Potato Country March/April 2019

PotatoCountry.com • March / April 2019 Western focus. National impact.

Flying F Inc.

Natural-Born Potato Grower

PLUS: Practical Advice Growth Essentials Minimizing the Impact

For the Advertiser Index click here

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

Vol. 35 No. 2

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

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

March/April 2019

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

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

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

Jeff Miller .....................................................jeff@millerresearch.com

8 Natural-Born Potato Grower

Disease Identification

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

Flying F Inc.

Market Report

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

12 Practical Advice

Potato Growers of Washington

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

Washington-Oregon Potato Conference

Operations Manager, Advertising

20 Growth 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.

26 Minimizing the Impact

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.

31 How Taters Trot the Globe

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.

Buyers' Guide

Idaho Potato Conference and Ag Expo

34 Bruised and Battered

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.

Potato Growers of Washington

It is produced by Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444 Copyright 2019. 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 Representatives from the Washington State Potato Commission serve Mountain Gem Russet baked potatoes to attendees of the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference.

Bill Brewer

Chris Voigt

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

See the story on page 12.

(509) 765-8845

On The Cover

Departments

Russell Frisby, owner of Flying F Inc. near Caldwell, Idaho, grows 500 acres of potatoes a year.

See the story on page 8.

6

Potato Country

(503) 239-4763

March / April 2019

18 22 24 25 30 32

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

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

(406) 994-3150

President/CEO

(208) 334-2350

President/CEO

(719) 852-3322

LOOK OUT, PESTS. MINECTO PRO DOESN’T MISS. Minecto® Pro insecticide delivers exceptional control of difficult-to-manage pests in your crops. With its premix formulation of two powerful modes of actions, Minecto Pro offers extended residual control of pests including psyllids, mites, whiteflies, thrips, beetles and worms. Minecto Pro is designed to protect specialty crops including citrus, tree nuts, pome, potatoes and vegetables. When you have difficult-to-control pests in your crops, make sure your insecticide doesn’t miss.

To learn how Minecto Pro can help protect your crops from pests, visit SyngentaUS.com/MinectoPro

©2018 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. Minecto Pro is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Minecto Pro is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops and weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift onto blooming plants while bees are foraging adjacent to the treatment area. Minecto®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

MW 9MNP00577-DART-AG66 01/19

Natural-Born Potato Grower Story by Allen Thayer Photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

I

daho’s Russell Frisby is a natural-born potato grower.

Before launching Flying F Inc. near Caldwell, Idaho, where he grows Russet Burbank potatoes, onions, corn and wheat on 3,900 acres, he worked at Frisby Farms for his parents, Rod and Maureen, in Sand Hollow, Idaho.

Frisby went into agriculture after finishing high school in 2001. He briefly worked for Arctic Cat testing snowmobiles before going into farming full time.

“I helped my dad at his farm and helped manage it, and then in 2013, I went out on my own,” Frisby recounts.

8

Potato Country

March / April 2019

Adjacent to I-84 near Caldwell, Idaho, workers at Flying F Inc. harvest potatoes in early October 2018.

In time, he expanded the farm and took on more acreage. Today, he employs eight people full time and hires up to 25 workers for harvest.

“Quality and yield were exceptional last harvest,” Frisby says. “There was a really good growing season for the russets in our area.”

He typically dedicates about 500 acres for potatoes. That translated into a haul of 28 to 30 tons per acre last harvest.

Frisby, who grows for Ore-Ida, uses the Lockwood Air Cup Planter for his potato crop.

“A lot of equipment has doubled in size since the 1990s just to keep efficient,” he says.

“I enjoy agriculture and the lifestyle of raising kids on the farm,” Frisby shares. “I’ve always been around the farm and enjoyed it. I’m passionate about agriculture.”

He now raises three children, Kensley, 11, Bailey, 9, and Blake, 7, on his farm.

He also serves on the USDA Farm Service Agency Committee in Payette County, Idaho.

Farming Future

United States tariffs are taking a toll on farmers and the storage, shipping and freight operations they need to move their crops to market.

While soybeans are most directly impacted after China pulled its contracts, Frisby says it affects more than that one crop.

“It puts pressure on the other commodities, and then it kind of trickles down by impacting other crops,” he explains.

Resolving the trade issue is key for agriculture.

“We need to be able to export commodities,” Frisby says. “When the economy is good and the dollar is strong, it seems like we struggle in the ag industry.”

Frisby says the number of potato growers in the Treasure Valley has recently gone down from a high of between 20 and 30.

“There are only a handful of potato farmers now,” he says. “There’s pressure when customers aren’t buying.”

Economic Challenges

Major parts of the Food Safety Modernization Act have gone into effect, with more on the way, since it was signed into law eight years ago. The bill was Congress’ response to a string of highprofile, deadly foodborne illness outbreaks that exposed the shortcomings of the country’s food safety system. Yet Frisby said food safety issues, along with greater pesticide and irrigation compliance, can create problems for farmers.

“It seems like we get more and more restrictions since there is a lot of pushback from consumers of new genetics, but yet they don’t want to adapt to newer resistant varieties,” he says. “We’re kind of stuck with trying to grow 30-year-old varieties

A worker loads spuds into a truck during the 2018 potato harvest at Flying F Inc.

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Potato Country

March / April 2019

A former racer on the hill-climb snowmobile circuit, Russell Frisby now spends his time away from the farm racing trucks and UTVs in the winter.

in today’s society that doesn’t understand cultural farm practices.”

Inflation also concerns Frisby.

“It’s a pretty challenging environment with low return for what prior generations were used to,” the grower says.

Flying F Inc. grows processing potatoes for Ore-Ida.

Snow Fun

When not on the farm, Frisby can often be found on the snow. A longtime snowmobiling enthusiast, Frisby fondly remembers competing in events like the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, years ago.

