Potato Country January 2022 by Columbia Media Group

PotatoCountry.com • January 2022 Western focus. National impact.

Malad Gorge Farms

Go Big or Go Home Advertiser Index

Ag World ................... 11 Manhattan Seed ....... 14 Agri-Stor ..................... 9 Micro-Trak .................. 8 All Star ...................... 32 Montana Seed ............ 6 Bayer .......................... 2 NPC .......................... 13 BC Seed ................... 28 Noffsinger ................. 27 Colorado Seed.......... 26 Nutri-Cal ................... 10 EPG .......................... 23 Omex ........................ 24 Forte ......................... 18 Oro-Agri .................... 31 Fleming Farms.......... 27 PGA .......................... 12 Greentronics ............. 21 Skone Irrigation ........ 28 Group Ag .................. 21 SpudEquip.com ........ 15 Idaho Crop ................ 25 Stukenholtz ............... 29 IPC.............................. 7 The Potato Podcast Lake Seed ................ 12 Sponsored by Lockwood ................. 16 Miller Chemical ......... 20

Western Seed Reports 2021 U.S. Crop Smaller Than Expected

Improving Fungicide Performance in Hydrophobic Soils

Force in the

Field

The Bayer family of products is powerful, especially when used together. Combined, they create an agronomic force field around your crops, providing protection during the first 75 days when potatoes are most susceptible to pests and diseases. Safeguard your potatoes against nature's harmful pests and diseases with the Bayer 75-Day Integrated Pest Management program. Visit BayerPotato75DayIPM.com to learn more. Bayer and Bayer Cross are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2022 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

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

Vol. 38 No. 1

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

Contacts

Country Table of Contents

Western focus. National impact.

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

January 2022

Disease Identification

Ben Eborn ........................................................ napmn@napmn.com Market Report

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

4 Go Big or Go Home

Potato Growers of Washington

Brian Feist ...................................brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com

Malad Gorge Farms LLC

Operations Manager, Advertising

8 Western Seed Reports 16 Irrigation Essentials

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.

18 Improving Fungicide Performance in

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.

Buyers' Guide

Hydrophobic Soils

20 Infrastructure Bill Throws Bipartisanship a Lifeline

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.

National Potato Council

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

22 100 Years and Counting

Montana Seed Potato Seminar

24 Potatoes USA Spearheads Initiative to Define Quality Carbohydrate

Copyright 2022. 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

Potatoes USA

28 2021 US Potato Crop Smaller Than Expected Market Report

Gary Roth

Chris Voigt

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(509) 765-8845

(503) 239-4763

A seed potato field blooms in Whatcom County, Wash. See the full Western Seed Reports starting on page 8. Photo courtesy Kay Oakley, WSDA

On The Cover Butch Morris looks over his potato crop from the catwalk of his new Suberizer storage building. See the story on page 4.

Departments 21 Calendar 26 In the News

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

President/CEO

30 PGW Column 30 Advertiser Index (406) 994-3150

(208) 334-2350

(719) 852-3322

75-Day

IPM Potato Program OVERVIEW

SEED TREATMENT _____

EARLY DEVELOPMENT

PLANTING

PRE-PLANT PREVENTION:

Fusarium tuber rot (suppression) Seed and Soil-borne Rhizoctonia (suppression) Silver scurf (suppression) Aphids Colorado potato beetles Flea beetles Leafhoppers Psyllids Wireworms

PREVENTION:

Nematodes (suppression) Early blight (suppression) White mold (suppression) Aphids Leafhoppers Colorado potato beetles Psyllids Flea beetles Wireworms Fusarium Pythium Rhizoctonia Verticillium

PREVENTION:

Aphids Mites (suppression) Nematodes (suppression) Psyllids Black dot Botrytis Early blight White mold Brown spot Colorado potato beetles Fusarium Pythium Rhizoctonia Verticillium Late blight Wireworms

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Leverage ® 360 is a restricted use pesticide. Not all products are 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 dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Admire,® Bayer, Bayer Cross, Emesto,® Leverage,® Luna Tranquility,® Minuet,™ Movento,® Oberon,® Scala,® Sivanto,® and Velum ® are 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. ©2022 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

HARVEST

TUBER INITIATION

PREVENTION:

Aphids Mites (suppression) Nematodes (suppression) Psyllids Wireworms (suppression) Botrytis Brown spot Early blight Black dot White mold Late blight Leafhoppers

TUBER BULKING

PREVENTION:

Botrytis Brown spot Early blight Black dot White mold Aphids Cabbage loopers Colorado potato beetles Psyllids Twospotted spider mites Late blight Leafhoppers

PREVENTION:

Late blight Botrytis Brown spot Early blight Black dot White mold Colorado potato beetles

Go Big or Go Home Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

Good Stewards

Jeremy Morris drives the tractor during fall harvest.

otato growers Butch and Jeremy Morris went looking for a new potato storage last winter. The father and son partners in Malad Gorge Farms LLC in Gooding, Idaho, did some homework and called around to various building companies. When they found Suberizer, they decided to go big, opting for a 30,000-square-foot custom storage building.

Butch has always been driven and had visions of going big at a young age. He started his agriculture career by custom farming for other growers around Hagerman, Idaho. In 1982, he bought his first plot of land in Gooding. Four years later, the grower bought another farm to start an expansion and implemented a “go big or go home” philosophy that continues today.

These days, Butch and Jeremy expand nearly every year by acquiring land from retiring growers in the area. When land becomes available to rent or buy in their area, the Morrises usually get the first call because they are known to be good stewards of their land. “When we rent ground, the landowners know we will return it in good shape,” Jeremy says. There are seven full-time employees to keep 5,000 acres in good shape at Malad Gorge. In total, the farm grows 500 to 600 acres of fry potatoes for McCain Foods and Lamb Weston, with the rest of the acreage for grain and silage corn. They also own another 2,000 acres that is rented out. The big tracts of land and the large amount of spuds grown leads to long rotations. Six to 10 years between potato crops is their norm. In addition, the Morrises do some custom farming for a fresh pack grower and have a construction company that does side excavation jobs, too. “We’re a big farm on a small-farm budget,” Jeremy says.

The Suberizer construction crew places and zips together one of the last pieces of steel on the building site in Gooding, Idaho.

Potato Country

January 2022

Good Storage

When the time came to spend some of their small-farm budget on a new storage facility, the Morrises found Suberizer to be the perfect fit for them. Suberizer owner Chip Hesse promised the growers that their new building would be done in time for storing their harvest, despite the 2021 challenges of materials shortages and supply-chain woes. In addition, Suberizer offered features that the Morrises wanted, such as a catwalk and an attractive design, on their new storage that they expect to be in use for the next 50 years. They also liked the functionality of the exterior fan house and Air Everywhere Floor. “We liked the look of the air floor and the plenum they have,” Jeremy explains. “There are no holes in the exterior shell at all.” “It's a zipper building,” he continues. “So the way it’s seamed together, there’s no chance of ever having a leak between the steel and the polyurethane.” Potatoes go into storage at Malad Gorge Farms.

Butch and Jeremy Morris check out the Air Everywhere Floor of their new Suberizer storage building during construction.

