PotatoCountry.com • May/June 2020 Western focus. National impact.
A Smart Approach to Technology
COVID-19 Turns Potato Markets Upside Down Harvest Essentials Buyers' Guide
For the Advertiser Index click here
Improving Phosphite Performance for Pink Rot Control
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w w w . Po t a t o Co u n t r y . c o m
Vol. 36 No. 4
PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Phone: (208) 520-6461
Country Western focus. National impact.
Table of Contents
Contacts Dave Alexander ...........................dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Publisher, Advertising
Denise Keller ..............................editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Editor
Andy Jensen.......................................... www.nwpotatoresearch.com
May/June 2020
Insect Identification
Jeff Miller .....................................................jeff@millerresearch.com Disease Identification
6 A Smart Approach to Technology Weber Farms
10 Potatoes USA Reports Progress, Priorities Potatoes USA Annual Meeting
14 Improving Phosphite Performance for Pink Rot Control
18 Harvest Essentials
Bruce Huffaker ................................................. napmn@napmn.com Market Report
Dale Lathim ............................................................... dale@pgw.net
Potato Growers of Washington
Brian Feist ...................................brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Operations Manager, Advertising
EDITORIAL INFORMATION Potato Country is interested in newsworthy material related to potato production and marketing. Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com. ADVERTISING For information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submission, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call Dave Alexander at (208) 520-6461 or email dave@PotatoCountry.com. 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
26 Propagating Potato Knowledge
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.
Potatoes USA
It is produced by Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444
28 COVID-19 Turns Potato Markets Upside Down Market Report
Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group. For information on reprints call (208) 520-6461.
Editorial Board
Gary Roth
Chris Voigt
Greentronics’ RiteWeight in-line conveyor scale is one of several Harvest Essentials featured in the buyers’ guide on pages 18-20.
Executive Director
Executive Director
Washington State Potato Commission
Oregon Potato Commission
(509) 765-8845
On The Cover Adam Weber is a third-generation potato grower at Weber Farms in Quincy, Wash., where the family produced 5,000 acres of potatoes last year and will grow 4,000 acres this year. See the story on page 6.
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(503) 239-4763
Departments 16 21 22 24 30
New Products Calendar In the News Insect Quiz PGW Column
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
There’s only one move
to checkmate .
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Weber Farms
A SMART APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY Story and photos by Denise Keller, Editor
A
s a 26-year-old potato grower, Adam Weber is no stranger to the challenges of farming today or to the solutions technology can offer. However, as a third-generation farmer, he also knows to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of any new technology before implementing it on his family operation. Weber farms with his father Kevin
Weber, uncle Alan Bird, brother Josh Lybbert and cousin Deven Johnson in Quincy, Washington. Weber Farms is producing 4,000 acres of potatoes this year, mostly for processing. About 35 percent of the acreage is planted in Clearwater Russet, 30 percent in Alturas, 15 percent in Umatilla Russet and the remainder in Russet Burbank and Ranger
Adam Weber checks in at the trans-load site during the first week of harvest in September 2019.
Russet. The farm also grows sweet corn and another 500 acres of apples and cherries. The Weber family has been farming in the area since 1968 when Adam’s grandfather, Bill Weber, became one of the first farmers to grow potatoes in the Black Sands, a small area south of Interstate 90. In the 1970s, the family built a packing shed that remained the main part of the business for a couple of decades before the operation changed its focus to process potatoes. The family still operates the packing shed when fresh market prices justify the cost. Adam Weber grew up on the farm, earned a degree in business at Boise State University and then returned to the farm in fall 2016.
Facing Challenges
The majority of Weber Farms’ acreage is still in the Black Sands area. The sandy soil aids in water filtration. With no standing water, spuds have more space to grow, Weber says. However, the soil doesn’t hold nutrients as well, requiring the grower to spoon feed the crop a bit more. In addition, the Webers have used mustard crops and good rotation to build the soil through the years. Weber also works to alleviate issues arising from water quality. He continually monitors the amount of nitrogen in the farm’s well water in order to adjust fertilizer applications accordingly. He also keeps an eye on bicarbonates in the water and adds a small amount of sulfuric acid to help pH levels. Other typical growing challenges include weather and pests such as loopers early in the season, aphids and psyllids. Colorado potato beetles also have been more common in the last couple years, a problem Weber attributes to an increased
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number of organic fields neighboring his fields. To manage higher insect pressure, the grower has had to increase insecticide usage. In addition to the increasing costs of inputs, growers in the Columbia Basin continue to see increased competition for ground to rent. “The Columbia Basin is the best place in the world to grow crops, especially potatoes. We have the water and weather – cool nights and warm summer days,” Weber says, explaining that the region’s growing conditions are attracting more agriculture to the area, driving up the price of farm ground and making it more difficult to expand.
Embracing Technology
In the face of challenges, Weber Farms continues its tradition of utilizing the latest technology when it benefits the farm. Weber says his dad and grandpa were progressive farmers, and his dad remains receptive to technology. And now with three growers on the farm under age 40, the youngest generation is taking advantage of their familiarity with technology to analyze data and make tasks easier.
An employee at Weber Farms removes plant debris from a load of potatoes coming in from the field.
Recently, Weber Farms was able to save time – and in turn, save money – by weighing all its 10-wheel trucks in the field instead of on the scale after adding Greentronics scales to the diggers. Bypassing a trip to the scale house and instead going directly from the field to storage reduces drive time by about 20 minutes per truckload. The scales also are providing more yield monitoring information that might allow for variable rate fertilizer and fumigation in the future. The farm tested the equipment’s accuracy and value for three years before adding it to all its diggers last year. “You have to give new technology some pause because you’re not sure if that money is going to be a worthwhile investment,” Weber points out. “Sometimes spending money on the latest and greatest doesn’t pan out. So having a hesitant approach to technology but being able to embrace it when it will improve your operation is key.” The grower adds that although technology is second nature to him, it’s meant to complement, not replace, time in the field. He often uses a drone to gain better perspective of a problem he notices in the field. And he makes use of soil moisture probes and irrigation monitoring tools to alert him of issues, but does not rely on the technology to make irrigation decisions. Nevertheless, technology has helped make farming more efficient for his generation. “It’s gotten easier, but we have different challenges than what older generations had,” Weber says. “We’re not going to have as much water and land in the future to grow crops, so we have to be more efficient with each acre. Historically, farmers have done a great job with that, but technology is going to be the next thing to get us there. We’ll see yields that our grandparents never even dreamed of in three generations from now. We’ll get more efficient, we’ll be able to use less input and still grow good crops.”