“I still ride quite a bit in the backcountry,” he smiles. “I don’t go race anymore.”

His younger brother, Heath, continues racing and makes appearances at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, every year.

Frisby has turned his attention to other pursuits.

“I’ve been going and racing off-road trucks and UTVs lately,” he says. “I’ve been doing some of that in the winter now.”

That’s Utility Terrain Vehicles for the uninitiated. For Frisby, it’s a way to relax before another planting season begins anew.

Flying F Inc. harvested between 28 and 30 tons per acre last year.

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11

Practical Advice

By Denise Keller, Editor

I

n which direction should potato rows be planted? Does it matter?

How big of a concern are Lygus bugs in potatoes?

Researchers answered these questions and many more at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference, held Jan. 23-25 in Kennewick, Washington.

Plant Grow Harvest displays its new red variety Autumn Rose.

Planting Direction

Often, potato growers determine planting direction based on the layout, shape and slope of the field. But in what direction should growers plant if they have a choice? With no known research on the subject done in potatoes, Mark Pavek, a potato specialist with Washington State University, set out to find the answer.

Planting potatoes in rows creates small “hedges,� Pavek explained. Because of the density within the row, the majority of the sunlight is absorbed by the leaves on the sides and top of the row, not between the plants within the hedge.

With this in mind, he set up a trial to look at sun movement throughout the growing season and determine how it might impact temperature and growth of

Jon Jarvis with Nachurs talks shop with Oregon State University agronomist Ray Qin.

Keynote speaker Pablos Holman, a computer hacker, explains how embracing technology helps businesses be competitive.

the plants depending on the orientation of the rows. He just wrapped up the fourth year of the trial, in which he planted rows of Umatilla Russet going north to south, northwest to southeast, northeast to southwest and west to east. He added Payette Russet to the study in 2018.

Measuring photosynthetic light at various times of day and soil temperature at a 6-inch depth, Pavek calculated heat units. He found that from planting to row-closure, growing degree days (heat units) did not vary by row orientation.

The duration between planting and plant emergence was not reduced or improved by the direction of the row. However, at the end of the growing season, the rows planted in a north-to south orientation appeared to accumulate slightly more heat units than other directions.

Following harvest, Pavek assessed yield, quality and economic return. He found similarities in rows planted from the north, northwest or northeast, whereas rows planted from west to east resulted in lower total yield and market yield. When looking at market yield greater than 6 ounces,

Pavek found that rows planted northwest to southeast grew larger tubers. Northwest to southeast resulted in the best gross return, with other northern orientations producing similar results. However, rows planted west to east had an almost 10 percent drop in gross returns.

Pavek explained that the differences may have to do with photosynthesis, reminding the audience that the optimal leaf temperature range for plants to process sunlight is between 75 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. As temperatures exceed this range, photosynthesis slows down. Collecting adequate light before temperatures get too high, often prior to 4 p.m., is important for plants to optimize photosynthesis and plant growth.

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WA-OR Potato Conference “If you want to maximize plant light absorption before it gets too hot, you need to plant the direction that is going to allow maximum light saturation on both sides of the row as much as possible,” Pavek advised.

The data showed that rows planted in a north-to-south, northwest-to-southeast and northeast-to-southwest orientation received more sunlight on both sides of the rows collectively throughout the season when compared with west-to-east planted rows.

Rows planted west to east always had a significant shadow on the northern side of the row due to the movement of the summer sun in the Northern Hemisphere.

Pavek said growers should avoid planting west to east if possible.

“Field layout and slope may dictate your planting direction. I get it,” the researcher acknowledged. “But if you can change that, perhaps you should.”

Pavek believes that row orientation may make an even greater difference in regions with shorter seasons than the Columbia Basin because plants have a shorter window of time across the season to absorb the needed solar radiation.

An audience member asked Pavek why direction of planting mattered if the potato canopy typically covers 100 percent of the ground beyond mid- to late-June. Pavek indicated that light still makes its way into the lower canopy, and it follows the path of least resistance, which is typically between

Lygus Bugs

Dan Chin with the Oregon Potato Commission dishes up a baked potato during the conference’s potato bar lunch.

the rows, even at 100 percent groundcover.

He went on to explain that all leaves in the canopy photosynthesize and that saturating as many leaves as possible with light is essential for growers to maximize economic return.

Pavek plans to repeat the trial at least one more year.

The Oregon Potato Commission’s Mark Ward (left) and Mike Macy (right) present Bill Brewer (center) with a plaque acknowledging his 14 years as the commission’s president and CEO. Brewer is retiring in June.

14

Potato Country

March / April 2019

In another presentation, Tim Waters, a WSU regional vegetable specialist, addressed the industry’s concern about Lygus bugs. He emphasized that while the insects can be a carrier of pathogens, they have not been proven to be a vector of anything including BLTVA, the causal agent of potato purple top disease.

Lygus have been found in potato fields for a very long time, Waters said, but populations built rapidly about five or six years ago. To learn more about the species composition, Waters’ team collected Lygus from 20 sites in the Columbia Basin of Washington in the 2018 season.

They found mostly Lygus Hesperus in the southern and western parts of the Basin, while Lygus elisus was sometimes dominant in the north.

Waters described a Lygus bug’s mouthparts like a hypodermic needle. It lacerates plant tissue, injects a digestive enzyme and feeds on the plant. Feeding damage impedes the function of the plant and damages vascular tissue. This causes malformed leaflets, shortened nodes, swollen nodes and axillary buds. Later, the upper canopy can turn purple and aerial tubers can form. These symptoms can all be associated with a pathogen, but can also be associated with mechanical damage, Waters pointed out.

Last year, Waters conducted an

Mark Pavek with Washington State University explains how the direction of potato rows can impact the growth of the crop.