Malad Gorge Farms in Gooding, Idaho, grows between 500 and 600 acres of fry potatoes every year.

PotatoCountry.com

Malad Gorge Farms LLC The new building features two bays, each 225 feet long by 68 feet wide. An additional 3,000-square-foot building sits in front of the storage bays to house fans, a gigantic evaporative humidifier and five fresh air doors. This provides a lot of room for air to flow through and exchange in the storage. The BTU Ventilation control panel can measure temps to one-tenth of a degree, making the optimal storage temperature of 48 degrees easier to maintain.

Good Advice

Butch Morris checks on the five automatic air doors of his new storage building.

The plenum area between the Suberizer storage bays allows for precise control.

Potato Country

January 2022

Malad Gorge may be the only growers in their dry Magic Valley area to use a combination of well, spring and canal water to feed overhead sprinklers. In 2021, to deal with an extremely hot summer, the growers started watering deeply and frequently. Temperatures were generally over 100 degrees, and Jeremy saw that a few Ranger Russets were misshapen and didn’t bulk as well. “There was more vegetative growth than there was tuber growth. It’s been so hot that the plants tried to cover themselves up, but we are pretty much sideways on quality,” he says. In spite of the challenges in growing potatoes, Butch says he loves farming. “I'm out here a lot. I’d rather do this than anything.” “Never leave your farm to chance,” he continues. “If you’re going to farm, you better be doing it yourself. We’re here all the time.”

Our new television spot is

the perfect icebreaker. For years, our Idaho® Potato Farmer has been obsessed with ﬁnding the Big Idaho® Potato Truck. But he’s got other interests too. In our latest commercial he gives us a glimpse at what he does when he’s out chasing the Big Idaho® Potato Truck. Turns out Idaho® Potatoes are always top of mind, just like they are with consumers – partly thanks to this long-running TV campaign. Look for it airing nationwide on popular channels including CNN, Fox News, The Food Network, Headline News, Hallmark and more.

Find out more at Idahopotato.com PotatoCountry.com

Western Seed Reports

Colorado Seed Potato Crop By Andrew Houser, Colorado Potato Certification Service

lanting went well last spring; however, we were hit with multiple hail events, affecting random fields at different times throughout the summer. Hail set the crop back, depending on the damage severity and timing of the hail event, which made for difficult visual inspections in some cases. Certified seed growers began killing vines in late July and continued through early to mid-August. Overall, crop yields hovered around average to slightly below average, depending on potato variety grown and severity of hail damage during the summer months. Our postharvest test is taking place on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, this year. Colorado certified seed potato acreage for sale and grower plant-back was down from 8,504 acres in 2020 to 7,784 in 2021. The 2021 accepted certified acreage

after summer field inspections was 7,631. Rejections were caused by blackleg, Potato virus Y (PVY)/mosaic and variety mix. Total potato acreage in the San Luis Valley was 48,265, down from 50,923 acres in 2020. The top five certified varieties in Colorado are Russet Norkotah selections (1,976 acres), Canela Russet (695 acres), Reveille Russet (617 acres), Centennial Russet (531 acres) and Soraya (394 acres). An official 2021 certified seed directory is posted online at http://potatoes.colostate. edu/programs/potato-certification-service/ crop-directory. All seed lots imported into Colorado are required to undergo a postharvest test, a lab test for PVYN and a lab test for late blight to comply with the Colorado late blight quarantine.

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. Check out our full range of products at micro-trak.com.

Potato Country

January 2022

A crew plants Colorado’s 2021 postharvest test on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Photo courtesy Andrew Houser, Colorado Potato Certification Service

Post-Harvest Storage Specialists Agri-Stor Companies has been providing quality post-harvest storage services for

Over 60 Years!

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QUALITY EQUIPMENT & CONTROLS

COLORADO 719.850.3017 OREGON 541.798.5655 ALBERTA, CANADA 403.715.6960

CROP PROTECTION & SPROUT INHIBITING

agri-stor.com PotatoCountry.com

Western Seed Reports

Idaho Seed Potato Crop By Alan Westra, Idaho Crop Improvement Association

he 2021 season in Idaho began with normal weather, and planting was completed without serious interruption. Abnormally hot and hazy conditions prevailed from June through mid-August and exacerbated concerns about potential water shortages. Most growers did have sufficient water to complete their potato crops, in some cases at the expense of rotation crops. The latter half of August and all of September were more seasonable. Harvest generally proceeded at a normal pace, and yields are reported to be lower, significantly so in some cases, but seed quality going into storage was reported as excellent. The 2021 crop appears to have a very nice size profile. Seed health is also good. During summer inspections, the number of seed lots with visually detectable levels of Potato virus Y (PVY) increased slightly over 2020, but remains below the 10-year average of 7.8 percent. Blackleg levels were normal, and

there were no detections of potato leafroll or bacterial ring rot once again. A complete listing of the 2021 seed potato crop is available in the 2021 Idaho Certified Seed Potato Directory, which is posted on the Idaho Crop Improvement Inc. website at www.idahocrop. com. At the conclusion of the second round of field inspections, 30,940 acres are eligible for final certification. This is an increase of 2.9 percent from 2020 and, excluding proprietary genetics, includes a total of 133 varieties, selections and advanced clones. Ten varieties account for more than 80 percent of the total acres, with Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah (all strains), Ranger Russet, Clearwater Russet and Alturas continuing as the dominant varieties.

Seed potatoes roll into storage at Arnold Farms in southeast Idaho.

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

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CHEMPORT, INC. 800-247-2480

Serving the Agriculture Industry with cost eﬀective, accurate, & timely inspection data since 1997.

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Western Seed Reports

Montana Seed Potato Crop By Nina Zidack, Montana Seed Potato Certification

2021

marks the 100th certified seed potato crop in Montana. The 2021 Montana seed potato harvest was completed in record time by the second week of October with very good quality, average yields and no frost damage. The growing season was very challenging throughout the West with high temperatures in June and July. Cooler August temperatures allowed for adequate bulking and better yields than originally expected. Disease pressure for Potato virus Y (PVY) and all foliar pathogens was very low during the growing season. In all, 10,930 acres representing 84 varieties were grown in Montana in 2021. Russet Burbank is the state’s most widely grown variety at 3,713 acres and has held steady over the past five years. Umatilla Russet has the second highest acreage at 1,410, which represents a decrease of 21 percent since 2017. The strongest mover in Montana’s portfolio is Clearwater Russet, which is a close third to Umatilla Russet and has increased 99 percent from 697 acres in 2017. Ranger Russet was edged out by Clearwater to become the fourth place variety and has been relatively steady over the past five years at 1,204 acres. The fifth most widely grown variety is Alturas at 693 acres. Russet Norkotah TX(278) is the most widely grown Norkotah selection at 581 acres and has held very steady over the past five years. Russet Norkotah TX(296) has increased substantially from

76 acres in 2017 to 276 acres in 2021. Russet Norkotah CO(3) is holding steady at 252 acres, and Russet Norkotah TX(112) is increasing very rapidly from seven acres in 2017 to 195 acres in 2021. The other variety on the rise is Ivory Russet, which has expanded from 17 to 252 acres in five years. Norland “Dark Red” is the highest acreage red variety at 94 acres, and Snowden and Lamoka at 80 and 46 acres, respectively, are the main chip varieties grown in Montana. Montana is performing its postharvest test on Oahu, Hawaii, with planting in November and visual inspections and leaf testing late December through mid-January. In addition to the field inspections and leaf testing, Montana growers submit duplicate samples of Generation 1 and Generation 2 seed lots for direct tuber testing using PCR. This delivers early information to the growers on suitability of lots for recertification, as well as a backup to the field sample in the event of complications in the field.