Looking Ahead
As a young grower, Weber has a strong interest in the future of the industry and
Impact of COVID-19 “COVID-19 has drastically changed the potato market space. With almost nobody in the world eating at restaurants, processors were forced to slow down, resulting in contracted acres to be cut. My hope is, as consumer behavior has changed, consumers will continue to find more ways to eat potatoes. The tablestock market initially saw consumers run on them, with stores running completely out of fresh potatoes. It will take months – even a year – to really see what the impact to potato growers really is.” - Adam Weber, potato grower, Quincy, Wash.
is taking an active role in shaping it. He attended the Potato Industry Leadership Institute in 2017 and has participated in the National Potato Council’s Potato D.C. Fly-In for four years. He also has been on the Potatoes USA board of directors since March 2018 and serves on the international marketing committee. In July 2019, he was elected to the Washington State Potato Commission, where he serves on the government affairs and finance committees. “It’s important to stay involved for the wellbeing of the industry,” Weber says. “It’s a good way to get together with other potato growers and find out the issues that are affecting them and how politics affect everybody’s business.” Weber was involved with politics in high school and college, which was a natural springboard into potato politics. Within the potato industry, PotatoCountry.com
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Weber Farms he’s particularly interested in working on immigration and trade issues. He is hopeful for improved trade opportunities and is encouraged by the positive steps that have been taken to reach agreements recently. “Domestically, we’re not seeing huge increases in potato consumption. But around the world, we are. So access to markets is really important to us,” Weber explains. Closer to home, the third generation at Weber Farms is concentrating on building a team environment, collaborating and communicating throughout the farm organization. At the same time, the growers remain focused on what has helped the farm become what it is today. “My dad has always wanted us to produce the best quality potato for a multitude of reasons. It helps us sell our brand of having high quality products,” Weber says. “Everyone is working for the same goal, which is to harvest good quality potatoes.”
Clearwater Russets are piled in the field during harvest. Adam Weber sorts through freshly harvested spuds.
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Potatoes USA Annual Meeting
Potatoes USA Reports Progress, Priorities Photos courtesy Potatoes USA
It
turned out to be one of the potato industry’s last big meetings before restrictions related to COVID-19 put the kibosh on large gatherings. Potatoes USA held its annual meeting March 10-12 in Denver, Colorado, with agenda items including reports from each of its committees and the election of new leaders.
Marketing Updates
The international marketing committee highlighted record U.S. potato exports for the July - June 2018-19 marketing year and excellent results for July - December of the 2019-20 marketing year. Exports for July - December 2019 of frozen potatoes were up 10 percent, dehydrated exports up 9 percent and fresh exports up 11 percent. Opportunities for U.S. potatoes in the
Howard Goldstein from Food Minds gives an update on the Alliance for Potato Research and Education potato nutrition research in progress.
Potatoes USA’s 2020-21 executive committee includes: (back row, from left) Ed Staunton of Tulelake, Calif.; Heidi Randall of Friesland, Wis.; Steve Streich of Kalispell, Mont.; Chris Hansen of Bliss, N.Y.; Steve Elfering of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Jeff Jennings of Camden, N.C.; Blair Richardson, Potatoes USA CEO; (front, from left) Mike Carter of Rosholt, Wis.; Phil Hickman of Horntown, Va.; Marty Myers of Boardman, Ore.; Jaren Raybould of Saint Anthony, Idaho; and Jared Smith of Alamosa, Colo.
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Potato Country
May / June 2020
IDAHO POTATOES ®
THE ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE FOOD, SUPPORTING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES WORLDWIDE.
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RODS PARTNERSHIP
Since 2013, the IPC has sponsored RODS Racing, an organization nurturing a positive image of Down syndrome and encouraging the adoption of orphans with Down syndrome. Hundreds of RODS racers compete in a plethora of athletic events across the country, including the Boston Marathon, endorsing “RODS Fueled by Idaho® Potatoes.”
Organized by the local YMCA and sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission, the annual YMCA Famous Idaho Potato Marathon is a fun full marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K course along the Boise greenbelt.
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Potatoes USA Annual Meeting international marketplace are tempered by concerns in the second half of the marketing year due to increased supply of potatoes in the EU and reduced production in the U.S., the strong dollar, and the impact of the coronavirus on demand and transportation in the international markets. The domestic marketing committee spotlighted increases in both value and volume of total potato sales at retail from July 2019 through February 2020. Increased sales at foodservice along with an increase in potato dishes on restaurant menus show total U.S. potato sales up for the 2019 calendar year. There is some uncertainty for the remainder of the year given the tight supplies of fresh potatoes in storage and the impact of the coronavirus in the U.S. The new consumer attitude and usage report, conducted in January 2020, confirmed that potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable and the most soughtafter side dish at foodservice. The nutrition professional attitude and usage study pointed out a need for more education with personal trainers and others providing nutrition advice.
Research Reports
The research committee shared updates on the two potato breeding programs, the National Fry Trials Program and SNAC trails for chip potatoes. Both programs refined their approaches and are moving promising clones through quickly, while weeding out less promising clones earlier in the process. Howard Goldstein from Food Minds, the agency hired to oversee and implement the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE), spoke about potato
nutrition research in progress. The APRE board of directors has established three pillars under which all research is funded: white potatoes in cardiometabolic health, white potatoes in healthy dietary patterns and white potatoes in healthy lifestyles. There have been 30 studies funded so far with eight published and six studies in the pipeline on potatoes and athletic performance, all of which are showing initial positive results.
Market Statistics
John Toaspern, Potatoes USA chief marketing officer, gave an overview of the 2019 potato market based on the new sales and utilization report. The utilization of U.S. grown potatoes increased by 3.3 percent in 2019 compared to 2018. The increase was driven by a 0.7 percent increase in the volume of retail sales, a 1.2 percent increase in foodservice, an 8.8 percent increase in exports and a decline of 3.4 percent in imports. Frozen potato products made up 41 percent of utilization with fresh at 25 percent and chips accounting for 21 percent. Sales of potatoes in the U.S. were 58 percent at foodservice and 42 percent at retail. The volume of domestic potato sales, which include imports, rose 2.9 percent at retail and 7.3 percent at foodservice for a combined 5.4 percent increase, one of the largest in recent years.