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For more information, contact your retailer or Bayer representative or visit www.Movento.us. © 2019 Bayer Group. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Movento are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us.

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WA-OR Potato Conference experiment to determine whether Lygus bugs cause economic damage to potatoes in the Columbia Basin. At three sites, he compared plots of Umatilla Russets under various conditions: uncaged, caged with no Lygus, caged with Lygus introduced at flowering and caged with Lygus introduced at tuber bulking.

After assessing the yield and grade of

each plot and evaluating the economic impact, it was apparent that Lygus bugs negatively impact plant health and tuber quality, Waters reported. There was some variability from one site to another in regard to which factors were most influenced.

While insecticides will kill Lygus bugs, controlling Lygus through an entire potato

The crew from AgriNorthwest checks out a pump regulator for a sprayer.

crop season would be very difficult and expensive, and good control would be unlikely, Waters said. Instead of attempting season-long control, growers should focus more on controlling Lygus at key times. There is a need to determine when the insects cause damage and at what threshold treatment should begin. Waters hopes to continue this research this year.

Washington State University plant pathologist Dennis Johnson delivers his last research presentation. He retired in January.

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Potato Country

March / April 2019

Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho.

He can be contacted by phone: (208) 531-5124; cell: (208) 431-4420; jeff@millerresearch.com

Dr. Jeff Miller

Fusarium fungi can be destructive pathogens of potatoes. Fusarium seed piece decay is the name given to the phase of the disease when seed pieces are infected. Dry rot refers to the infection of daughter tubers coming out of the field and in storage. Various species of Fusarium are known to cause seed piece decay and dry rot. Two of the more common species in the Pacific Northwest have been Fusarium sambucinum and Fusarium coeruleum.

Can you tell which species is causing the symptoms shown below?

A

B

C D E F 18

Potato Country

March / April 2019

Photo courtesy Dr. Gary Secor

Answers Page 25

HEALTHY

FROM FIRST SPROUT TO FINAL HARVEST

From sprout to harvest, Luna® fungicide protects potatoes throughout the growing season, improving plant health for beautiful crops and abundant potato yields. As a breakthrough systemic fungicide, Luna provides unparalleled control of White mold, Early blight and other problematic diseases. Make Luna a cornerstone of your fungicide program to consistently produce a high-quality crop – and more of it.

Find out what Luna can do for you at LunaFungicides.com/potato. © 2019 Bayer Group. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Luna are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. CR0119LUNNAAB038S00R0

Growth Actagro

www.superchargeyourtubers.com Proximus

Proximus is a liquid nitrogen management tool approved for all crops in the U.S. and Canada. It has a patent-pending mode of action that works with native microbes in the soil instead of killing them. Proximus acts as a soil catalyst, increasing selected microbial populations that consume and hold nitrates in their biomass, reducing leachable nitrates in the soil, and then releasing them back to the plant over time.

Proximus also acts as a root catalyst, encouraging a higher percentage of ultra-fine roots, which increases uptake of water and nutrients. Both of these combine to produce increased nitrogen use efficiency, reduced leaching and increased yield where nitrogen was the limiting factor.

Proximus improves plant and soil health and is a sustainable liquid nitrogen solution.

Agrinos

www.agrinos.com iNvigorate, B Sure

iNvigorate from Agrinos promotes the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and promotes a healthy soil microbial community. The product improves nutrient uptake by freeing up soil-bound nutrients, increases fertilizer use efficiency and aids in stronger root growth. It also rejuvenates the soil microbial community and increases soil organic matter. iNvigorate reliably improves yield and crop quality across a wide variety of soils, crops and growing conditions.

B Sure is a liquid nutrient solution from Agrinos. To support plant productivity in a variety of environmental conditions, B Sure contains carbon, nitrogen, true protein, amino acids and essential metabolic micronutrients. True protein is a source of highly bioavailable time-released nitrogen, complementing the activity of applied nitrogen. The micronutrient formulation helps build and support an active photosynthetic pathway.

Carbon and essential minerals boost plant metabolism and stimulate plant and root growth. Free amino acids provide ready-made building blocks for protein synthesis.

Compass Minerals Plant Nutrition www.protassiumplus.com/potatoes Protassium+

Protassium+ is a dual-nutrient source that delivers high potassium and sulfate sulfur with virtually no chloride and a low salt index.

Potatoes need high levels of potassium and sulfur each season for improved quality and uniformity of yield. Potatoes also take up potassium more than any other nutrient, making replenishment necessary to achieve a higher degree of production.

Protassium+ is a premium potassium source that helps potatoes reach their full yield potential.

20

Potato Country

March / April 2019

Essentials Redox Chemicals, LLC www.redoxchem.com Root Rx

RootRx is a reacted nutrient product containing proprietary botanical extracts. Root Rx promotes the production of anti-oxidants in the plant to help manage environmental oxidative stress. In managing environmental oxidative stress, the plant can overcome a variety of stress events and maintain cell wall integrity and superior plant growth, allowing the plant to increase in crop quality and yield.

Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. www.cropvitality.com Crop Vitality

Crop Vitality nurtures crop life by delivering sulfur-based liquid plant nutritionals for the agriculture industry. For over 100 years, Crop Vitality has served customers by enhancing crop potential through innovation, research and development of sustainable, scalable fertilizers.

PotatoCountry.com

21

New Products

Lindsay Launches Budget-Friendly Irrigation Monitoring Tool

Lindsay Corporation is expanding its FieldNET line of products to include a budgetfriendly irrigation monitoring solution.

Pivot Watch works on any pivot brand and offers do-it-yourself installation. It includes a solar-powered remote telemetry device and a monitor-only subscription to Lindsay’s FieldNET irrigation management platform.