PVX GIII

SEED INC.

l RUSSET BURBANK l RANGER RUSSET

l On-farm tissue culture laboratory and greenhouse facility for nuclear seed production l 4 year rotation on clean fields l Strict sanitation program throughout l Modern storage and handling facilities l Rigorous Spray Program

We are dedicated to providing you with consistent high quality, high yielding seed that you can depend on year after year. You are always welcome to visit our farm. Let us show you what our program can do for you.

POTATOEH

Experience the vigour of the north. With colder winters and long summer days, Alberta Seed Potatoes are the best choice for a higher yielding potato crop. 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

Pat

Ideal climate, profitable results. Check out the seed directory at

albertapotatoes.ca

11/18-62054-2

Potato Country

January 2022

2022 NPC WASHINGTON

SUMMIT

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 3, 2022 STANDING UP FOR POTATOES ON CAPITOL HILL NPC’s annual Washington Summit provides a forum for potato industry members to discuss, define, and advocate for the policy priorities impacting their businesses and protecting their ability to farm. • Hear from the nation’s top political and policy experts • Welcome NPC’s 2022 officers and grower leaders • Meet with members of Congress representing potato-growing states and districts • ...and unite as an industry in Standing Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill!

NATIONALPOTATOCOUNCIL.ORG PotatoCountry.com

Western Seed Reports

Oregon Seed Potato Crop By Jeff McMorran, Oregon Seed Certification Service

regon Seed Certification Service (OSCS) accepted 3,052 acres of seed potatoes for certification in 2021. Oregon’s 10-year average is 2,815. We had 63 acres withdrawn due to lack of irrigation water and another 15 withdrawn due to excessive mosaic found at the first inspection. Overall, disease levels were relatively low; however, several lots were downgraded due to variety mix, and there were concerns about chemical injury in some areas. It was unusually hot throughout most of the growing season, compounded with very dry conditions statewide. Wildfires in the Cascades and Blue Mountains also resulted in smoky skies over much of the seed areas. On the flipside, fall weather was ideal for a successful harvest for the most part.

Though white-fleshed, russet or whiteskinned varieties continue to dominate Oregon’s seed production, varieties with yellow or red/pink skin now make up almost 25 percent of the top 30 varieties produced. Clearwater Russet, Lamoka and Frito-Lay varieties topped the list. A complete listing of the varieties, acres produced and field readings can be found at http://seedcert.oregonstate.edu/potatoes.

Clearwater Russet grows in an Oregon field. Photo courtesy Ray Qin, OSU

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  2019 Late Blight-Free Potatoes Big Sky Seed Cole Ag Cole’s Corner Seed Farms Glenn, Tim & Vern Droge Dan Dyk Doug Dyk TRB Dykema Sid & Tim Kamps Kimm Seed Potatoes

Potato Country

January 2022

406-949-0445 406-570-6211 406-581-3920 406-282-7588 406-282-7269 406-282-7271 406-581-7171 406-282-7471 406-282-7592

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

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

Washington Seed Potato Crop By Benita Matheson, Washington State Department of Agriculture

total of 3,648 acres of seed potatoes were entered for certification during the 2021 growing season in Washington. This is a 121-acre increase from 2020. The top four varieties grown are Ciklamen (582 acres), 907-15 (317 acres), Chieftain (285 acres) and Russet Burbank (234 acres). The total acres planted include 146 different potato varieties ranging in size from partial-acre plots to 68-acre fields. Most seed lots are less than 20 acres in size and include numbered clones, table stock, processing and heirloom variety potatoes. In total, 478 individual seed lots were entered for certification from nine separate farms. Washington’s climate was hot and dry in 2021. Drought conditions were noted throughout the state, and Northwestern

PILERS

SIZER ONLY

2011 Logan 42” x 53’ boom belted chain, 230 volt 3ph, remote 2003 Double L 813 30” x 49’ belted chain, dirt cross, 220 volt 1ph, remote 2000 Wemco 36” all belt, 480 3ph, remote 1993 Spudnik 550 36’’ 1ph belted Chain, remote 1993 Spudnik 525 30” 3ph, remote, Belt Chain 1987 Spudnik 550 30” Belt Chain, 230 V 3ph 1985 Spudnik 450 Piler 36” 3ph all belt, remote 1982 Spudnik 500 Piler 30” x 45’ 230 volt 3ph 1981 Spudnik 400 Piler 30” x 45’ 220 volt 1ph

1991 Spudnik 910 60” 3ph 480 volt

DIRT ELIMINATOR W/ SIZER 2015 Milestone 96” Sizer, Sorter Eliminator 3ph 2011 Mayo 72” DE, Sizer 3ph 2010 Milestone MSDS 60” DE, Sizer, Clod drums 230 V 3ph 2000 Double 878 DE 78” 3ph flip down 72” sizer 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim. 62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer 1994 Milestone 72” Dirt Elim. Sizer, 2 – 24” x 12’ stingers

DIRT ELIMINATOR ONLY

SCOOPERS

1990 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1984 Spudnik 100 24” 1ph 1982 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1993 Double L 837 24” 3ph

STINGERS

2014 Logan Trac Pro 10’ x 30” belt 3ph 2012 Spudnik 2200 10’ x 36” belt 3ph x 2 2010 Logan Trac Pro 12’ x 36” Belt 3ph 2002 Spudik 2200 30” 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

1989 Spudnik 1200 Tel. Conv. 30” x 50’ Hyd. Drive & steer 1993 STI 30” x 75’ 3ph Tel. Conv. 1989 Double L 810 Tel. conv. 30” x 50’ 3ph 1987 Double L 810 30” x 50’ 3ph

CONVEYORS - STRAIGHT Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph Double L 808 30” x 25’ 3ph Spudnik 1200 30” x 40’ 3ph x 4 Spudnik 1200 30” x 30’ 3ph x2

2000 Spudnik 900 60” 230 volt 3ph 1997 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1987 Spudnik 60” belt hopper, fingers, BC table 3ph 1985 DL 807 62” BC, with 2- 30” x 12’ stingers 3ph 1984 DL 806 44” BC with 2 stingers 3ph 1986 DL 824 36” BC with 1 stinger 1ph 1986 Spudnik 900 48” 220 V 1ph

ROCK/CLOD/AIR ELIMINATORS 2017 Harriston 4240 CH ellis table, Peg belt blower 3ph 2015 Lockwood Air Vac 8, 480 Volt 3ph 2013 Harriston 4240 Clod Hopper 3ph 2004 Harriston 3240 Clod Hopper 3ph 1998 Harriston 200 Clod Hopper 3ph 1997 Harriston Model 200 Clod Hopper 1 ph 1994 Harriston Model 200 Clod Hopper 1 ph

