY-infected Premier Russet plant shows no visible symptoms.

Potato and PVY engage in a constant warfare. The better we understand the potato defense mechanism and how PVY uses its weaknesses to its own advantage, the better we will be able to develop potato varieties that have robust, longlasting resistance to PVY. To learn more about our research related to this article, view a video at https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ em9257. To ask questions, email aymeric.goyer@oregonstate.edu.

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This PVY-infected Premier Russet plant that has the PIP gene permanently switched on shows clearly visible rugose mosaic symptoms.

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25

Five Minutes With…

The Spud Doctor, Kiran Shetty, Syngenta Technical Development Lead for Potatoes Many people in the potato industry and beyond are hoping 2021 will be a better year than 2020. This time of transition from the 2020 harvest season to the 2021 planting season is a “reset” period in many ways, says Kiran Shetty, Syngenta’s technical development lead for potatoes, also known as “The Spud Doctor.”

2020 brought a reduction in acreage across the U.S. and ripple effects throughout the industry. Aside from some regional challenges, however, it was a fairly normal year in terms of production given the reduction of acreage, Shetty says.

In 2021, the industry will need to gain back the acres lost and regain ground in export markets. The industry might benefit from some of the things learned this year including lessons in logistics of distribution in times of crisis. On the farm, he advises growers to not overlook the value of good certified potato seed, soil health and plant nutrition.

“We need to be sure we understand how to grow a good, healthy potato crop from the get-go – from the

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You are cordially invited to stop by to see our facility.

early season, through the mid-season and into storage,” he says.

Shetty’s advice comes from decades of experience in the potato industry. After growing up on a farm in south India, he studied agriculture at the University of Idaho, where he completed his graduate work and then worked as an extension specialist in potatoes in the 1990s.

Shetty joined Syngenta in 1997, developing seed treatment and seed care products for crops including potatoes in his early days with the company. Later, he filled various other roles, largely in development, research, training and education on products for potatoes. In his current role at Syngenta, he works with the industry in demonstrating new products that come through the pipeline and seeing how they fit in the market.

We asked Shetty a few more questions this fall to get to know this industry expert.

Why do you go by the Spud Doctor?

As part of my professional career, I’ve worked on this crop, and many in the industry call me “Doc.” Having been known as a doc in the potato industry, those two things must have come together. I had no role in coining a word like that. It so happened, and it stuck with me.

What is one thing you see coming down the pike that will affect the potato industry?

A lot of growers are paying attention to soil health.

It is very important to realize what soil health brings to the potato crop. And we have to work toward getting a better understanding of what it is and how to manage it.

What’s your favorite potato dish?

I’m a big curry guy, so anything made with potatoes and curry, I’m for. A lot of people in the industry who know me know that.

David

Dan Tim

Tim Dan

Dan, Dave, Pat and Tim Lake

(406) 253-3638 (office), (406) 676-2175 (fax) e-mail - spudman@ronan.net 35822 Spring Creek Road l Ronan, MT 59864

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Potato Country

December 2020

Pat

What’s something about you that people might find surprising?

I think one of the things that always occurs to me when this question is posed is my ability to talk six languages. Some of them are international languages, but I’ve traveled quite a bit across the globe. And it certainly gives me an advantage. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert at all six of them, but enough to make a good conversation.

Which six languages?

I would start with my mother tongue, Tulu, spoken in a very small district of southern India. I had the opportunity to travel when I was young due to family movement and I picked up a language called Tamil, which is widely spoken in many other countries. There’s a regional language called Kannada. I can speak the national language of Hindi, which is spoken widely in many other countries. I can speak a fairly decent amount of a regional language called Malayalam. And of course, I can speak English.

What’s on your bucket list?

I still have a lot of interest in traveling because I think I learn so much by visiting different countries and cultures. I hope to continue to do that. I do not have a specific list of places I need to go. But this is something that would be on my list of things to do as I move forward.

Kiran Shetty, also known as “The Spud Doctor,” is the technical development lead for potatoes with Syngenta. Photo courtesy Syngenta

What new hobbies or habits have you taken up during the COVID-19 pandemic?