Pivot Watch has integrated cellular connectivity, GPS positioning and other embedded sensors, enabling growers to remotely monitor their pivots’ functions, such as current position, status, direction and speed, using the FieldNET app.

Zimmatic dealers will begin offering FieldNET Pivot Watch in North America early this summer and in select international markets later this year. Pricing starts at $299, including the first year, monitor-only FieldNET subscription. After the first year, the subscription will cost $100 per year.

Visit www.myfieldnet.com.

Sub-Micronized Calcium Product Hits Market

Oro Agri has introduced Encourage Nanocal, a liquid, soil-applied product designed to supply potatoes with readily available calcium during periods of high demand such as tuber formation. The calcium carbonate particles are milled to an average size of 0.7 microns, allowing the product to be taken up by the roots without additional mineralization, according to the company. Oro Agri’s TransXylem technology further facilitates quick uptake by the roots and rapid translocation throughout the plant.

Visit www.oroagriusa.com.

22

Potato Country

March / April 2019

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put its stamp of approval on AZteroid FC 3.3 fungicide, a new higher concentration formulation of Vive Crop Protection’s AZteroid FC fungicide. In potatoes, it is used to manage black dot, black scurf and silver scurf.

AZteroid FC 3.3 has twice the concentration of its predecessor. Both fungicides use nanotechnology to allow active ingredients to mix well with liquid fertilizer, other chemicals, micronutrients and hard water, according to the company.

Visit www.vivecrop.com.

COMING NEXT ISSUE:

Harvest Essentials

to DETAILED MAPS

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to STORAGE

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In the News

Hall of Fame Inducts Potato Growers

The Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame included two potato growers among its six 2019 inductees.

Rob Davis of Connell, Washington, was acknowledged as “a young individual in the agriculture industry who demonstrates a commitment to community involvement with a dedication to enhance agriculture.” Davis has been in ag since 1999 and started RHD Farms in 2006. He was chairman of the U.S. Potato Board in 2013-14.

The late Pete Taggares was also honored.

Known as a pioneer in the Columbia Basin potato industry, he built the state’s first large French fry plant in Othello, Washington.

Rob Davis is inducted in to the Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame.

Big Idaho Potato Truck Hits the Road

The Big Idaho Potato Truck kicked off its 2019 tour at the end of February after logging more than 40,000 miles in 2018. Last year, the truck participated in 68 scheduled events from the Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon, to the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. The Big Idaho Potato Truck is a campaign of the Idaho Potato Commission. The 4-ton potato and its team travel the country promoting Idaho spuds. In its seven years, the truck has traveled almost 212,000 miles throughout all 48 lower states and attended events in 651 cities.

2018 Potato Retail Sales Increase

The value of store retail potato sales was $11.6 billion in 2018, a 2.1 percent increase over 2017. The increase was paced by refrigerated sales, up 5.3 percent, and frozen, up 4.1 percent.

The total volume, however, declined 1.9 percent for the year. The decline was led by fresh, down 4.5 percent, even though the value of fresh sales was up 1.8 percent. The volume decline for fresh was driven almost exclusively by russets, down 7.7 percent, with reds down 0.7 percent and fingerlings down 2 percent for the year.

24

Potato Country

March / April 2019

AMVAC Adds Sales Rep

American Vanguard Corporation has hired Brandon Brook as a sales representative in the Pacific Northwest region. Brook will promote AMVAC agricultural products to customers in the Columbia Basin area of Washington and Oregon.

Brook has spent his entire career in ag-chem retail. Most recently, he was at Wilbur-Ellis, where he worked for 21 years in retail, area distribution and key account roles.

He’s also been involved with the Washington State Potato Foundation board and has completed the ARA Leadership Academy at Purdue University.

Calendar Mar. 11-14

Potatoes USA Annual Meeting Hilton City Center Denver, Colo.

Chelsea Madix chelsea@potatoesusa.com

June 12

6th Annual Ag World Golf Classic Canyon Lakes Golf Course Kennewick, Wash. www.agworldgolf.com

June 10-12

United Fresh 2019

Growers Take Concerns to Capital

Washington state potato growers made their voices heard in Olympia during the annual potato day in January. They gathered in the state capital to meet with state legislators, staff members and agency personnel.

The group shared the perspective of a family potato farm, communicated various challenges and expressed the need to fund soil health research. The Washington State Soil Health Initiative provides a win-win opportunity for potato growers, the environment and local communities, according to supporters.

Growers also showed support for the recommendations of the bipartisan Pesticide Application Safety Workgroup, emphasizing the need for dedicated funding to expand pesticide and applicator training at the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Discussion also included concerns with some carbon and energy proposals.

The group explained that establishing carbon and energy fees would, directly and indirectly, impact potato production in Washington, making it difficult to compete in the low-margin global marketplace.

Chicago, Ill. www.unitedfresh.org

July 10-12

National Potato Council Summer Meeting

Chula Vista Resort Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.

Hillary Hutchins hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org

July 28-Aug. 1

Potato Association of America Annual Meeting

Know Your Disease Answers (from page 18)

A. This photo depicts the early stage of F. sambucinum infection. Early infections may not show cavities with fungal growth which are common in older infections. F. sambucinum infections are typically dark brown to black and will appear wet in the early stages of development. This species has historically been the more common of the two. This species can be very damaging in pre-cut seed if the seed is not handled and treated properly.

Delta Hotel Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada www.eventcamp.ca/event/paa2019

B. This photo shows early F. coeruleum symptoms. Decay caused by F. coeruleum is a lighter brown color to tan color. Research from Idaho shows that when seed piece decay shows up in fresh cut seed (cut and direct plant), this species is more likely to be the culprit causing decay.

Oct. 17-19

C. F. coeruleum is the cause of this decay also. These tubers were found in storage in January. Every infected tuber had evidence of bruising or other damage, and it appeared that was where the decay had started. Minimizing wounding helps in the management of Fusarium dry rot in storage.

PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo Anaheim, Calif. www.freshsummit.com

Editor’s note:To have your event listed, please email Denise Keller at editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com.

Please send your information 90 days in advance.

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

D. These symptoms were caused by F. sambucinum. F. sambucinum causes a decay which usually doesn’t cover the entire tuber surface. Rather, it appears that the fungus is channeling through portions of the tuber. These symptoms are classic F. sambucinum symptoms.

E. This is relatively early decay caused by F. sambucinum. The infection apparently began at the stolon attachment. Some research has shown that the level of Fusarium on seed pieces can be indicative of the dry rot risk to the daughter tubers. Hypotheses on why this is the case are that fungal spores may wash from the seed piece to the daughter tuber, or that the fungus may grow from the seed piece on the stem and stolons to the developing tubers.

F. This is a trick question. These symptoms are caused by Fusarium graminearum.

As mentioned above, multiple Fusarium species cause dry rot. This decay is different in appearance compared to F. sambucinum and F. coeruleum.

PotatoCountry.com

25

Minimizing the Impact Story and photos by Brian Feist

In

a crowded room at the 2019 Idaho Potato Conference, Mike Thornton with the University of Idaho explained that impact bruising on potatoes is something that the potato industry has known about for a long time. However, Thornton noted that the number of people in the audience indicated that many growers are searching for ways to deal with bruising.

Starting his presentation with a graph from the 1970s, Thornton illustrated his point that impact bruising is not a new issue. The graph showed that problems identified in the 1970s included soft rot, dry rot, blackspot and bruising. Fast forward to today, and a survey of retailers showed that the most common quality problems seen in the fresh market are soft rot, dry rot, blackspot and bruising. “Well, why is that?� Thornton asked.

He explained that while potato skin is very resilient to disease, if it gets broken or torn, it is much easier for a pathogen to get into the potato and cause damage.

Growers know that blackspot and shatter/cuts are due to impact. Thornton and his team are proving that dry rot and soft rot are also due to impact, as that gives the pathogen a way in. Taking all four of these problems together, most of the issues experienced by retailers are because of impact, either directly or indirectly.

All-Star shows off some of its equipment at the 2019 Ag Expo.

Mike Thornton with the University of Idaho explains ways to lessen the impact of bruising on potatoes.

26

Potato Country

March / April 2019

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Idaho Potato Conference

Attendees of the Idaho Potato Conference pack the room for a seminar on bruising.

How to Limit Impact

Knowing that impact is causing the issues, the question becomes what is the best way to limit impact on potatoes.

Thornton and his team found that some varieties handle drops better than others.

They also found that temperature plays an important role.

The biggest thing to pay attention to is the actual distance that potatoes fall, according to Thornton. There is a height from which potatoes can be dropped and remain undamaged, and there is a height from which potatoes will be completely damaged. So the trick is to be in between those two extremes, Thornton said. The extremes differ depending on the variety, the temperature and many other factors, he stressed.

He shared two main suggestions to limit impact. First, whenever there is a pivot point where potatoes move from one belt to another or from one piece of equipment to another, keep the belts as close as possible to limit the distance of the fall. Second, run belts at capacity so that potatoes can act as a cushion for other potatoes. If growers are unable to do those things, or they’ve taken these steps and are still having issues with bruising, Thornton recommends looking at other ways to add cushioning such as padding, belting and soil. He also recommends using a bruise ball, as it will find spots in the production chain that are causing undue stress on the potatoes.

Sponsored by: To participate in

ThePotatoPodcast.com

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Potato Country

March / April 2019

People Power

Another important aspect to minimizing impact bruise is properly training people, Thornton added. If workers don’t know how to operate the equipment, it is more likely things will go wrong. Growers should make sure crews know all the best practices.

Improper maintenance is another potential source of problems. Growers should make sure that any padding is maintained and in good condition so that it is doing its job correctly.

The University of Idaho has made bumper stickers to put on farm equipment to remind everyone to minimize impact and has also produced training videos on windrower and harvester operation. Access these materials at www.uidaho.edu/cals/ potatoes/bruise-management.

Spudequipment.com Pilers

2007 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2003 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 1999 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC, 3ph remote 1998 Spudnik 560 hyd 36”x 49’ BC, 480 volt 3ph 1999 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3ph Remote 1994 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3ph Remote 1989 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3phase 1986 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3phase

Conveyors - Telescopic

1998 Spudnik TC 36/42/60 3ph Refurbished 1996 Double L 820 30” x 60’ 3ph 1994 Spudnik 1250 TC 30/36/ 60 3phase 1992 Double L 810 Tel. conv. 30’’x50’ 3ph

Conveyors - Straight Spudnik 1205 30” x 40’ 3ph Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph Double L 808 30” x 25’ 3ph

Sizers/Eliminators

2009 Double L 978 DE/sizer 3ph 2003 Milestone 84” DES Belt Chain Elev 2002 Spudnik 925 72” 3ph 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim. 62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer 03 Spudnik 995 72” BC Peg Belt, Finger rolls, sizer, 3ph 1997 Milestone MSDES 72” 3ph Dirt Elim Sizer 94 Spudnik 900 Sizer 60” 230V 3ph 89 Milestone 72” Belt, Finger Rolls, Sizer, Table 1ph

Dirt Eliminators

97 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1995 Double 806 Collector 44” 2-pups, 87 Spudnik 900 48” 220 volt 1ph

Rock/Clod/Eliminators

2015 Lockwood Air Vac 2014 Harriston Clod Hopper 4240 x 4-96”drums 2013 Harriston Clod Hopper 4240 ellis table, Peg belt blower 2010 Harriston Clod Hopper 3240 x 396” drums with sizer 2007 Harriston Clod Hopper 240 x 2 96” drums 1996 Harriston Clod Hopper 200/80” 230 Volt 3ph 1994 STI 1260 Sand Machine