Board Election
The Potatoes USA board also elected Marty Myers of Boardman, Oregon, as the new chairman. Myers previously served on the board from 2010 to 2016 and began his current term on the board in 2017. He chaired the international marketing
Potatoes USA board members are sworn in during the annual meeting.
committee for a total of five years. Myers has been in the potato industry for 24 years and works for Threemile Canyon Farms, focusing on the chip, frozen and seed sectors. He is also R.D. Offutt Company’s western business manager for farming and agriculture, overseeing operations in Oregon, Washington and Nevada. Myers said that up until March, his main goal as chairman was to increase outreach to the processing community. With the impact of COVID-19, however, Myers’ priorities are shifting gears. “My main goal now is helping the U.S. to fulfill the potato needs of the American people and helping the potato industry through this difficult time,” Myers said. Potatoes USA’s 2020-21 executive committee also includes: • Jeff Jennings of Camden, North Carolina, finance and policy committee chair • Ed Staunton of Tulelake, California, and Steve Streich of Kalispell, Montana, international marketing committee co-chairs • Mike Carter of Rosholt, Wisconsin, and Heidi Randall of Friesland, Wisconsin, industry outreach committee co-chairs • Steve Elfering of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Jaren Raybould of Saint Anthony, Idaho, domestic marketing committee co-chairs • Chris Hansen of Bliss, New York, and Jared Smith of Alamosa, Colorado, research committee co-chairs • Phil Hickman of Horntown, Virginia, past chairman
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Improving Phosphite Performance for Pink Rot Control By Jeff Miller, Trent Taysom, Cheryn Clayton and Scott Anderson; Miller Research Nora Olsen, Lynn Woodell, Andrew Hollingshead and Rabecka Hendricks; University of Idaho
P
ink rot, caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora erythroseptica, can cause significant problems in potato production. Pink rot is typically more severe with short rotations and the use of susceptible varieties such as Russet Norkotah and Clearwater Russet. The pink rot pathogen normally infects the potato roots and stolons and then grows into the tuber. Most infections in tubers will originate at the stem end (Fig. 1). This is different from Pythium leak, another disease that can appear similar to pink rot, which usually develops through eyes, lenticels or damaged tissue (like pink eye) in the field (Fig. 1). Pythium infection in the field is not common, and most infections occur at harvest through wounded tissue.
Figure 1. The tuber on the left exhibits symptoms of pink rot. The pathogen has entered through the stolon end of the tuber. The infected tissue in cross-section has a creamy, off-white color with some dark tissue on the edge of the infected area. The tuber on the right shows symptoms of Pythium leak. The infection occurred on the side of the tuber. The infected tissue in cross-section is light to dark gray and is wetter and darker than pink rot.
Phosphite Fungicides
Phosphite-based fungicides (phosphorous acid) have been effective tools for managing pink rot. This is especially true when populations of the pink rot pathogen are resistant to mefenoxam and metalaxyl. Unfortunately,
phosphite fungicides are relatively weak with respect to the amount of active ingredient needed for disease control. Multiple applications of relatively high rates are required for phosphite fungicides to control pink rot infections in potato
roots and tubers. Currently growers are advised to apply up to a total of 30 pints per acre in a season over three to six applications. This has been the most effective approach for varieties that are highly susceptible to pink rot, such as
Figure 2. Effect of interval between phosphite fungicide application and irrigation by center pivot in 2018. Results from natural infection in the field.
% Pink Rot – 2018 – Field Infection % Tubers with pink rot
10 8
b
6
b
b
ab
4 2
0
14
a
UTC
48 24 12 Hours between phosphite application and irrigation
6
Potato Country May / June 2020 Figure 2. Effect of interval between phosphite fungicide application and irrigation by center pivot in 2018. Results from natural
Management Recommendations Russet Norkotah. The fungicide is taken up by the plant and translocated to the tubers where it provides protection against pathogen infection. Recent work from scientists in Canada (Dr. Gefu Wang-Pruski and others) showed that phosphite uptake in potato plants increased for up to 52 hours after application. From this research, the question arose whether growers should maximize the time between phosphite fungicide application and irrigation to maximize uptake. In other words, should growers wait 48 hours after application before turning the pivot back on? Under the semi-arid conditions present in many potato growing regions, this would be difficult, if not impossible.
Field Trials
Field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 on Russet Norkotah to evaluate the effect of interval between phosphite fungicide application and irrigation. The trial area was infested with the pink rot pathogen at planting and again at hilling to increase disease pressure. Treatments included: 1.Untreated check (no fungicide) 2.48-hour interval between fungicide application and irrigation 3.24-hour interval 4.12-hour interval 5.6-hour interval
Phosphite fungicide (Resist 57, Actagro) was applied when the largest tubers were dime-size (about 15 mm in diameter), and again two more times using a two-week interval between sprays for three total applications. In 2018, pink rot pressure was uniform in the trial area. Phosphite fungicide applications significantly reduced pink rot incidence at harvest if the application was made at least 12 hours prior to irrigation (Fig. 2). Fungicide applications made only six hours before irrigation were statistically similar to the untreated check, but also similar to the other treatments. Application intervals of 24 and 48 hours were no more effective than applications made at 12 or six hours pre-irrigation. When the trial was repeated in 2019, disease pressure was very low in the trial. Healthy tubers were collected at harvest and then challenged with the pink rot pathogen. This is an effective method to evaluate the uptake and protection granted by phosphite-based fungicides due to the systemic nature of the fungicide. In 2019, the six-hour interval treatment was not as effective as the 12-, 24- or 48-hour interval treatments (Fig. 3). Similar to the 2018 field data, no differences were observed among the 12-, 24-, and 48-hour interval treatments.
Potato growers who are using phosphite-based fungicides can improve fungicide efficacy by allowing a 12-hour interval after application before starting irrigation. While this does require an additional layer of management, the improvement in fungicide performance merits taking that extra effort. Growers do not need to wait 24 or 48 hours between application and irrigation to improve fungicide performance. This does not mean that phosphite uptake is not still occurring in the plant at those intervals, but that no improvement in performance is observed after a 12-hour interval. Some growers have used chemigation to apply phosphite fungicides, and on-farm field trials have shown that chemigation can be effective. Chemigation is typically done using the lowest water volume possible, usually close to 0.15 inches of water. The irrigation amounts after applications in these trials were between 0.57 and 0.76 inches of water. The low volume of water in the chemigation application may be low enough to allow phosphite to be taken up by the plant. Growers have reported that chemigating phosphites does not appear to be as effective as applying by airplane, however. More work needs to be done in this area. When possible, delaying irrigation for at least 12 hours following phosphite fungicide applications will improve the performance of the fungicide program against pink rot.