With travel restricted, I had a lot of time to garden. I spent a lot of time relearning what I had forgotten. And I spent some time learning better ways to make a dish.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?

My favorite actor is Robert Redford. I hope someone could talk him into it. He may not look like me. He certainly has the ability to do something like that. He’s quite the character actor.

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2020-11-05

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Metam Movement 40,000 Soil Readings, Five Takeaway Insights

By Kyle Coleman, Director of Marketing and Commercial Development, NovaSource North America

I

t’s been more than three years since I took the first of what are now more than 40,000 soil samples to track the postapplication movement of metam products – metam sodium and metam potassium – in the soil.

During this time, growers, distributor cooperators, coworkers and I have witnessed and discovered a number of assumptionbusting revelations about the underground behaviors of these products in a wide variety of conditions.

Our quest for a greater understanding of metam product performance began in 2017, when several Washington onion growers began questioning whether the product was losing effectiveness. They weren’t getting the results they expected.

I acquired a MiniRAE photoionization detector (PID) after learning of this technology from researchers at major universities and began going to fields to measure the presence of metam at different soil depths during the hours and days following application.

Since then, we have discovered five primary variables that can create significant differences in product effectiveness – often, when only minor adjustments to an application method are employed. We call them the five pillars of metam movement in soil. These new insights are the keys for optimizing the effectiveness of metam soil fumigant applications.

Moisture Preservation

If possible, maintaining 80 percent moisture throughout the soil profile, beginning 30 days before application up to the day

of application, is important. Moist soil delivers several benefits: it facilitates metam movement, assists with pest respiration and helps preserve the product. Once soil moisture drops to 50 percent or lower because of heat, wind or excessive soil movement from equipment, readings will largely disappear within hours rather than days. With that knowledge, we now understand the critical importance of premoisture.

Placement Strategy

Compared to other fumigants, the vapor pressure of metam products is relatively low, so they simply don’t travel as far or as uniformly as applicators have assumed for many years. We recommend sampling the soil to better understand your exact pest location. Then, precision place your metam product near your targeted pests through chemigation, shanking or deep shanking.

Equipment

Understand the importance of making minor adjustments to the equipment you’re using to prepare soil, apply product and seal the application. Know the precise and unique pattern created by your machinery. Roughing up the soil a little bit is okay as long as you don’t dry it out or leave product on or near the soil surface.

Our isolated northern location along with our group of 10 experienced growers have been producing exceptional seed potatoes with increased energy and the lowest possible disease levels for over 50 years.

Our longevity and historical performance have made us a valued resource and seed potato supplier to growers across North America and the world.

With over 100 varieties including main crop and specialty selections, we invite you to give us a call to discuss how we can help you make this growing season the best one yet.

Contact us to discuss how we can help make this year’s crop the best it can be.

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(780) 447-1860 • darcyo@epg.ab.ca Edmonton Potato Growers 12220 – 170 Street, Edmonton, AB T5V 1L7

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Potato Country

December 2020

Case Studies Armed with the five pillars of metam movement in soil, dozens of operators in nine states have begun making adjustments to their metam application techniques. Here are a few of the case studies that have been reported.

Case: Washington Potato Grower

Situation: Chemigation was not adequately reaching a product depth of 6 to 10 inches.

Discovery: A deep disk pass softened soil down to 12 inches.

Result: Subsequent chemigation showed excellent readings throughout the top 12 inches.

Case: Idaho Potato Grower

Situation: At a 10-inch injection depth, cover crop was not affected, and less than 2 percent of total readings were in the 2-inch range. When application depth was changed to 6 inches, the cover crop thinned except for small bands, indicating a slight break in lateral coverage.

Discovery: By adjusting the application depth from 10 to 6 inches and using wider sweeps, product was more effectively detected at depths from 2 to 10 inches.

Case: North Dakota Potato Grower

Situation: This grower was looking to optimize his application in the 2- to 10-inch depth for disease suppression.

Discovery: With soil ripped at 12 inches and application at 10 inches, nearly all readings were found in the 6- to 12-inch range.

Result: Pre-ripping and applying product at 6 inches resulted in more thorough readings in the 2- to 10-inch range, with some readings reaching a depth of 12 inches.