Crossovers/Wind Rowers

2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row RH 50/50/50 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row LH 50/50/50 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row RH 40/40/36 2003 Lockwood 5000 Four Row LH 50/50/50 1998 Double L 851 Four Row RH 50/50/45

Harvesters

2002 Spudnik 1000 cwt 3ph 2000 Spudnik 1800 600cwt 3ph 48” elev.

Grimme 1 row w/bunker pintle belts 2014 Lockwood 574 4 row 2012 Double L 965 3 row, w/Multi-sep table 2010 Lockwood 474 50/56/56/56/50 2010 DL 953 4 row 36” row 2009 DL 973 4 row 36” row 2009 Spudnik 6400 50/50/45/45/45 2008 DL 973 4 row return flo, galaxy table 2008 DL 953 4 row 36” 2008 Lockwood 474H 4 row 2007 Double 853 4 row 50/50/45/45 2002 Spudnik 5640 4 row 1996 Lockwood 4620 two row 1994 Logan 90 series two row

Beds

Seed Cutters

Even Flows

2011 Logan LP24 PTO only 2010 Double L 20’ 901 Elec White EZ Tarp 2010 Double L 20’ 901 Elec. White EZ Tarp 2010 Double L 20’ 901 Elec. White EZ Tarp

1998 Milestone 60” 1996 Milestone 60” 1999 Milestone 48” 1993 Milestone 36”

Trucks

Treaters

2007 Sterling 13spd MB 425hp, no bed, frame for 22’ bed, has PTO. 1991 Ford Aero/Max L9000 Cat 425hp 9spd 260K original miles, DL 20’ bed dual drive 1985 IH 5000 Pay-Star 290 hp Cum., manual

New Excel 10”x 10’ Liquid/ powder Stainless New Excel 10” x 10’ Liquid/powder Mild Steel 2015 Milestone 36” Liquid Treater 1998 Milestone 42” Duster 1996 Milestone 36” Duster

Planters

2009 Harriston cup planter 8 row pull loaded 34” 2009 Underhaug 3760 8 row 34” Raven controls 2 products 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row low acres 2005 Harriston model 4016 cup, Raven Controller 36” 2005 Lockwood 6 row Pick 36” 2003 Kverneland 3300 Six row 34” 2002 Spudnik 8400 cup 4 row 36” 2000 Grimme 8 row 34” row rear steer 1995 Kverneland 3300 6 row 34”

Planter/Tare/Piler

1990 Milestone Utility PIler 16” DL 815 30” x 24’ hyd belt chain DL 815 24” x 24’ 3ph DL 814 24” x 30’ hyd belt chain

Water Dammers

2006 Spudnik 8060 Cultv. Bed Shaper Diker 2002 Ag Engineering 8 row Dammer diker 1994 Ag Engineering 4 row Tillage Master 9 shanks Hyd reset

Shredder/Vine Beaters 2012 Newhouse P1952 Pull hitch Tire Roller 36” 2005 Alloway/Woods 6 row

Warehouse/Packaging

2017 Tri Steel Double Tote Bag Filler Tilt belt Warehouse Even flow 600cwt 8’6” x 26’ x 14’ 30” belt 230 V 3ph 2012 Kwik Lok 865 Bag closer

Bruce: (208)390-5120 | brucen@tristeelmfg.com Evan: (208)757-8481 | evann@tristeelmfg.com

PotatoCountry.com

29

Insect Biology Quiz

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

Dr. Andy Jensen

Many different insects and other arthropods are sometimes found in potato fields. Some are well-known pests or biocontrol agents. Others are just passing through or are rarely seen but frequent residents of crops.

Below are photos of three arthropods that are uncommonly seen in potato fields.

A

What is each arthropod, and what is it doing in a potato field?

C B Answers on page 34

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

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

30

Potato Country

March / April 2019

167820MonPot13h.indd 1

9/18/17 11:45 AM

The Northwest Seaport Alliance

How Taters Trot the Globe

By John Tullis, Business Development Manager, The Northwest Seaport Alliance

O

nce a formed in 2015 as a response to changes Fast forward to today. As the NWSA potato is approaches its fourth anniversary this across the maritime sector where fierce harvested, where competition has driven prices downward. summer, the final investments are does it go? underway to upgrade Husky Terminal in In recent years, ocean carriers began If its Tacoma to accommodate not one, but two to invest in larger ships because they cost destination lies super-post-Panamax ships end-to-end. less to operate, using less fuel per unit and overseas, it will And construction is set to kick off on benefiting from other economies of scale. almost certainly But with larger ships came excess capacity, similar upgrades to Terminal 5 in Seattle pass through one of the 10 container as soon as this summer. With the capacity terminals of The Northwest to handle large volumes effectively, Seaport Alliance (NWSA). And we are anchoring our ability to Did You Know? from there, most travel to Asia. continue connecting exporters across Cargo volume is measured in 20-foot Nearly a third go to Japan, but the Northwest with markets overseas, equivalent units (TEUs). Most trucks out on our South Korea, China, Taiwan, the particularly in Asia. highways are hauling 40-foot containers, two Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore are also hungry for To learn more about The Northwest TEUs. In 2017, the NWSA exported 67,317 the potatoes exported through the Seaport Alliance, TEUs of frozen potatoes, 13,200 TEUs of fresh NWSA. visit www.nw.sa.com. potatoes and 13,869 TEUs of other potato From French fries to chipper types, such as flakes or starch products. potatoes to fresh, whole potatoes, Editor's Note: John Tullis, business roughly three-quarters of the development manager at The To provide a sense of scale, an estimated nation’s potato exports pass through Northwest Seaport Alliance, shared 40,000 whole potatoes could fit in one 40-foot NWSA terminals. And demand is an update from the port and shipping container. growing; consumers in Central and industry at the Washington-Oregon South America want more potatoes, Potato Conference. “We value the and the NWSA is looking at how best to opportunity to participate in the potato and many ocean carriers have since had meet that demand through our terminals. conference as potato products are an to consolidate. These volatile market important, high-volume commodity in conditions brought a critical choice for the our gateway.