EVEN FLOWS

1996 Double L 860 600 cwt, belt stingers , manual jacks 1994 Milestone 45cwt 3ph VFD tilt belt 1986 Milestone 90cwt 30” Elev.Auto fill 3ph VFD Davis 450 cwt Evenflow dual Spudnik drive, 230 volt 3ph

A seed potato field blooms in Whatcom County, Wash. Photo courtesy Kay Oakley, WSDA

TRUCKS

SEED CUTTERS

2007 Mack 330hp Allison Auto- 2 available 1992 Freightliner FL70 8.3cum, 09 Logan LP20 elec 1999 Mack 350 13spd, 2011 Logan 24’ Bed PTO 1998 Spudnik model 2100 Bed 24’ White PTO only 2009 Logan LP20 White electric

C . IP

CROSSOVERS/WINDROWERS 2021 Allan 6 row rebuild RH 2015 Allan 6 row LH 2006 Allan 6 row LH 2000 Double L 851 4 row LH 1999 Double L 851 4 row RH 1982 Logan 2 row

HARVESTERS

2010 Lockwood 784H - ID 2009 Spudnik 6400 – ID 2010 Double 953 - ID 2009 Double L 953 -- ID 2007 Double L 853 – ID 2005 Lockwood 474H 2005 Spudnik 6400 bunker - ID 2000 Double L 873 - ID 2001 Spudnik 6400 1996 Double L 853 - ID 1996 Lockwood 4640 4 row - OH 1997 Lockwood 4620 2 row - ID

2000 Milestone 60” 230 volt 3ph 2000 Better Built 46520 60” 3ph

M O

BEDS

U Q

E D

U P

CONVEYORS - TELESCOPIC

growers saw the need for more irrigation instead of relying on natural rainfall. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) staff noted that late blight and blackleg disease pressure was slight to non-existent. Harvest began two weeks earlier than normal, at the beginning of September, and was complete by late October. Yields were noted to be fair and average, even with prolonged heat conditions. WSDA noted little external damage to the tubers, such as knob growth, which can be graded out at the time of harvest and shipping. Seed shipments to southern climates began in late fall and will continue into the winter months, with the majority of seed to be shipped in early spring. The postharvest test is being conducted in Hawaii.

TREATERS

Excel SS combo liquid & dust Treater 2008 Milestone 42” Duster 1996 Milestone 36” Duster

PLANTERS

2013 Spudnik 8069 bed planter 9 units in 6 row pull 2012 Harriston 6 row cup,36”, pull, dry fert, Allan Press wheels. 2007 Lockwood 6 row pick Hyd drive 2004 Spudnik 8060 Cup 6 row 36” Grimm 6 row cup 36” w/ Fert. Allan Press Wheels - PEI 1996 Lockwood 6 row pick mechanical 1995 Kverneland 4 row 3200 – 36”

PLANTER/TARE/PILER

New Logan 36” Tare Piler 3ph VFD 2009 Logan Trac Pro 30” planter filler Hyd lift, swing, tip 2002 Double L model 815 planter filler 24” Hyd lift, swing, tip Lockwood L24 1500 All belt Tare piler 3ph

WATER DAMMERS

2004 Spudnik 9060 cultivator, bed shaper, props

MISC.

Scooper belly dump unloader attachment Mayo Scooper belly dump unloader attachment

NOT COMPLETE LIST CALL OR CHECK OUR NEW SITE

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PotatoCountry.com

Irrigation Essentials Disinfecting Services

www.disinfectingservices.net (208) 356-5332 Flo Pro, Power Flush

Flo Pro keeps low-flow irrigation lines clean and maximizes crop production. Flo Pro combines plugging-prevention chemistry with a patent-pending soil conditioner that improves absorption and targets root zones for water and nutrient retention and uptake. Flo Pro uses fifth-generation amines and phosphonate chemistries to provide a costeffective product to remove and prevent plugging in low-volume irrigation systems. Used at low usage rates, it makes water unsuitable for biological hosts. According to the manufacturer, the product changes the nature of the soil in the root zone from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, allowing the soil to retain water and nutrients in the critical root zone for optimum plant uptake. Power Flush unplugs drip tape emitters and micro-jets quickly and safely, restoring drip system efficiency. With its high-oxidative power, Power Flush reacts quickly and powerfully, clearing out plugging materials. An exclusive blend of oxygen and peroxyacetic acid, Power Flush is more effective than hydrogen peroxide at significantly lower feed rates, and the liquid is safer and more convenient than fuming acids and toxic gases. There are no halogenated hydrocarbon byproducts with Power Flush as are typically seen with chlorine and chlorine gas treatments, and any residuals are readily biodegradable and friendly to the environment.

Potato Country

January 2022

Manna Irrigation

www.manna-irrigation.com Manna Irrigation Intelligence

Know exactly how much and when to irrigate potatoes. Manna Irrigation Intelligence is a software solution that provides farmers with irrigation recommendations and crop monitoring tools at the touch of a button, without the hassle of soil or plant sensors. Based on high-frequency satellite images, weather data and agronomic models specific to the user’s potato crop, Manna empowers growers to make irrigation decisions easily and confidently by providing them with a high-resolution, integrated view of the entire field rather than readings from isolated, disparate locations. Manna’s user-friendly software delivers daily irrigation recommendations for every valve and every field, neardaily crop health monitoring, and soil water content calculations. Manna successfully supports around 1,000 potato fields worldwide, leveraging decades of experience in agronomy, precision agriculture and remote sensing.

Pivotal Advantage

(509) 785-2101 or pivot@smwireless.net Chemigation System

Uniform chemigation is here. With chemical and liquid fertilizer prices rising at ridiculous rates, it has never been more important to maximize yields and guard the bottom line. The Pivotal Advantage system provides uniform and accurate distribution of chemigation and fertilization for circles with corner systems. It eliminates the practice of calculating the amount of chemical needed by the total acres and setting the injector pump at a stagnant amount. Whether fully extended, half or fully retracted, the Pivotal Advantage system controls and distributes these two critical components when and where they are needed, eliminating over- and underapplication. Simply plug the system into an existing injector pump station, apply two settings and go. Uniform coverage will increase yields and save money.

Skone Irrigation

(509) 545-8420 in Pasco, WA, or (509) 349-7364 in Warden, WA Reinke GPS Guidance

Reinke has released a new application for its GPS guidance system. Skone Irrigation, a Reinke dealer in Pasco and Warden, Washington, is now able to install Reinke’s GPS guidance on any Valley corner machine. This is a very reliable system and is a great option for systems that are encountering issues with buried wire guidance. This system can replace a current pathway or allow a user to realign the pathway to accommodate a newer structure or circle design. A simple download from a zip drive program and even in-field realignment is possible with this system. With a new install of the guidance system, irrigators can fix longstanding areas of concern, and the system can be moved onto machines purchased in the future.