Figure 3. Effect of interval between phosphite fungicide application and irrigation by center pivot in 2019. Results from a challenge assay after harvest.
% Tubers with pink rot
% Pink Rot – 2019 – Post-Harvest Challenge 100 80
a b
60 40
c
c
c
20
0
UTC
48 24 12 Hours between phosphite application and irrigation
6
PotatoCountry.com Figure 3. Effect of interval between phosphite fungicide application and irrigation by center pivot in 2019. Results from a challenge
15
New Products
Wilbur-Ellis Introduces Pair of Products
Wilbur-Ellis Company has a new adjuvant and a new surfactant on the market. Efficax is the company’s new soil retention adjuvant designed to help spray applications last longer by increasing the coverage, absorption and adhesion of the spray material deposits onto soil particles. This is also meant to improve the residual activity of most soil-applied herbicides and improve control of early-season weeds. The pre-emergent adjuvant is said to have excellent tank mix compatibility and can be used with most preferred herbicides. Embrece-EA is a blend of surfactants designed to improve coverage and wetting of spray materials, resulting in quick absorption and improved control of the targeted pest. The product offers application flexibility with lower use rates ideal for cover sprays and higher use rates providing more penetration, according to the company. Visit www.wilburellis.com.
Distributor Brings Bio-Pesticide to US Market
Kemin Crop Technologies is partnering with Laboratoire M2, a Canada-based technology and science company, to distribute Thymox Control, a thyme-oil-based bio-pesticide, in the U.S. Thymox Control is a broad-spectrum, contact fungicidebactericide concentrate designed with Laboratoire M2’s nano-emulsion technology. According to the company, Thymox Control’s formula uses the antimicrobial power of thyme oil’s active ingredient to control fungal and bacterial plant pathogens including powdery mildew and gray mold via cell membrane disruption. The product has no re-entry interval, a zero-day preharvest interval and no maximal residue limit. Visit www.thymox.com.
Company Offers Ag Soap Solution
Disinfecting Services’ Personnel Antimicrobial Soap is approved for human contact by the USDA. Agriculturally marketed as Canker Guard, this product was formulated for food safety to prevent the spread of germs and contamination by personnel. It’s now available to the public to address growing hygiene concerns and the spread of germs that cause illness. The company recommends applying enough spray to moisten hands well with the soap, working the spray thoroughly onto all surfaces of hands for at least 30 seconds and allowing at least 10 minutes before rinsing hands with water. The 1-gallon concentrate makes 55 gallons. Visit www.disinfectingservices.net.
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Harvest Essentials Agri-Stor Company www.agri-stor.com
Disinfecting and Crop Protection
Agri-Stor Company’s storage disinfecting and crop protection solutions address seed, process and fresh market growers’ needs for superior product quality. Multiple modes of application are available, including cold and thermal fogging, AANE and misting. Solutions include peracetic acid (PAA), chlorine dioxide and other effective options to protect storage and crops against various diseases and micro-organisms.
Disinfecting Services, Inc. www.disinfectingservices.net Harvest 6.0
Harvest 6.0 serves as a versatile sanitizer and disinfectant for potatoes going into storage or already in storage. The product is one of the strongest disinfectants labeled for potatoes on the market. Harvest 6.0 utilizes hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid to protect against fungi, algae and bacteria. The combination of these two ingredients is effective and environmentally friendly. Harvest 6.0 has proven to be an effective disinfectant on equipment and cleaning storage facilities.
Gellert
www.gellert.com Refrigeration Controller
Gellert’s new Refrigeration Controller, which can be installed directly into new or existing refrigeration units, is designed to maximize energy efficiencies. This technology has the ability to monitor refrigeration equipment, providing advanced warnings of potential failures. Among many other features, it provides the ability to rotate between multiple compressors, sidestepping the risk of any one compressor getting overworked. And while the Gellert Refrigeration Controller is running multiple compressors, if a single compressor fails, the others will continue working so users don’t experience a complete shutdown. Condenser fans can be rotated, increasing the lifespan of all motors. They can also be controlled from a fixed discharge setting or a floating pressure based on outside temperature, maximizing energy efficiency.
Greentronics
www.greentronics.com RiteWeight In-line Conveyor Scale
Greentronics offers an easy and accurate method for tracking loads and weights by date, field, variety, temperature and cellar. New features added to Greentronics’ RiteWeight in-line conveyor scale are designed to automate harvest and storage data recording. Data are uploaded via an Android phone or tablet to the Greentronics cloud server for processing and reporting in near real-time. Maps and reports can be viewed, downloaded, shared or printed from anywhere. A range of reports detail how much crop is stored and where it was grown. 2-D maps show where crop is stored by date, field and variety. By including a crop temperature sensor with the scale, maps will provide a temperature profile for each cellar. Maps allow growers to easily complete traceability reports. Harvest and storage progress can be monitored remotely. Reports show inventory levels. 18
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May / June 2020
IPL Macro
www.iplmacro.com Plastic Bins
HPL Macro’s farm-to-harvest containers and totes are specifically designed to increase efficiency and reduce waste for growers and packers. Macro specializes in heavy-duty bulk containers and totes that can withstand the daily pounding that harvesting containers typically receive, while carefully protecting the vegetables inside. The highly engineered bins protect produce and reduce damage in the field and during transport. Macro containers have smooth, nonporous surfaces that are easy to sanitize and won’t trap debris, breed bacteria or absorb chemicals. Plastic bins are lightweight and have consistent tare weights, as they do not absorb liquid. Macro’s plastic bins are HACCP and GAP compliant and FDA approved. Rounded corners and smooth interior reduce the risk of product scuffs, cuts and abrasions. Ventilation slots throughout the bins improve airflow, and heat absorption is reduced, which helps keep produce cool and increases the shelf life and quality.
Lockwood Manufacturing www.lockwoodmfg.com Mobile Tank
Lockwood announced its new Mobile Tank in late 2019. It is designed to complement the company’s VACS Mobile and VACS-8, but it is also a perfect addition for any pre-storage cleaning system. This new piece of equipment provides a controlled flow of product, allowing growers to maximize efficiency during harvest. Completely contained on a customized semi-trailer, the Mobile Tank is 100 percent hydraulically powered by two wet kits and incorporates an intuitive touchscreen user interface, making operation simple, but powerful. Plus, setup time is minimal. The unloading belt comes with varying speed control that is manually adjustable by the operator. The tank discharge utilizes a baffle to minimize pile roll and surging. All of this allows for a consistent flow, which increases the efficiency of cleaning and storing potatoes. Lastly, little details such as full machine illumination for safety at night, as well as a tank designed to reduce product bruising and skinning were not forgotten.