Case: Washington Potato Grower

Situation: Excessive odor (off-gassing) was occurring from a ground application.

Discovery: Hot weather, 50 percent soil moisture and inversion conditions were contributing factors.

Change: The exact same equipment was used, but at 80 percent soil moisture and minimum 5 miles per hour winds.

Result: There have been no odor issues since soil moisture was increased.

Readings continue to come in from applicators across the country who have begun to take their own soil samples following application. Although each case is unique, many operators are reporting extraordinary results from making the necessary adjustments to specifically locate the pest that they’re targeting, match the application to that area and optimize the application to maximize underground exposure to pests.

PotatoCountry.com

29

Metam Movement Calendar Pest Respiration

When weed seeds, diseases and nematodes are respiring and thriving before application, metam products are most effective.

Pest respiration can be inhibited by soil that is too dry. If you can't imagine a weed seed or disease propagule really thriving in a certain environment, then it probably isn’t, and suppression is much more difficult.

Soil Tilth

Dry, compacted or cloddy soil can limit product movement.

Avoid applying the product to deeply frozen soil. Anything you can do to avoid drying the soil is critical because the metam may dissipate in dry soil before it has time to do its job.

Using these insights as guidelines, measurable improvements in results are possible.

For more information, email Kyle Coleman at kcoleman@ tkinet.com.

Jan. 5-7

Potato Expo 2021 Online www.potato-expo.com

Jan. 19–21

Idaho Potato Conference Online www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes

Jan. 26–28

Washington-Oregon Potato Conference Online www.potatoconference.com

Feb. 22–25

Potato D.C. Fly-in

Online hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org

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Potato Country

December 2020

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New Products

Key Technology Debuts New Conveyor

Key Technology has introduced Zephyr, its next-generation horizontalmotion conveyor made for frozen bulk foods such as potato products.

Powered by a counterbalanced direct drive, the high-capacity conveyor utilizes horizontal movement to gently slide product without bouncing.

Zephyr reduces product breakage and the loss of coatings such as seasoning, batter and certain types of oil. Its selfcleaning horizontal motion reduces the chance of product buildup, and the counterweight drive minimizes floor vibration. Zephyr moves product at rates of up to 40 feet per minute.

The machine can be tailored for each customer application.

Visit www.key.net.

Titan Rolls Out Hi-Dration Lug Irrigation Tire

Titan International Inc. has introduced the Titan Hi-Dration Lug irrigation tire, featuring a radial construction that allows for lower inflation pressures, more flotation and less rutting.

The tire’s rugged 0-degree bar with supported lug center creates durability and longevity, according to the company. Additional features include a non-directional pattern design to provide maximum traction in forward and reverse, and a design built for self-cleaning to decrease rolling resistance while in the field.

The new Hi-Dration Lug is available from Titan and Goodyear Farm Tire dealers and on nearly all T&L Irrigation pivot and linear irrigation systems.

Visit www.titan-intl.com.

Improved Varieties!

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Laperla is a very high yielding and early maturing variety with attractive smooth yellow skin and light yellow flesh. Laperla shows good resistance to drought. An excellent first-early fresh market variety.

Autumn Rose is a mid-early maturing red skinned white fleshed variety. This high yielding variety has shallow eyes and an attractive smooth skin finish. Autumn Rose has good resistance to common scab. Taste is excellent!

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solanum-int.com 4 Legend Trail, Stony Plain, Alberta PotatoCountry.com

31

In the News

IPC Swears in New Commissioners

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has welcomed three new commissioners representing the grower sector. Ron Ambrose of Four Ace Farms in Wendell, Mark Darrington of Big D Farms in Declo and Eric Jemmett of J&S Farms in Parma will each serve a three-year term. The three new commissioners have close to 100 years of farming experience between them.

In addition, Todd Cornelison of High Country Potatoes and Brett Jensen of Brett Jensen Farms have been appointed chairman and vice chairman, respectively. They will lead the nine-member commission representing Idaho potato growers, shippers and processors.

Ron Ambrose

Mark Darrington

Eric Jemmett

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Potato Country

December 2020

COVID-19 Claims Life of Idaho Potato Grower

As Dennie Arnold’s obituary read, “God looked down on his land paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker, so I'll take a farmer.’”