Irrigation Inc. PASCO & WARDEN, WA

www.skoneirrigation.com

PotatoCountry.com

Improving Fungicide Performance in Hydrophobic Soils R

ecognizing the presence of hydrophobic soils in your fields is not difficult. During a good rain or irrigation, seeing puddles or runoff is a pretty good indication there is a problem with the infiltration of water in your field. Even patchy crop emergence can be a clue that you have hydrophobic soils. While runoff and a poor crop stand are serious issues that need to be remedied, what is happening below the soil surface can be just as serious and have a direct effect on the health, yield and economic return of your potato crop. The main cause of hydrophobicity or water-repellent soil is the coating of soil particles with waxy organic compounds that result from the breakdown of plant residue. Typically, coarse-textured, sandy

soils with clay content below 5 percent are more susceptible to becoming water repellent. It has been found that water repellency only occurs in soils with less than10 percent clay, and repellency is most extreme in soils with less than 5 percent clay. Below the surface, pockets of the waxcovered, water-repellent soil particles can cause uneven infiltration of rainfall and irrigation, resulting in poor germination, emergence, growth and, ultimately, yield. Relatedly, a hydrophobic soil pocket will also prevent the uniform coverage and control of a soil-applied fungicide, herbicide or insecticide. With a fungicide or insecticide application, this makes the plant more susceptible to disease or insect damage; with a pre-emergent herbicide

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Potato Country

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application, this would result in poor weed control. There are several ways to combat hydrophobic soils, but most are either not economically feasible for large acreage or require agronomic practices that may not fit your farming operation. These methods include: •Adding clay to increase the soil surface area to lessen water repellency. The goal would be to raise the clay content of soil so it is greater than 5 percent. This is usually not economically viable because it may require tons of clay applied across the affected acres. •Growing crops with root systems that increase water infiltration into the soil. •The addition of biostimulants. This will not directly remedy the water repellency of the soil but may help by stimulating root growth so the crop can take up water deeper in the soil profile. However, if the soil is truly hydrophobic, the water may not be able to infiltrate the soil to be present deeper in the profile.

Adaptable Technology

As another option, Oro Agri Inc. offers a way to combat water-repellent soils with a soil adjuvant. The company, manufacturer of WETCIT and other foliar adjuvants, recognized the similarity between the water repellency of hydrophobic soils and the repellency of most plant leaf surfaces that impede the absorption of foliar-applied pesticides. The company’s patented OROWET technology, used in its foliar adjuvants, was developed to greatly reduce the surface tension of foliar sprays to overcome leaves’ repellency and to improve the speed and concentration of pesticide applications absorbed into the leaf. Oro Agri adapted this OROWET technology into a soil-applied adjuvant and introduced ORO-RZ. Prior to its introduction, independent third-party field trials were conducted on potatoes to test the theory that applying

Figure 1. In field trials comparing fungicides alone and in tank mixes with ORO-RZ adjuvant, the ORO-RZ + fungicide tank mixes provided better Rhizoctonia control than the fungicides alone.

control, the trials were taken to harvest, and yield data was collected for each treatment. Again, the ORO-RZ + fungicide tank mixes outperformed the fungicides alone in delivering consistently higher yields (Fig. 2).

A Versatile Tool

Figure 2. In field trials comparing fungicides alone and in tank mixes with ORO-RZ adjuvant, the ORO-RZ + fungicide tank mixes helped deliver higher yields than the fungicides alone.

a soil adjuvant that contains the surface tension-reducing property of OROWET technology could help overcome the water repellency of hydrophobic soil. This improvement in the uniform infiltration and distribution of a soilapplied fungicide would enhance the coverage of fungicide applications and result in better disease control.

The field trials compared the efficacy of Priaxor and Quadris fungicides alone and in tank mixes with ORO-RZ adjuvant. The results, across four years of field trials, showed the ORO-RZ + fungicide tank mixes consistently provided better Rhizoctonia control than applications of the fungicides alone (Fig. 1). In addition to measuring Rhizoctonia

The ability of ORO-RZ to improve the efficacy of soil-applied fungicides also applies to pre-emergent herbicide control of weeds. Just as pockets of hydrophobic soil can prevent a fungicide from providing its best disease protection, hydrophobic soils can also prevent an herbicide application from controlling weeds. Hydrophobic soils prevent the formation of a uniform pre-emergent herbicide layer just under the soil surface to stop weeds from emerging. These gaps in the herbicide layer mean more weeds will emerge that now must be controlled with a post-emergent application, adding time and costs to the weed control program. But in four years of field trials, the addition of ORO-RZ to pre-emergent herbicide applications for marestail control resulted in improved control of this weed. Just like with fungicides and Rhizoctonia control in potatoes, ORO-RZ helped deliver more herbicide to its target than the herbicide alone, boosting its performance and value to growers. For more information, visit www. oroagriusa.com. PotatoCountry.com

National Potato Council

Infrastructure Bill Throws Bipartisanship a Lifeline By Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council

he infrastructure bill has been signed into law, providing

$550 billion in new spending on physical infrastructure over the next five years. It also extends existing transportation programs, bringing the total projected spending over 10 years to $1.2 trillion. On the day of the bill signing in the White House Rose Garden, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack joked in a tweet that with President Biden’s signature, “Infrastructure Week” had finally ended. This was ironic as “Infrastructure Week” had been promoted and attempted in fits and starts by numerous presidents and sessions of Congress. Even so, the bill signing highlighted the fact that the best

way to pass anything as comprehensive and expensive as the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” is to engage a wide range of players from both ends of the political spectrum. The way the infrastructure bill was passed in bipartisan fashion also underlines the philosophy of the National Potato Council (NPC) that we, as an industry – and as a country – are at our best when we set aside our political differences to develop real and tangible policy results for our citizens. After repeated attempts over the years, this legislation was finally brought over the finish line with the broad support of the agriculture industry because it delivered long-term federal aid for a number of long-held priorities. Those investments touch areas vital to stakeholders throughout modern agriculture: the bolstering of our roads

Sponsored by:

Listen on: ThePotatoPodcast.com 20

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January 2022

and bridges, the enhancement of rural broadband, and the funding of ports and inland waterways. The bill’s cornerstone is its much needed (and long overdue) investment in U.S. roads and bridges. With $110 billion slated in long-term funding, the potato industry will benefit from improvements of millions of miles of roads, highways and bridges – investments that are essential to getting food grown, harvested, transported, and delivered to dinner tables throughout America and to consumers overseas. Not only will this funding help increase companies’ bottom lines by making it more efficient to transport goods, it will boost the U.S. potato industry’s competitiveness as a whole compared to our international rivals. In the area of rural broadband, the bill’s $65 billion in funding will help close internet service gaps throughout the nation, but particularly in underserved rural communities. Anyone involved in modern ag knows that broadband access is essential to growers focused on maximizing yield, limiting costs and lowering environmental impacts. Unfortunately, due to service gaps, many rural communities are significantly underserviced, leaving farm families and farming operations behind their fellow citizens and competing businesses. The investment in the infrastructure bill will help those communities catch up through enhanced broadband connectivity, providing growers access to the latest yield-maximizing farming techniques. Finally, the bill provides $17 billion in port infrastructure and waterway funding. With one out of every six rows of U.S. potatoes destined for foreign consumers, the importance of our ports and waterways to the short- and longterm health of our industry cannot be overstated. The supply chain troubles starting at our ports and emanating throughout the country may be today’s front-page news, but the challenges of shipping potato products through aging

ports are nothing new to our industry members. With upgraded capabilities of our ports, we hope to further expand the international footprint of the U.S. potato industry. NPC has long advocated for a reliable and competitive intermodal network of roads, bridges, port facilities, ocean shipping, and railroad capacity to improve the production and movement of crops from field to market. Not only does the recently signed infrastructure bill help address some of these longstanding issues, it shows that even in an age of fierce partisanship, we can still find commonsense solutions to improve the lives and livelihoods of growers and citizens alike.