Logan Farm Equipment
www.loganfarmequipment.com Bin Piler
Logan’s newest bin piler is designed for years of excellent performance and is available in three models: 36-, 42and 48-inch. The machine was created with flexibility to transload and storage pile, with a usable boom of 53 feet. Options include a two conveyor boom design or continuous single belt bridge boom design. A feature-rich hydraulic system and new two-way remote control belly pack will assist in troubleshooting, provide sensor feedback, and adjust system speed with load sense, using proportional valves for precise boom control and with manual control backup switches. The main frame of the machine is robust with large traction tires and dual tow/no tow gearboxes that completely disengage for safe towing. New features include a hydraulic traveling weight box for optimal towing and extra deep troughing of the boom conveyors, providing large volume and limited product skinning on the conveyor sidewalls. Options also include hydraulic hitch, all VFD motor controls, boom-end tip down, auto speed control and pup hanger with hydraulic adjust.
Mayo Manufacturing www.mayomfg.com Mayo Web Belt Sizer
The Mayo Web Belt Sizer provides an accurate method of sizing round potatoes and onions. Features include high volume with gentle handling. The key is the rubber belt web screen known for durability. The machines are designed for portable use or to be integrated into a grading and sizing facility. Cross conveyors for small size and main flow discharge conveyors are typically included. Mayo Web Belt Sizers are available in stainless steel or painted mild steel.
PotatoCountry.com
19
Harvest Essentials Rietveld Equipment
www.rietveldequipment.com Polisher
The Allround Polisher TD 350-18 has 18 rolls of brushes with an estimated capacity of 25 tons per hour. Three smaller models are also available. The polishers are available in stainless steel and feature a hydraulic lift for easy cleanout, variable speed control, a water recirculation system and water cleaning system. The machine also offers easy brush removal for changing the brushes, as well as several different types of brushes for each application. Allround builds all of the machines required in a washing/grading line, and the machines are running in over 80 countries worldwide. Rietveld Equipment offers free 2D and 3D drawings of full lines, or drawings of the available machines in users’ existing lines. Parts and machines are in stock at the company’s Midwest facility, and service and support from certified technicians is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Spudnik Equipment www.spudnik.com 6740 Harvester
In 2019, Spudnik introduced the 6740, a new high-capacity harvester. The four-row harvester is able to work with 6160 (six-row) or 6180 (eight-row) windrowers, allowing a maximum of 20 rows of harvesting in a single pass. The 6740 has a wider rear cross, wider side elevator and wider boom. The more efficient fan on the 6740 is able to facilitate the cleaning of the increased product flow. It is equipped with an additional intake web, adjusted hydraulically for additional cleaning prior to the primary and secondary chains. Similar to the 6640, the 6740 is configurable with a variety of side elevator separating tables and a telescoping boom.
Tomra Food
www.tomra.com/en/sorting/food/sorting-equipment/tomra-3a Tomra 3A Sorting Machine
Tomra Food has introduced the Tomra 3A sensor-based sorting machine for freshly harvested root crops, offering potato growers excellent sorting capabilities, dependability and affordability. Developed in response to specific customer challenges, the Tomra 3A delivers a new level of foreign material removal to potato growers. The sorter is typically used at the entrance to a potato storage shed, where it provides a final clean-up immediately after the freshly harvested crop has passed through a mechanical grader and soil removal equipment. The sorter employs an in-flight inspection and ejection process to detect and remove stones, soil clods and other debris from the incoming product. The Tomra 3A is designed to operate at high capacity and to gently move the product without risk of damaging or bruising it.
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CutAboveEnterprise.com
20
Potato Country
May / June 2020
Never Miss an Issue:
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Calendar June 16-19
United Fresh 2020 LIVE! Online www.unitedfresh.org
June 17
OSU Potato Field Day
OSU HAREC, 2121 S. 1st St. Hermiston, Ore. Lora Sharkey, (541) 567-8321
June 18
WSU Potato Field Day
WSU Othello Research Unit Othello, Wash. Mark Pavek, (509) 335-6861 mjpavek@wsu.edu
June 24-26
National Potato Council Summer Meeting
Boise, Idaho Hillary Hutchins hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org
July 19-23
Potato Association of America Annual Meeting
Building the best and making it better…
Holiday Inn Downtown Missoula, Mont. www.potatoassociation.org
When you put your hard earned money down for a down on one that will work as hard as you? Wester 2000lbs more that the competition. Couple that w industry and you can’t go wrong.
Aug. 11
Ag World Golf Classic
Canyon Lakes Golf Course Kennewick, Wash. www.agworldgolf.com
Learn more at www.westerntrailer.
Aug. 13
Ag World Golf Classic
The Links at Moses Pointe Moses Lake, Wash. www.agworldgolf.com
Aug. 15
Manhattan Potato Festival
Manhattan, Mont. www.manhattanareachamber.com
Editor’s note: All information was correct at presstime. Please check with event organizers to confirm.
Building the best and making it better…your way! When you put your hard earned money down for a new potato trailer, why not put it down on one that will work as hard as you? Western potato trailers deliver on average 2000lbs more that the competition. Couple that with the highest resale values in the When hard earned money down for a new potato industry andyou youput can’tyour go wrong.