Dennie Arnold, owner of Arnold Farms in Felt, Idaho, passed away Oct. 19.

Arnold was a third-generation seed potato grower and an involved member of the potato industry.

Arnold served on the National Potato Council, U.S. Potato Board, Potato Growers of Idaho and the Idaho Crop Improvement Association in various roles for over 40 years.

He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sept. 26, a diagnosis he had worried about and taken precautions to prevent after having a kidney transplant two years ago.

Arnold leaves behind his wife, Janet, three children and their spouses, nine grandchildren and one greatgranddaughter.

Potato Sales Exceed Five-Year Records

New numbers from a Potatoes USA study show record potato sales continued at retail from July through September 2020. Total store potato sales increased by 13.6 percent in dollar sales and 10.6 percent in volume sales compared to the same timeframe in 2019. These sales levels are also the highest they have been for the past five years.

Frozen potatoes showed the greatest increase compared to a year ago, with a dollar sales increase of 23.9 percent and a 19.7 percent increase in volume sales.

Fresh potatoes sales increased 16.4 percent in dollars and 10.6 percent in volume, despite the consumer price increasing. Medley, petite and yellow potatoes all had a volume sales increase over 20 percent.

Tasteful Selections Ranks Among Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Inc. magazine ranked Tasteful Selections as 3,941 on its 2020 Inc. 5000 list, the magazine’s annual ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held companies.

Tasteful Selections, a grower, shipper and marketer of specialty potatoes, earned the spot with a three-year revenue growth of 89 percent.

As an Inc. 5000 honoree, Tasteful Selections joins other notable alumni including Microsoft, Zappos, Under Armour, Jamba Juice, Timberland, Clif Bar, Pandora and Patagonia.

BC CERTIFIED SEED POTATO GROWERS Quality British Columbia Seed Potatoes Grown in: Fraser Valley and Pemberton 2020-21 BRITISH COLUMBIA SEED POTATO DIRECTORY

www.bcseedpotatoes.com Visit Our Website to see a list of our Growers & Varieties

Potato Expo Goes Virtual

Potato Expo organizers have made the call to hold Potato Expo 2021 exclusively online Jan. 5-7.

The decision came as the result of ongoing developments with COVID-19, discussions with supporting companies and feedback from attendees. Organizers say a virtual event will be the safest approach for the well-being of attendees, their families, farms and colleagues.

The conference will include opportunities to hear from industry leaders, connect with peers and explore business solutions to address unique challenges. An interactive exhibit hall will also allow vendors to showcase their products and services and connect with attendees.

Expo sessions will be available for conference attendees to view through the end of March.

Register at www.potato-expo.com.

PotatoCountry.com

33

Market Report

Interchangeable?

A

ll fresh potatoes in the United States, except for specialty varieties, are marketed by skin color – russet, red, yellow or gold and white types. While that scheme simplifies marketing for retailers, it does a disservice to both consumers and potato growers. Growers produce at least 21 varieties of russet potatoes, 10 red varieties, 19 yellow varieties and 11 white potato varieties for fresh consumption. The industry needs to ask whether all of those potato varieties are truly interchangeable within the four categories that retailers are marketing currently.

Under the current marketing scheme, growers tend to select potato varieties based on performance in terms of marketable yields and input costs.

Prices can vary by tuber size, but price variation by variety, within the four broad categories of potatoes, is rare. Idaho packers have managed to sell Russet Burbank count cartons at a premium to their Norkotah counterparts, though that differential may be narrowing over time, particularly for the smaller tuber sizes.

Idaho is the only state that requires packers to label potatoes by variety. Even though such labeling is required, packers expend little effort to use the labels in marketing. In fact, they make the labels on retail packages as inconspicuous as possible. Some Idaho packers are proposing that variety labels be limited to russet potatoes. Shippers in other states make little or no effort to distinguish between the potato varieties that they

pack and market, beyond the four basic categories.

Cultivar Characteristics

Does it matter? Are all potatoes within each of the broad type categories interchangeable? Should consumers expect each of the varieties to perform equally well, regardless of the uses to which they are put? The answers to these questions are critical to the future of the table potato industry. If all potatoes with the same skin color perform the same as any other potato in that category, there is no need to change. However, if performance varies between varieties, marketing all of them as interchangeable will confuse consumers and could lead to reduced sales over time.