Calendar

Jan. 18–20

Idaho Potato Conference and Ag Expo

Your Post Harvest Specialists www.groupag.com

208.356.7800

Pond Student Union Building and Holt Arena Pocatello, Idaho Kristy Mayer, kristym@uidaho.edu

Jan. 25–27

Washington-Oregon Potato Conference

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

Feb. 28 – March 3

2022 NPC Washington Summit

Washington Marriott at Metro Center Washington D.C. www.nationalpotatocouncil.org

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100 Years and Counting Story and photos by Brian Feist

he Montana Seed Potato Seminar was back in person in 2021. And just in time, as this was the 100th anniversary of Montana’s seed certification program. As usual, the organizers put together an interesting, engaging and informative show. The agenda included sessions on physical and mental health for growers, updates from around the industry, and a two-part keynote address from a grower in Colorado who uses no chemicals on his potato seed crop.

Physical and Mental Health

The sessions on physical and mental health were well attended. As these are subjects that probably every grower should be aware of, but also something few talk about, they were perfect inclusions to the show. Megan Kemp is a physical therapist who grew up on a farm and is married to a farmer. So, she understands the various aches and pains that come with the kind of hard work involved in potato farming. She used her insight and training to show several helpful exercises and stretches.

Alison Brennan, an assistant professor at Montana State University and extension mental health specialist, spoke about mental health. She started her presentation by saying “agriculture isn’t just about soil, and water and crops and so forth; agriculture is about people.” She pointed out that each grower is the most important asset on the farm, and that asset should be kept at peak performance. Explaining that while stress is a normal part of the job, it is important to check in and make sure the stress isn’t becoming overwhelming. She mentioned the Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program, which is a program funded by the USDA that provides free mental health services in 13 states and four territories. Visit www.farmstress.us for more information.

Biotic Farming

Keynote speaker Brendon Rockey spoke about his farm that uses a method he calls “biotic farming.” His method involves a get-back-to-basics approach that started with rebuilding his soil by

NutriScan shows off its real-time diagnostic technology that monitors the nutrient status of the soil.

Potato Country

January 2022

focusing on carbon. “Everything needs carbon. The good part is that there’s a lot of it in the atmosphere,” he said. Rockey grows more than 25 varieties of certified seed and specialty fresh market potatoes in Center, Colorado. Across 500 irrigated acres in the high desert, companion crops, animals, cover crops and flowers replace synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. These management decisions have resulted in sustained yields and improved water efficiency for over a decade. Rockey’s creation of an ecosystem that encourages beneficial insects, soil microbes and carbon cycling works not only in the field, but in his seed potato greenhouse, as well, he said. Rockey’s biotic approach is founded on carbon cycling and diversity. In his presentation, he explained how synthetic Megan Kemp with Excel Physical Therapy demonstrates a stretch that can be done at home with a towel.

inputs and the absence of life break a farm system. In turn, he illustrated how a biotic approach heals and establishes a foundation to strengthen a farm’s overall health. He also demonstrated how he implements biotic tools and resources to successfully grow a quality seed crop in a place where seed and commercial production must coexist. His method has caught the attention of the government. The USDA has put together a detailed guide and video series on adding more diversity to farms. To learn more, visit www.farmers.gov/blog/ conservation/soil-health-how-to-benefitfrom-more-diversity.

Attendees enjoy a reception at the end of the first day.

Nina Zidack opens the Montana Seed Potato Seminar. Brendon Rockey of Rockey Farms explains his style of farming, which he calls biotic farming.

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 60 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.

Toll Free: 1 (800) 362–9791

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

Potatoes USA

Potatoes USA Spearheads Initiative to Define Quality Carbohydrate By John Toaspern, Chief Marketing Officer, Potatoes USA

t should come as no surprise that Americans still have a “carbohydrate confusion” problem. This confusion plays out on a consumer level with the popularity of such diets as Keto and Paleo and the general desire to “cut carbs.” This confusion often stems from communications around flawed research and an overgeneralization of study findings that often keeps potatoes in the crosshairs of carbohydrate mischaracterizations, specifically: • Potatoes are not grouped with vegetables in observational studies. Rather, they are often put into groups with refined sugar, sugarsweetened beverages, processed meat, etc.

•There is an overreliance on Glycemic Index (GI) as a marker for carbohydrate quality. Yet, newer research calls into question GI’s utility and validity. Potatoes USA is involved in efforts to change this, starting with the funding of the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE). Recently, Potatoes USA has taken a proactive approach to push back on the flawed science and misinterpretation of findings through two specific initiatives: •Advancing science-based communications that reinforce the role of potatoes as a nutrient-dense vegetable •Supporting efforts that take a novel approach to define quality carbohydrate-containing foods

APRE Builds Proof to Support Positive Potato Messages

For the past five years, APRE has been funding potato nutrition studies to react to potato mischaracterizations and identify new reasons to believe in the health benefits of eating potatoes. APRE is building a scientific foundation that identifies how potato consumption can help support healthy lifestyles and reduce disease risk. APRE has invested more than $4.5 million in research, resulting in 40 funded studies and 17 publications to date. Collectively, this research is important for the entire industry as it helps to solidify potatoes as a nutrientdense vegetable and quality carbohydratecontaining food.

Potatoes USA Supports Rigor, Integrity in Nutrition Science

The Potatoes USA team is proactively engaging with the scientific community to ensure that nutrition research is being fairly and consistently analyzed. One forthcoming Potatoes USAfunded study is being led by David Allison, Ph.D., Indiana University – Bloomington, co-chair of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Strategic Council for Research Excellence, Integrity and Trust. Through this instrumental research, to be concluded in 2022, Allison will take a published study that grouped potatoes in the “less healthy” category, resulting in findings that linked potato consumption to increased risk for heart disease and diabetes, and reclassify potatoes into the “more healthy” category, then rerun the data. This allows two scenarios to be investigated: a “healthy” pattern with potatoes and a “less healthy” pattern without potatoes.