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Learn more at www.westerntrailer.com or call 888.344.2539
Spudequipment.com Pilers
2007 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2000 Wemco 36” all belt, 480 3ph, remote 1998 Milestone 36” all belt, 230 3ph, remote 1994 Davis 36” BC x 40’ 220 volt 1ph 1991 Double L 811 30” belted chain, remote 1991 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3ph Remote 1985 DL 813 30” BC 3ph 1980 Spudnik 450 36” 3ph BC Remote Mayo 30” Van Loader
Scoopers
1998 Double L 837 3ph 24” Spudnik 24” 3ph
Stingers
2016 Logan Trac Pro Telescopic 36”/42” x 6’ Tel. 2014 Logan Trac Pro 10’ x 30” x 10’ belt 3ph Double L 832 BC 30” fingers Spudnik 2200 all belt 36” x10’
Rock/Clod/Eliminators
2017 Spudnik 72” Multi Sep/ Air Sep 2015 Lockwood Air Vac 2014 Spudnik 991 72” Multi Sep /Air Sep
Beds
2012 Logan LP22’ bed Elec. Dual drive 1995 Double L 801 20’ updated Dual Drive 1986 Double L 801 20’ electric 1984 Logan SB20 Electric
Trailers
Trinity 53’ 3 axle All Stainless new bin 25” chain Trinity 53’ 4 axle All Stainless new bin 25” chain
Trucks
2012 LoganTP SC 42” x 40’ x (2) 480 V 3ph 2010 Logan TPSC 36” x 40’ x (4) 480 V 3ph Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph (6)
2007 Sterling 13spd MB 425hp, no bed, frame for 22’ bed, has PTO 2002 Mack EZ350 10spd 4.17Ratio 2012 Logan LP24 PTO 1999 Mack EZ350 10spd 4.17 ratio 2012 Logan LP24 PTO 2001 Freightliner F80, Cum 5.9L 225 hp 9sp Rd Ranger
Sizers/Eliminators
Crossovers/Wind Rowers
Conveyors - Telescopic
1990 Double L 810 30” x 50’ 3ph 230 volt
Conveyors - Straight
2017 Logan Web belt sizer 96” 3ph field model 2000 Spudnik 925 72” 3ph 480 V 2000 Double 878 DE 78” 3ph flip down 72” sizer 1999 Spudnik 995 72” DE rolls, peg /blower, acorn sizing 480 Volt 3ph 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim. 62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer 2000 Spudnik 900 60” 230 volt 3ph hang on tare 97 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1985 Double 806 Collector 44” 2-pups
2008 Double L 851 50/50/ 45 2003 Lockwood 5000 Four Row LH 50/50/50 1998 Double L 851 Four Row RH 50/50/45 1992 Lockwood 2000 two row 1984 Logan 2 row BC
Harvesters
2018 Double L 7340 Grimme DR1500 2 row 2- pintle belts 2012 Double L 965 3 row, w/Multi-sep table
Seed Cutters
2014 Better Built 460 -60” 1ph 2000 Better Built 46520 60” 3ph 1996 Milestone 48” 3ph 1994 Milestone 60” 3ph 1993 Milestone 36”
Treaters
2017 Excel 10” combo liquid & dust 2013 Better Built CDT 10’x 10” dust auger 2015 Milestone 36” duster 2013 Milestone 42” duster 2003 Milestone 36” duster 1996 Milestone 36” Duster
Planters
2010 Harriston cup planter 8-row pull loaded 34” 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row off set hitch 2004 Harriston model 4016 cup, Raven Controller 36” 1996 Kverneland 3200 dry fert. 4 row 34” 1995 Kverneland 3300 6 row 34”
Planter/Tare/Piler
Shop built 24” x 30’ hyd 40mm belt chain Lockwood 20” x 25’ tare piler
Water Dammers
2009 Logan 6 row Yield Pro Water Dammer Milestone 6 row Water Dammer
Shredder/Vine Beaters/ Power Hiller
MISC.
1998 Mayo 4730-16-3050 Telescopic Hopper Unloader Scooper belly dump unloader attachment Mayo Scooper belly dump unloader attachment Harriston 12 row Marker Semi mount Shop Built 12 row Marker 3 point
Warehouse/Packaging
2017 EDP Electro Bagger Model: EB-2218-DF 2014 Odenburg model Halo 2000 80” Mayo 1000 cwt warehouse Even flow with tilt conveyor Mayo 24” x 53’ Telescopic Van Loader conveyor Mayo 30” Elevating conveyor to Van Loader Kerian 60” sizer Portable Washer with brushes, pumps, holding tank on wheels. 2012 Kwik Lok 865 Bag closer 2- Milestone Screw Sizers with belts with feed conveyor Fishbein Sewer Newlong Sewer DS-9C Northwest Bagger Agpak poly bagger Ernst roll sizer 72” Volm Pak 8000 w/ carousel Vanmark Peeler
2017 Baselier 8 row inter row power hiller 2002 Newhouse P1952 Tire Roller 36” 1986 Loftness 4 row 36” Steel rollers
Bruce: (208)390-5120 | brucen@tristeelmfg.com Evan: (208)757-8481 | evann@tristeelmfg.com PotatoCountry.com
21
In the News
University of Idaho Resumes Ag Talk Tuesdays
The University of Idaho plans to resume its Ag Talk Tuesdays sessions this season; however, meetings may be held online only due to requirements related to COVID-19. In the series of meetings, university personnel and industry experts discuss current crop issues and timely topics as the field season progresses. Meetings are slated for most first and third Tuesdays of May, June, July and August from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics for the May 5 kickoff meeting include updates on pre-plant and early season weed management in potatoes. For more information, visit www. webpages.uidaho.edu/extensionseed-potato/ATT.html. 20-04 Potato Country-.5H page.v1.1.pdf
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Potato Country
May / June 2020
Japan Further Reduces Tariffs on US Potatoes Japan further lowered tariffs on imports of U.S. potato products April 1 as part of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The tariff on U.S. frozen fries was reduced from 4.25 percent to 2.1 percent, and the tariff on U.S. dehydrated potato flakes went from 13.3 percent to 10 percent. Further reductions will occur each April until tariffs are fully removed on U.S. frozen potatoes in April 2021 and dehydrated potato flakes in April 2028. The tariff on U.S. fresh chipping potatoes was already eliminated. The tariff reductions are aligned with those Japan provides to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other nations in the TPP-11 agreement, and with the EU in the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement. This helps level the playing field with U.S. competitors. Japan is the U.S. potato industry’s largest export market, with exports 1 2020-03-31 10:13 AM totaling $365 million in 2019.
Markets Open, Expand for Chipping Potatoes
China is now allowing importation of U.S. fresh chipping potatoes from the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. China is currently a top 10 export market for U.S. potatoes, primarily in processed products. With a combination of competitive tariffs and enhanced market access, China could become a top five market in the near future, according to the National Potato Council. In addition, the U.S. can now ship chipping potatoes to Japan year-round. Previously, the import protocol for U.S. chipping potatoes was from Feb. 1 to July 30 each year. In 2019, the U.S. exported 32,240 metric tons of fresh chipping potatoes, valued at more than $15 million, to Japan.
R ITE T RACE Advanced Track & Trace System
Ag World Announces New Golf Tourney Dates
Due to COVID-19, the Ag World Golf Classic slated for June has been rescheduled to August. Golfers are invited to hit the links on Aug. 11 at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, Washington. Golfers will also tee off on Aug. 13 at The Links at Moses Pointe in Moses Lake, Washington. The annual tournament raises money to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities Inland Northwest. In the last six years, the event has raised $425,647 for the charity.