This isn’t about which potato is best.

Some varieties may perform better in particular recipes while others do better for other uses. It may be that both varieties make acceptable cooked products of the same type, but need to be prepared differently to make the most acceptable dishes. Flavor varies between potato varieties. It is a matter of individual preference, but consumers should be given choices and the opportunity to find and purchase their preferred variety consistently.

Texture is another distinguishing factor between potato varieties. Experts describe texture in various ways, though they have separated potatoes into broad categories: high, medium or low dry matter. They use various terms to describe the difference, such as mealy and waxy, but these terms generally refer to the amount of solids in the tubers. Contrary to information accessible online, not all russet potatoes are high-solids varieties, and not all “colored” potatoes are lowsolids varieties.

Variety Differentiation

Can marketing potato varieties make a difference? At a minimum, marketing by variety could reduce the risk of confusing customers with inconsistent performance.

It also has the potential to boost demand by encouraging consumers to experiment

34

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December 2020

with new potato varieties and new recipes.

Apple marketing efforts may be instructive. Can anyone imagine a world in which grocery stores only offered their customers two types of apples: red and green? Now imagine being told that a Granny Smith apple and Golden Delicious apple are interchangeable. It makes no sense because we know that one is tart and the other is sweet, despite the fact that both have a greenish hue to their skin.

The potato example most cited is the contrast between the Russet Burbank and the Norkotah – one being a high-solids potato and the other with much lower solids. Both have their place; however, they need to be prepared differently and cannot be used successfully in all the same applications.

With at least 21 russet varieties being grown for fresh market applications in the U.S., there are sure to be more differences between varieties that are hidden under the mantle of “russet potatoes.” We suspect the same is true for the 19 varieties of commercially available yellow potatoes, along with at least 10 varieties of red potatoes and 11 white potato varieties.

Is it too much to ask retailers to feature more than three or four varieties of potatoes? Not all apples are available on a year-around basis, but we were able to identify 14 apple varieties being marketed simultaneously during the last week of October. It will take time and effort to convince retailers that differentiating potatoes by variety could boost sales and profitability, but brand differentiation is a proven strategy that retailers use all the time. That is why General Mills sells at least 13 different varieties (not package sizes) of Cheerios.

Potato breeders expend a great deal of effort to develop new potato cultivars. The 2019 seed potato variety list published by the Potato Association of America lists 659 cultivars, including experimental varieties and line selections.

That list has grown from 395 cultivars 10 years earlier. The plant breeders have

focused on developing varieties that are easier to grow, that are disease-resistant, require fewer inputs, and/or that meet the needs of either processors or potato chip manufacturers. Much less effort has been made to differentiate the plethora of varieties for retail customers.

Marketing Paradigm Shift

It will take a concerted effort to change the way that potatoes are marketed.

Marketers need to document the benefits and uses of specific potato varieties, prepare recipes designed specifically to take advantage of the best characteristics of each variety and be willing to invest in promotional activity specific to each of the varieties.

Such an effort may not lend itself very well to quasi-government marketing agencies such as Potatoes USA and the Idaho Potato Commission because such efforts might be perceived as favoring growers of certain varieties. While these organizations could help establish a framework for variety marketing, individual marketing organizations would need to do the research and promotional activity to create the need for further variety differentiation in potato marketing.

New marketing tools could reduce the cost of establishing a market identity for individual potato varieties. QR codes on potato packages could direct customers to websites devoted to individual varieties or to recipes and explanations on Pinterest and other social media platforms. Such campaigns could be successful in reaching those consumers most interested in experimenting with new food adventures and with optimizing their experiences with potatoes.

One of the challenges to varietal marketing has been the fear that other marketers – “free riders” – would be able to piggyback off a company’s marketing efforts without participating in the cost.

One suggested solution has been to have individual packing sheds control the supply of a particular potato variety. We are aware of a few instances where that model is being used, but most potato variety protection efforts in the U.S. have focused on where growers purchase their seed – not on where they can market

the potatoes. Changing that paradigm would be extremely difficult. Adding brand differentiation – based on customer service, consistency and reliability – could mitigate the impact of “free riders.”