It’s a great opportunity to Competitive Position Ports of Seattle and Tacoma: continue to connect with both growers and shippers The Northwest Seaport Alliance is a compete against each other and watch their and provide them with an update on the partnership between the Ports of Seattle revenues tank or join forces and invest improvements we’re making at the port,” and Tacoma to move marine cargo both in terminal modernizations to handle the into and out of the U.S. The partnership Tullis said. larger ships.

Husky Terminal in the south harbor of the NWSA (Tacoma) placed four super-post-Panamax cranes at its berth in 2018. Four more are expected to arrive in March.

PotatoCountry.com

31

Market Report

Will French Fry Production Lead to In N

orth American processors either have or will be bringing online as least 1.3 billion pounds of new frozen potato product processing capacity between October 2018 and December 2019. That is roughly an 8 percent expansion in about 16 months. When the new lines operate at capacity, they will use between 20 million and 21 million cwt of potatoes per year.

Since the new facilities are spread between growing areas in the Columbia Basin, Idaho, Alberta and Manitoba, the impact on needed acreage will be dependent upon expected yields in those growing areas. We believe that the total area increase needed to support the new capacity will be between 44,000 and 47,000 acres. Some of those potatoes were under contract for the 2018 crop, but the last of the announced expansions will not come online until December 2019.

Therefore, the earliest that we will see the full impact of this expansion will be the 2020 crop.

Will fryers be able to market the extra product that these plants are capable of producing? Can we expect further expansion in the frozen product sector?

How will this expansion impact the potato industry in general? These are just a few of the questions that the recent spurt in investment raises. North American processing capacity remained relatively flat for almost 20 years as the industry consolidated following a period of rapid expansion in the 1970s and 1980s. While fryers built new plants during that time, they idled older and less-efficient facilities in order to create a better balance between capacity and sales.

The current round of expansion should ease capacity utilization rates, at least temporarily. Our sources indicate that the most efficient plants have been running at 105 percent of design capacity in recent years. That is not sustainable in the long run. It means that processors have had to defer maintenance on plants in order to cover their customers’ needs. The new 32

Potato Country

March / April 2019

capacity should allow fryers to perform maintenance on older plants over the next one to two years, which will sop up some of the capacity coming online.

Increasing Demand

Demand for French fries continues to grow, both globally and within the U.S. All-day breakfast has been a force that has boosted U.S. domestic sales 4 percent per year for the last two years. Though the impact of that shift in demand is likely to dissipate, there is a great deal of pent-up demand from QSR operators that have been unable to procure product for menu extensions. We believe that U.S. domestic demand will continue to increase at a 2 percent annual rate for the next several years. Internal EU demand for French fries has been growing at a 4 percent average annual rate since 2003. Global trade in markets outside of the major French fry producing areas has been growing at an 8.6 percent annual rate during that time. When we combine the growth rate for those three market segments, the evidence suggests that the world needs to increase French fry production by about 1.1 billion pounds per year for the foreseeable future. Currently planned expansion in the U.S. and Canada covers about 1.25 year’s growth in world French fry demand.

Competing Globally

Competing with European fryers will be a major challenge for the North American French fry industry. During the last five years, European fryers have captured 78.4 percent of the growth in global French fry trade, while North American processors have only been able to supply 8.4 percent of the growth. Strong domestic demand and a lack of processing capacity are two factors that have slowed offshore exports from North America. However, stiff competition from European product is likely to continue, even as the North American capacity expands.

Europe experienced a crop failure in

2018, but North American processors were not positioned to take advantage of the resulting French fry supply shortfall.

The 2018 losses have not cooled European fryers’ appetite for expansion. Clarebout Potatoes, a Belgian company that has become Europe’s largest potato processor, recently announced plans for a new €300 million plant capable of using over 26 million cwt of potatoes per year. While it will take some time for the new plant to come online, it will have more capacity than the combined processing expansions currently underway in North America.

For North American fryers to supply domestic markets and capture 30 percent of the growth in the global market, processing capacity would need to expand by 400 million pounds per year.

That may create issues for the industry in the future. The challenge is that the economic production line size for the French fry industry is now 300-400 million pounds. Three processors, Lamb Weston, McCain and Simplot, dominate the North American industry, while Cavendish Farms is also in expansion mode. None of these companies is likely to be idle while their competitors build new production lines, for fear of losing market share.

Therefore, capacity expansion could come in increments of 1.2-1.6 billion pounds.

That creates the potential for three to four years of incremental capacity to come online simultaneously. That could result in bidding wars between processors to fill the new capacity. We doubt that the current round of expansion will create a problem, but future expansion rounds are likely to be problematic.

Adding Acreage

Will growing French fry demand lead to increased potato acreage in the U.S. and Canada? Growers will be encouraged by the expansion, but growth will be uneven, and may not be healthy. We estimate that yield improvements are likely to cover 40 percent of the capacity expansion.

ncreased Potato Acreage?

Processing growers will need to add about 8,000 acres of potatoes per year to cover contract needs, though that will depend upon where the potatoes are grown. With the continued decline in demand for table potatoes, the extra acreage needed for processing potatoes may come primarily from attrition in the table potato sector.