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FI E
New Industry Organization Works on Sustainability LD
to TRUCK
fr o m
A new organization is dedicated to sustainability in the potato sector. The Potato Sustainability Alliance is a platform for farmers, supply chain partners, industry organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and advisors to work together to define, measure and advance potato sustainability in the U.S. and Canada. Members are committed to identifying and acting on viable opportunities throughout the supply chain for ongoing improvement in sustainable potato production. The Potato Sustainability Alliance’s board of directors includes John MacQuarrie of Cavendish Farms as chair, Jolyn Rasmussen of the J.R. Simplot Company as vice chair, Sanford Gleddie of The Little Potatoes Company as treasurer and Ed Schneider of Schneider Farms as secretary. Each officer will serve a twoyear term while working to develop the organization’s 2020-2025 strategic plan.
to DETAILED MAPS
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519-669-4698•greentronics.com
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 of the plant-feeding insects in potato fields have piercing-sucking mouthparts of various kinds. Some of these insects are well-documented as vectors of plant pathogens, while others are not. For example, aphids are vectors of important viruses such as Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato leafroll virus (PLRV).
Below are four insects that often inhabit potato fields. What is each insect, and is it documented to be a vector of a plant pathogen in potato production?
D
B
A
C Answers on page 26
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
24
Potato Country 167820MonPot13h.indd 1
May / June 2020 9/18/17 11:45 AM
Potatoes USA
Propagating Potato Knowledge
APRE, Potatoes USA Move to Bring Research Further Into Public View By Ben Harris, Research Associate Manager, Potatoes USA
R
arely do tales from the Dark Ages shed light on modern trends in health and science, but the (entirely true) legend of the Potato King is a notable exception to this rule. Back in the days of the bubonic plague, potatoes were woefully misunderstood by the general populace. People suspected they were agents of horrific ailments like leprosy, and fear spread like wildfire. Fueling this paranoia was, as is often the case, a pervasive atmosphere of secrecy and hearsay.
Know Your Insects Answers (from page 24)
Photo A is a stink bug of the genus Chlorochroa, commonly found in potato in the Northwest. Stink bugs are not known to be vectors of plant pathogens in potato. Photo B is a leafhopper of the genus Empoasca, the genus of the “potato leafhopper.” Members of this genus of leafhoppers are not vectors of plant pathogens, although the beet leafhopper is. It is important to know the difference between the two. Photo C is a thrips, a tiny insect present at some level in most fields. It is known to be a vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which sometimes infects potato. We are fortunate in the Northwest that TSWV is not a problem for us. Photo D is a Lygus bug. There has been much worry about whether this is a vector of plant pathogens in potato, but there is so far no experimental proof. 26
Potato Country
May / June 2020
Then along came Frederick the Great, ruler of Prussia, who devised an elaborate ruse to trick his royal subjects into embracing the spud. He planted a potato crop and installed sentries to pretend to keep watch over the fields around the clock; in reality, the guards had been instructed to let the townspeople sneak past them and make off with tubers. The monarch’s masterful use of reverse psychology enhanced the appeal of potatoes, removed barriers to accessing them and encouraged their widespread adoption in the nation’s agricultural ecosystem. In 1744, Frederick ordered potato seed to be distributed to every corner of his kingdom – another wise move, as scholars have attributed Prussia’s ability to ride out the Seven Years’ War to its ample stores of spuds. Had rulers like Frederick elected, instead, to wall off potatoes and their wonderous benefits from the wider world, there’s no telling how much darker those ages might have been. Today, paywalls have taken the place of castle walls, and the diffusion of data in the cloud has become just as important as the flow of physical commodities across geographic space, yet the moral of the story remains much the same: good things come from open access. This is why Potatoes USA is funding the decision by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) to make its repository of information on potato nutrition available for public “consumption” (figuratively and literally speaking), beginning in 2020. Aside from the obvious advantages of open access (OA) – general readers gain an unrestricted view to the full breadth of analysis on potato nutrition, enabling more evidence-based dietary decisions – there are knock-off effects, as well. Reproducibility improves under an OA system because researchers can readily read and build upon one another’s results, breaking down needless siloes
and fostering collaboration, constructive feedback and innovation, not only between research institutions, but also across academic disciplines. If free-to-read articles in the agricultural sciences receive up to 600 percent more citations than subscriptiononly pieces, and success in academic scholarship is measured in the number of eyes reached and engaged, it doesn’t seem to “pay” much at all to put up a wall. This is particularly true in the era of social media, when keeping an article confined to a single journal amounts to a lost opportunity to capitalize on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and other forums that offer significant visibility. As far as the concern that cracking open the enclaves of research will “cheapen” scholarship by lessening incentives and creating lower quality standards, the evidence points to the contrary: heightened transparency – the knowledge that their studies will be in broader circulation – prompts researchers to adhere to greater rigor and documentation in their methods. There are strong signals that the world continues to move away from a guarded publishing model, one that gives far too much credence to the concept of an “ivory tower.” In February 2019, The University of California system announced that it would be canceling its $11 million annual subscription to Elsevier, the world’s largest publisher of academic journals (with an ownership of around 3,000 journals). The media outlet Vox, reporting on this development, declared it a gesture that could “herald a revolution in the way science is shared around the world.” But perhaps it’s not so much a revolution as a return to our roots: the days of the past when, like the Potato King, we freely sowed the seeds of knowledge. To read studies supporting the role of potatoes in cardiometabolic health, active lifestyles and healthy dietary patterns, visit www.apre.org.
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PotatoCountry.com
27
Market Report
COVID-19 Turns Potato Mar
I
s it over yet? As I write this article, the world is in the process of shutting down, in hopes of slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Who would have thought that a virus could turn back our internal clocks so that a minute could seem like an hour, an hour like a day, and a day like a month? At the same time, decisions that normally take months or years are being made almost instantly. In this environment, it is impossible to make economic projections that will remain relevant by the time this article is available to the public. However, it is important to understand the changes that have taken place since the beginning of 2020. The situation varies widely between the various industry sectors and between end markets.