General Mills has not let the fact that private label imitations exist deter it from aggressively marketing Cheerios.

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS • Variety differentiation could be a way to expand the market for fresh potatoes.

• Skin color alone is not a reliable indicator of a potato’s culinary characteristics.

• Changing the marketing paradigm for fresh potatoes would require a substantial investment.

• Private marketing organizations are best placed to be able to succeed in varietal differentiation.

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

In It for the Long Haul

In a World Increasingly Obsessed with Speed, Could Patience Still Win the Race?

By John Lundeen, Research Director; and Ben Harris, Research Associate Manager, Potatoes USA

A

s we write this, there is a truck somewhere between Aberdeen, Idaho, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, barreling down the John Lundeen highway with potatoes on board. But these are no ordinary potatoes. They belong to the National Fry Processors Trials (NFPT), born in 2011 to enhance variety development – a process that, like the 1,066 miles that separate Aberdeen and East Grand Forks, is a long haul.

Coming up with a new potato variety is an exercise in patience, a sharp contrast to the frenetic pace of other research activity. In August, for instance, the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation unveiled a fleet of new research centers that will apply technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to the farm. With so much emphasis on venture capital’s bias toward speed, slick hardware and, of course, software, there is the risk that lower profile, “traditional” science could go overlooked.

It was fantastic to see support for foundational potato research reaffirmed in the 2020 Specialty Crop Research

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Ag Engineering 36

Potato Country

December 2020

Initiative (SCRI) funding. Of the 23 projects awarded, two feature spuds and both are grounded in tried-andtrue approaches. The first, led by Ben Harris plant pathologist Alexander Karasev from the University of Idaho, received $5.7 million to combat Potato virus Y (PVY) and potato mop top virus (PMTV) through improved diagnostics, management and modeling. Projects like Karasev’s require a willingness to wait, as findings gradually accumulate over several years.

In all honesty, exponential science sounds exciting. It is the research and development equivalent of getting behind the wheel of a Bugatti. But the incremental gains that occur over a five-year National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) project should not be underestimated.

Jeff Endelman, the lead for a SCRI venture with its sights set on breeding a better diploid potato at some point down the road, knows the long game well. Along with driving the “Potato 2.0” push, Endelman is serving as co-project director for another SCRI proposal that earned funding in September.

The study brings together a mix of crops that do not normally appear together in the same sentence: blackberry, turfgrass, kiwi, rose, sweet potato and potato. What they have in common is polyploidy, a genome containing more than two complete sets of chromosomes.

Building skills and software for genomic-assisted polyploid breeding, the primary aim of this project, will result not only in enhanced cultivars but a new generation of plant scientists with even more tech savvy. It is as much an investment in long-term talent as an effort to boost seed stock. The deeper professional development opportunities that a SCRI project offers is another reason to put patient capital toward research projects long enough to allow for maximum skill development.

Projects like Endelman’s have the potential to position our industry at the forefront of the reskilling (or upskilling) revolution, a revolution in which agriculture has not always been recognized. The World Economic Forum’s Preparing for the Future of Work Initiative was years in the making, yet food production is strangely absent from the list of industries primed for upskilling.

What can we do to guarantee that farming and food processing are not left out of the conversation in the future?

Be a vocal advocate for research that resonates with you, and get involved with the Potatoes USA Potato Research Advisory Committee (PRAC). By the time you read this, that truck will have rolled to a dead stop and delivered its load to the East Grand Forks USDA-ARS facility. But 2020 has made clear that complacency is a non-option. The wheel of innovation must keep turning – for the long haul.

For more details, reach out to research@potatoesusa.com.