SizeN™ ®

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Entire “Carbohydrate Agricultural World” Supports Efforts for a Definition To prompt new thinking surrounding carbohydrate quality, Potatoes USA

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spearheaded the Quality Carbohydrate Coalition (QCC). The QCC is made up of organizations representing all carbohydrate-containing foods across the food supply – including fruits and vegetables, beans, pulses, lentils and peas, pasta, grains and rice – that have come together to support a path forward that better defines quality carbohydratecontaining foods. The actual science behind the algorithm development (which will be used to define quality carbohydratecontaining foods) is being led by an independent Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), which includes six worldrenowned health and nutrition scientists. During the initial conversations, the SAC

agreed that whatever approach is taken, GI needs to be omitted as a marker for carbohydrate quality. The SAC plans to complete three manuscripts to support these efforts: •Manuscript 1 sets the stage for this undertaking and provides rationale around omitting GI from the discussion. This is now published in Nutrients. •Manuscript 2 will reveal the approach to and components of the algorithm. This will be completed and submitted for publication this year. •Manuscript 3 will bring the algorithm to life by showing how it can be applied to various dietary patterns and across cultures. The estimated publication timing is the second quarter of 2022.

What’s Next? How Can the Industry Help?

These collective efforts will be used to inform dietary guidance and educate nutrition thought leaders. This work is important, now more than ever, as there is a prevailing narrative to reduce intakes of high-GI foods, like potatoes, amongst leading vocal institutions such as Harvard. Industry members are encouraged to get involved and help spread the word about the APRE research program, potato nutrition findings and the QCC/SAC publications. To stay up to date on the latest research and nutrition news, visit www. apre.org and www.potatoesusa.com.

PotatoCountry.com

In the News

IPC Swears in New Commissioner

Mike Duncanson is the newest member of the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC). Duncanson, the director of raw material procurement at Basic American Foods, has been sworn in to represent the processor sector of the industry. Brett Jensen of Brett Jensen Farms and Bryan Wada of Wada Farms have been appointed chairman and vice chairman, respectively. They serve alongside fellow commissioners Ron Ambrose of 4 Ace Farms, Todd Cornelison of High Country Potatoes, Mark Darrington of Big D Farms, Eric Jemmett of J&S Farms, Paul Saito of McCain Foods and Julie Van Orden of Garth Van Orden Farms.

Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association “Quality as High as our Mountains” RUSSET VARIETIES: Russet Norkotah S3 Russet Norkotah S8 Rocky Mountain Russet Silverton Russet Rio Grande Russet Canela Russet Mesa Russet Mercury Russet Fortress Russet Crimson King COLORED VARIETIES: Columbine Gold Colorado Rose Rio Colorado Red Luna Purple Majesty Masquerade Mountain Rose Vista Gold

Potato Country

January 2022

Potato Programs Earn Funding

The USDA has awarded grants totaling more than $2.6 million to four potato breeding programs. The Tri-State Potato Research and Breeding Program received $943,332. Michigan State University was awarded $796,725. Another $510,104 went to the University of Maine, and Texas A&M University received $415,359. The grants are designated to focus on the development and testing of superior commercial potato varieties using classic breeding and advanced molecular and biotechnological approaches.

Spud Equipment Changes URL

Spud Equipment has changed its web address in an effort to make it easier and quicker to navigate to the site. Online visitors can now find the company at spudequip.com. The company hosts an online marketplace for farmers across North America to buy and sell used potato equipment and other types of farm implements.

SPUDEQUIP.COM 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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The Little Potato Company Expands Product Line

The Little Potato Company has announced a new proprietary potato varietal. Purely Purple features a naturally bright purple skin and flesh that holds its color even after cooking and delivers a subtly sweet flavor. The company has also introduced two flavor extensions to its Microwave Ready line: Smoked Salt and Roasted Garlic, Rosemary and Thyme. The new Microwave Ready Kits come with 1 pound of creamer potatoes in a steam tray with a seasoning pack.

Canada Restricts PEI Potato Exports

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has enacted new restrictions on Price Edward Island (PEI) potatoes to prevent the spread of potato wart following the October 2021 confirmation of potato wart on two PEI farms where potatoes were being grown for processing. As of Nov. 22, all exports of potatoes from PEI to the U.S. are suspended, and equipment used in fields in PEI face new restrictions before crossing into the U.S. In addition, shipments of PEI seed potatoes to other Canadian provinces are suspended, and enhanced measures for cleaning other potatoes from PEI are in place. If potato wart was transmitted into the U.S., the U.S. potato industry would likely lose access to all international fresh potato markets, costing over $225 million in annual sales, according to the National Potato Council.

Tasteful Selections, RPE Form New Company

Bite-size potatoes company Tasteful Selections and RPE, its exclusive sales and marketing partner, have formed a new entity called Tasteful Partners. The deal consolidates RPE’s expertise, proprietary data, category insight, intellectual property and sales strategy assets with Tasteful Selections’ planting, growing, harvesting and packing processes. The formation of the new entity also allows Tasteful Selections to better serve its customers as a vertically integrated operation from seed to field to packing and the customer sale, according to the company. RPE was established in 1971 and now sells 1.2 billion pounds of potatoes per year. The Tasteful Selections-RPE partnership has been in place since Tasteful Selections began growing and packing potatoes in 2010.

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

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Market Report

2021 US Potato Crop Smaller

SDA estimates that potato growers produced 413.16 million cwt of potatoes during 2021. That is 6.86 million cwt less than the 2020 crop, a 1.6 percent decline. It is the smallest U.S. potato crop since 2013. Nine of the 13 reporting states posted reduced production this year. USDA puts this year’s national average potato yield at 438 cwt per acre. That falls 23 cwt short of the 2020 record of 461 cwt per acre. USDA made numerous changes to its June 30 acreage estimates for the various states. The net result was a 4,000-acre increase in this year’s planted area to 951,000 acres. That is 32,500 acres more than growers planted in 2020. At 942,300 acres, the official harvested area exceeded USDA’s June forecast by 6,400 acres. At the 20-year trend yield, the increase in this year’s planted area would have produced 433.46 million cwt of potatoes. As a result of reduced yields in several key production states, this year’s production fell at least 20.3 million cwt, or 4.9 percent, short of industry expectations. In this article, we review the USDA data and explore the implications for the frozen processing and other industry sectors.

Columbia Basin

USDA estimates that Washington and Oregon growers planted a total of 205,000 acres to potatoes in 2021. That

is 5,000 acres more than they planted in 2020. It puts Washington’s average yield at 585 cwt per acre, 60 cwt per acre below the 2020-crop yield of 645 cwt. That is the state’s lowest yield since 2012. USDA estimates Oregon’s average yield at 570 cwt per acre, down from 600 cwt for the 2020 crop. The combined changes result in a 118.84 million cwt crop in 2021. That is 7.81 million cwt less than the region produced in 2020, a 6.2 percent reduction. Growers reduced 2020 production purposely to account for the expected impact of the pandemic. This year’s crop falls 11.43 million cwt short of 2019 production.

Idaho

USDA held the planting estimate for Idaho at 315,000 acres and indicated that growers were able to harvest all but 500 acres of this year’s crop. It estimates this year’s average yield at 420 cwt per acre, down from the record 450 cwt in 2020. The yield estimate is 30 cwt below the trendline. It is the lowest average yield for the state since 2015. Extremely high temperatures during June and July took a significant toll on the state’s potato yields. USDA puts Idaho’s 2021 crop at 132.09 million cwt. That is 2.69 million cwt less than 2020 production, a 2 percent decline.