Potato growers will need to exercise caution as they plan production to cover the growth in demand for frozen potato products. While that growth will require about 8,000 acres of additional potatoes per year, it will be tempting to plant more to guarantee covering contract volumes.

Overages are likely to be pushed into the table potato market. That market continues to shrink. Extra potatoes would put downward pressure on table potato prices.

At the peak of a capacity expansion cycle, fryers are likely to be under pressure to cut margins and costs in order to remain competitive. If that coincides with a surplus of table potatoes, they will find it easy to reduce contract prices, as table potato growers scramble to get processing contracts. That may not happen for another two to three years, but the next round of processing plant expansions could destabilize markets for fresh potatoes.

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS • North American fryers will add 1.3 billion pounds of

French fry production capacity between October 2018 and December 2019.

• The current round of capacity expansion is needed to ease bottlenecks in the French fry industry.

• Worldwide demand for French fries is expanding by about 1.1 billion pounds per year.

• Competition from Europe is fierce. One Belgian fryer has just announced plans for a new plant that will use over 26 million cwt of raw product per year.

• North America can expect demand for its frozen potato products to grow by about 400 million pounds per year.

• We estimate that North American growers will need to add about 8,000 acres of processing potatoes per year.

However, most of that acreage is likely to be diverted from the table potato sector rather than requiring new ground.

• The next round of North American plant expansion has the potential to destabilize potato markets.

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

33

Potato Growers of Washington

Bruised and Battered

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

P

otato quality has been a topic that I have covered in general terms in several of these columns this past year.

With the huge amounts of money growers are losing on their 2018 crop returns, I think it is time to get more specific.

Bruise and/or bruise-free, however you choose to refer to it, is the number one issue this year that I hear about from growers not only in the Columbia Basin, but many of the other growing regions with frozen potato processing plants. There has been a great deal of emotion about this issue, as many believe the way in which the contract is worded or the way in which potatoes are graded has changed. That is simply not the case.

The language in the contract is the same as it has been for all of the 25 years that I have been at Potato Growers of Washington (PGW). I remember very clearly George White explaining to me, when he was consulting with PGW in the early 1990s, the rationale that went into defining “bruise-free” as it still reads in our contracts.

But the technology in the plants has improved to where parts of the clause are no longer as necessary as they once were. While I have mentioned before that we are working on updating that language to reflect current technology and the cost that small defects have on the processing plants, whatever change we arrive at will need some time for both sides to determine the financial impact.

One thing is so abundantly clear that I want to be sure that growers understand it. Defects of any kind are something that today’s QSRs will not accept and are the biggest challenge to processors. That means that whatever new language is developed, it is not going to give growers more tolerance on dark bruises.

So we definitely will be using the same language in 2019 as the contract that was approved last year, and I would venture to say that we will most likely still have it for the 2020 crop year, as well.

Therefore, we need to better understand the entire bruise/bruise-free situation.

This year, many growers are obviously getting a lower percentage of their crop that is bruise-free. Why that is happening this year and did not in past years is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is that the potatoes are bruised. Harvesting and handling them in the usual way may not bruise them next year. But can you really afford to take that chance? Whatever environmental issue resulted in the potatoes being more susceptible to bruising may still be in play.

Since bruise is only scored on potatoes that are stored, we are now getting enough volume graded that it is becoming clear that a few growers are not having an issue, while the majority are. Most of those that are not having an issue with bruise have spent much time and money studying this issue in the past and have made numerous changes to their harvesting and handling equipment and operations.

These are not operations that necessarily have the latest and greatest equipment. In fact, most of them have equipment that is a few years old, but it has been carefully fine-tuned to perform at a high level.

34

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March / April 2019

Why did these growers spend so much time and money on improving their bruise-free percentages? Because there is more money riding on bruise-free than all the other incentive/decentive scales combined. For example, on a Russet Burbank grower storage contract, there is a nearly $1,000 per acre difference between the cap at the high end of the scale and the point above rejection on the lower end at an average yield. For a Ranger Russet grower storage contract, the number is closer to $1,500 per acre.

The reason that there is so much money on this one attribute is twofold. First, as I mentioned earlier, defects like bruise are one of the processors’ and their customers’ biggest concerns. Second, it is the one quality attribute over which growers have the most control.

It may seem strange to be talking about a harvest and handling issue before we even plant the 2019 crop, but I feel now is the perfect time; the pain of seeing the major reductions in your settlement check is fresh in your minds, and you have several months to make whatever changes are necessary to your equipment or operations. No matter how efficient you believe your operation to be, if you are not getting your historical bruise-free percentages that are near the top of the incentive scale, your bruised potatoes are telling you there is room for improvement. Take the necessary steps now so that if we have another year like we did in 2018, you will not be the one getting $30 to $40/ton less for your potatoes than you should have.

Read this issue online:

PotatoCountry.com Know Your Insects Answers (from page 30)

Photo A is a centipede. These predatory arthropods are common in and on many kinds of soil both inside and outside crops. They eat whatever insects and other small invertebrates they can capture and overcome.

Photo B is a damselfly. These are the smaller, thinner relatives of dragonflies. Adult damselflies are aerial predators, capturing and eating flying insects such as aphids.

The larvae live in still or slow-moving water where they are also predators.

Photo C is a moth fly, which are also known as drain flies, sink flies or sewer gnats. The larvae of these flies live in moist conditions, feeding in decomposing organic material.

The adults are mostly harmless and are about 5 millimeters long.

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Furthermore, Vydate C-LV offers the well-documented “carbamate kick,” characteristic of its class of chemistry. In the field, this often shows up as “green up” of plants, improved plant vigor/growth, reduced senescence and improved yields.

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A calcium deficiency in plants results in dividing cells being unable to stay bound together. This causes poor quality potatoes such as reduced size, growth cracks and hollow heart.

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Foliar-applied calcium does not translocate to tubers.

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