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Seed Growers: Zapata Seed Company Worley Family Farms SLV Research Center San Acacio Seed Salazar Farms Rockey Farms, LLC Pro Seed Price Farms Certified Seed, LLC Palmgren Farms, LLC Martinez Farms La Rue Farms H&H Farms G&G Farms Bothell Seed Allied Potato Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association P. O. Box 267 Monte Vista, CO 81144 ColoradoCertifiedPotatoGrowers.com Lyla@ColoradoCertifiedPotatoGrowers.com (719) 274-5996

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PotatoCountry.com

37

Potato Growers of Washington

Better Times Ahead

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

2020

has seemed like a year that would never end. It has been a very well documented rollercoaster of a year. As we approach year-end and start to put 2020 in the rearview mirror, there are some very positive signs for the potato industry, especially for the frozen processing sector and specifically for the Columbia Basin.

While the foodservice industry as a whole has been hit hard by the stay-athome orders and re-opening restrictions, the quick service restaurants (QSR) that are the bread and butter of the frozen processing industry have been fairing

quite well. Because of the ease and convenience of getting to-go orders through either the drive-thru or delivery, many QSRs have seen sales not only rebound but exceed pre-COVID levels.

There are many reasons for this, but the most obvious are that consumers have fewer choices of where to get a meal away from home as many of the other restaurant options either remain closed or have limited seating and often limited hours. Also, some consumers are still uncomfortable dining out and are still choosing to take food home for themselves and their families. Whatever the reason may be, sales have bounced back very nicely domestically.

Along that same line, retail sales of frozen potato products in grocery

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Potato Country

December 2020

stores have seen well into double-digit percentage growth over the past year as more and more people are preparing meals at home. The ease and great quality of the frozen potato products available at retail today make adding them to a meal a no-brainer for our current society that is looking for quick, easy-to-prepare meal options.

We would still like to see our export business rebound more than it has, but it is steadily improving and getting closer to pre-COVID levels. While the industry was forecasting a significant increase in export volume in 2020 to take advantage of new processing capacity that was added in 2019, getting back close to flat with 2019 is a big step in the right direction.

If you are someone who needs to see proof rather than just have someone like me tell you things are better, look to the recent announcement that construction has resumed on the McCain Foods expansion of its Othello, Washington, plant. Also, Lamb Weston has announced a very large cut-and-form line is being added to its American Falls, Idaho, plant. These new additions to the North American processing capacity that saw over 1 billion pounds of new capacity added in just 2019 should be proof enough that frozen processing, especially in the Columbia Basin, is trending in the right direction.

The number one question that I get asked is what a grower should expect for contract acreage in 2021. As I have alluded to in other recent columns, that number is very hard to pinpoint on an individual basis. However, based on the positive signs I outlined here, I think it is safe to say that overall, there will be more acres of potatoes contracted by processors in the Columbia Basin than in 2019. This will still be slightly less than we were thinking as we were looking at the growth trends prior to COVID-19, but well better than anyone would have guessed halfway through the wild ride that was 2020.

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OREGON

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2021 w w w.pot atoc onferenc e.c om

WE’RE GOING VIRTUAL! January 26-28, 2021

Pre-register online and be entered to win one of five $50 Sportsman Warehouse giftcards

REGISTRATION IS STILL ONLY $5!

Conference ‘Swag Bags’ will be sent out to the first 2000 attendees

VIRTUAL

• Trade Show - Show off your products & meet with your attendees • General Sessions - Continuing education credits • Cultivar Performance Session - Online platform available longer • Spanish Sessions - Continuing education credits • PAC Auction & Social Events - Support the Industry and socialize

Go to www.potatoconference.com

Advertiser Index Hotlinks Click on the Advertiser to Jump Straight to Their Ad

CROP INPUTS

POTATO SEED

Bayer

Arnold Farms

Nutri-Cal

BC Seed

Syngenta

Buyan Ranch

EQUIPMENT

Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association Edmonton Potato Growers

Ag Engineering

Fleming Farms

Agri-Stor

Idaho Crop Improvement

All Star

Lake Seed

Greentronics - Rite Trace

Montana Seed

Greentronics - Rite Yield

North Dakota Potato Growers Association

Haines Equipment, Inc. Kerian Machines, Inc. RH Machine Micro-Trak Skone Irrigation Inc SpudEquipment.com

Parkland Seed Potato Growers of Alberta San Acacio Seed Schutter Seed Farm Solanum International

Suberizer Volm Companies

TESTING Stukenholtz

MARKETING Idaho Potato Commission Potato Expo Washington State Potatoes