Upper Midwest

Combined production for the upper Midwest is estimated at 69.75 million

cwt. That is 744,000 cwt less than 2020 production. It exceeds 2019 production by 3.77 million cwt. However, the 2019 crop was short due to an early onset of winter weather. We note that Wisconsin’s production may be overstated, but that is an ongoing problem. It probably does not affect the relative size of this year’s crop. It appears that processing supplies and chip potato supplies may be somewhat larger than they were prior to the pandemic.

Maine

At 18.42 million cwt, USDA’s November crop estimate puts this year’s potato crop 4.96 million cwt above 2020 production, a 36.9 percent increase. USDA reduced the state’s planted area from its June estimate by 2,000 acres, to 54,000 acres. Growers harvested 53,400 acres of potatoes this year, 2,600 acres more than they harvested in 2020. After last year’s devastating drought, growers experienced nearly ideal growing conditions this summer. USDA put the state’s average yield at a record 345 cwt per acre. That is 80 cwt above the 2020 yield.

Other States

Production in the other five states totaled 64.89 million cwt, down 0.8 percent from 2020 production. USDA puts Colorado’s 2021 potato crop at 21.14 million cwt. That is 1.46 million cwt

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January 2022

Than Expected fewer potatoes than the state produced in 2020, a 6.4 percent decline. Michigan’s potato crop is estimated at 20.01 million cwt, up 14 percent from last year’s crop. USDA puts California’s 2021 potato crop at 12.35 million cwt, a 4 percent decline. At 6.02 million cwt, USDA’s Texas potato crop estimate falls 1.1 million cwt short of the state’s 2020 production, a 15.4 percent decline. USDA puts this year’s Florida potato crop at 5.37 million cwt. That is 69,000 cwt more than the state produced in 2020, a 1.3 percent increase.

Summary

The raw product supplies available in the processing states fall short of local processing plant needs. Domestic and export demand for French fries and other frozen products is at least as strong as it was prior to the pandemic. Fryers increased acreage commitments back to 2019 levels in both Idaho and the Columbia Basin. Those contracts were based on the expectation that yields would be up again in 2021. That did not happen with this summer’s excessive heat taking the top off 2021-crop yields. Quality issues have further reduced the supply of useable potatoes. The table potato supply situation is mixed. Some regions in the eastern part of the country have ample supplies, while reduced output in Idaho has limited the overall table potato supply. Russet and red potatoes could be tight during the 2021-22 marketing year. Chip potato supplies appear to be plentiful. A large portion of the extra production in Michigan, Maine and Wisconsin is in chip potatoes. This year’s reduced production will impact all sectors of the potato industry. The impact is likely to be most severe for the frozen processing sector.

By Ben Eborn, Publisher, North American Potato Market News

KEY POINTS • USDA estimates 2021 U.S. potato production at 413.16 million cwt, down 6.86 million cwt from the 2020 crop and 11.26 million cwt short of 2019 production. • As a result of reduced yields, this year’s production fell at least 20.3 million cwt, or 4.9 percent, short of industry expectations. • Production in the Pacific Northwest fell 10.49 million cwt short of 2020 production and 10.24 million cwt below 2019 production despite a 20,000-acre increase in the region’s combined planted area. Editor’s note: To contact Ben Eborn, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: P.O. Box 176, Paris, ID 83261; (208) 525-8397; or email napmn@napmn.com.

Agricultural Consulting & Testing • Soil Testing • Irrigation Scheduling • Feed Analysis • Contract Research • Tissue Testing • Pest Management

• Field Research • Grid Sampling • Variable Rate Fertilization • International Testing • Agronomic and CCA Seminars • Nematode Testing

Contact: Paul Stukenholtz, Consulting Agronomist

Crop Consultants: JP Kruckeberg • Bart Kunz • Cameron Brower Antone Christensen • Wess Gibson • Cody McCoy • Kevin Victor

www.stukenholtz.com 208-734-3050 • 800-759-3050

PO Box 353 • 2924 Addison Ave E. • Twin Falls, ID 83301 PotatoCountry.com

Potato Growers of Washington

Doing the Math on the 2022 Contract By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

n my previous column, I explained the backstory of the timing and mechanics of reaching an agreement on the 2022 potato contracts in the Columbia Basin. While most growers were either happy with the outcome of the negotiations or have come to see and accept the validity in what we have done, there remain a few very vocal opponents to our agreement who believe that the 20 percent increase is not enough. It is very interesting that throughout Potato Growers of Washington’s (PGW) history, the most dissention among potato growers happens in years in which we get big increases in the contract price. This is because whatever number we arrive at, it is not enough for some growers. In my time at PGW, this is the third time that prices increased more than 15 percent, and those same three years, we have had the most vocal critics who think we could have and should have achieved a larger increase. I know I am biased because I was the spokesperson for the growers in the negotiations, but I firmly believe that each of those years, the right number was achieved for the overall industry, even if it was not the right number for all growers. Taking a closer look at this year, I think this argument is even clearer. First, nearly all cost of production models show that costs to grow potatoes are up approximately $1,000/acre. Nearly

all growing costs, apart from harvest and handling of potatoes, are invoiced on a per-acre basis. Our contracts pay out based on the weight and quality of the potatoes produced on those acres. So a 20 percent increase in the gross dollars eligible to be earned by the grower based on the yield and quality of potatoes produced does not directly correlate to a 20 percent increase in the cost of production. To make this as clear as possible, let’s look at some very simple math and not at actual contracts or cost of production. If the 2021 potato contracts, using five-year historical data for yield and quality, projected a gross dollar payment to the grower of $100/acre, and the growing cost to raise those potatoes was $80/acre, the grower would have had a gross margin of $20/ acre. The 2022 contracts increased the projected revenue from $100/acre to $120/acre. Since growers have stated that their individual cost of production increases have projected out to be between 18 percent to just over 30 percent, that $80/acre cost to grow in this example would jump up to $94/acre for the most efficient operations and $104/acre for those with the highest cost increases.

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In our example, the most efficient operations would see their profit rise from a $20/acre projection in 2021 to a projected $26/ acre, which would raise their profit margin from 20 percent to 22 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, growers whose costs were up 30 percent would still see a projected profit of $16/acre. Yes, their margin would decline from 20 percent to 14 percent, but they would still be profitable. You can extrapolate these simple numbers out to your cost of production and see where your numbers will fall. I think many will be surprised that a 20 percent increase in revenue on the volume goes a lot further than many think toward covering increases in cost per acre. As I have stated many times, there is a very big balancing act in setting contract pricing to take into account the wants and needs of growers from a few hundred acres of potatoes to those with tens of thousands of acres of potatoes. I believe the 2022 potato contracts take this into account very well and reward the most efficient operations while also keeping growers with less buying power profitable, allowing them time to make their operations more competitive going forward. To accomplish this in the fall so that everyone has all winter to make plans with firm contract pricing known is a big win in my opinion. Thank you once again to all of the growers who helped take part in the contract negotiations and to all of you who have shown us great support during this trying time.

Potato Country

January 2022

"It is very interesting that throughout Potato Growers of Washington’s history, the most dissention among potato growers happens in years in which we get big increases in the contract price."

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