Retail Sales
People are being reintroduced to home cooking. As governments put restrictions on dining experiences at restaurants and mass feeding operations, and encouraged all who can to work from home, grocery stores have experienced a run on food items, among other things. For the potato industry, that has included a huge increase in sales of table potatoes and potato chips. Retail sales of frozen and dehydrated products also are up, but increases in those categories are being offset by reduced sales through foodservice outlets, which are a larger portion of the market for those items. Is it hoarding, or are people using more product? While hoarding may
28
Potato Country
May / June 2020
be a factor in the retail sales of potato products, we believe that the shift to eating more food at home is resulting in major changes to the average consumer diet. The potato is the most versatile vegetable available to consumers. It can be used in numerous ways and can become a part of every meal occasion. It is viewed as a comfort food by a large portion of the population. While younger consumers may not be familiar with the possibilities, the plethora of online recipes provides them with opportunities to experiment, especially since “social distancing� restrictions limit their mobility. At this writing, it is too early to tell whether retail sales will slump as consumers settle down to use the potatoes they purchased during the early rush. However, we doubt that any slump in sales will be severe. We think that home potato use is up substantially. To the extent that the early purchases resulted from a hoarding instinct, consumers may end up discarding potatoes held too long in less than ideal conditions.
Table Potato Market
Will the industry have enough table potatoes to meet the surge in demand for fresh potatoes? Storage table potato supplies were tight before the surge in retail buying. The table potato shipping surge started during the second week of March, with little evidence beyond price hikes to suggest that packers were making efforts to preserve supplies so that they would have enough potatoes to supply core customers with potatoes through the normal end of the storage season. Russet potato packers will be able to pick up potatoes previously slated for use in frozen processing. However, there is no backup for supplies of red and yellow potatoes, other than the start of the 2020 shipping season in early growing areas. Storage supplies of those potatoes will run out earlier than usual in the Red River Valley, Colorado, and Idaho. The russet table potato situation is complicated. The 2018 crop was much smaller than the 2017 crop. Through the
end of February, shipments for the 201920 marketing year were down 3.6 percent, relative to the previous year. Most observers believe that the shipping season was front-loaded and that shipments for the remainder of the season would fall short of the 2019 pace. Nevertheless, shipments surged during March. They exceeded year-earlier movement by 6.2 percent during the first three weeks of the month. During the third week of March, they exceeded the 2019 pace by 26.2 percent. Fryers are releasing some growers to sell russet potatoes that they had under contract, which complicates any attempt to project supplies for the remainder of the season. Current russet table potato sales are focused on meeting retail demand. Under normal conditions, most retail potato sales are made in 5-pound and 10-pound bags. Prices for potatoes in those packages increased as much as 81 percent from season lows in less than two weeks. Prices on count cartons (typically sold through foodservice channels) have started to come under pressure. In the early days of the rush, retailers were willing to buy any potatoes that they could get their hands on. That has changed as the supply chain has become reoriented.
French Fry Market
The French fry market is less rosy. Over 80 percent of the French fries produced in North America are marketed through quick service restaurants (QSRs) and other foodservice establishments, both locally and in the global market. Export sales started to freeze up during February, starting with the China lockdown and progressing as other countries adopted measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Now, restaurants in several states are closed, while most are limiting sales to takeout and delivery. Those sales have increased, but they don’t make up for instore dining. The fear that fryers would run short of raw product before the 2020 harvest got underway has evaporated. Fryers are releasing some contract potatoes to
rkets Upside Down be packed and sold as table potatoes. Growers are expecting contract volume reductions, rather than increases, for the 2020 potato crop. Fears that processors would overreact to a tight 2019 supply situation by over-contracting have been turned on their head. It is possible that they may be setting themselves up for another tight supply year if economies are able to rebound quickly from the current dislocations.
Potato Chip Market
Many potato chip plants are running seven days a week to keep up with strong retail demand. As a result, storage potato inventories will not last as long as the industry expected. Buyers cut back on early-season potato contracts this year, due to a large storage potato inventory. Now, the increased demand created by travel and work restrictions could lead to tight supply conditions for chip potatoes, particularly during May and June.
Uncertainty
COVID-19 has created huge dislocations in potato markets in North America and around the world. It is creating a huge amount of uncertainty just as growers are starting to plant their 2020 crops. While medical professionals are calling for lockdowns to continue for several more weeks, others are calling to ease the measures quickly to minimize the economic damage. Even if restrictions are eased quickly, consumers may be reluctant to resume old practices for some time, for fear of a resurgence of the virus. Unlike bombing raids, this challenge is unlikely to end with an all-clear signal. There will be no victory parade or mass celebration. We don’t know what changes are temporary and which will last for a generation, but the impact of this crisis is likely to be seared into the memory and behavior of this generation, just as the Great Depression and World War II affected the behavior of those who lived through those calamities for the rest of their lives.
By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News
HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS • The COVID-19 pandemic has created huge dislocations for the potato industry. • The long-term impact is unknowable and will depend upon the extent and trajectory of the disease. • The uncertainty comes as growers are in the process of planting the 2020 potato crop. • The risk of overproduction makes it imperative for growers to exercise caution when making last-minute alterations to production plans.
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
29
Potato Growers of Washington
How Quickly Things Change
By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington
I
had thought that in my career I had seen all there was to see in the potato industry. From the boom of value meals and supersizing to the bottoming out of demand because of the Atkins diet and French fries becoming the posterchild for obesity, there have been many ebbs and flows. But none of those “changed the world” as quickly and as drastically as the coronavirus pandemic. We were in the midst of trying to get growers what most observers feel was a wellearned larger piece of the enormous pie that the frozen potato market had grown into. However, in just over a month after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the U.S., the rapid spread of the virus shut down sporting events, public gatherings, schools and finally even
eating out at restaurants in many cities across the country. The immediate impact that this pandemic has caused is something that I have never seen, nor would have ever expected to happen. As we turned our calendars over to 2020, if someone had said that there would be no March Madness basketball tournament this year, that all major sporting leagues would be shut down for an extended period of time, that people in many major cities would not be able to eat in any restaurant, or that nearly every school in the country would shut down mid-year, no one would have believed it. But obviously, all of that and more has happened. While people still have to eat, many are having to change their lifestyles including where and what they eat. Most major restaurant chains remained open for takeout and drive-thru service where possible. As well, the volume of frozen potato products purchased at retail outlets spiked so much that most stores could not keep their freezers stocked. Those sales were great, but all of these pluses really just softened the blow from the negatives. Think about all of the frozen potato products that were not consumed during sporting events both in the stadiums and by those watching from bars and restaurants around the country. Think about all of the frozen potato products not being consumed in restaurants and bars by the dozens to hundreds of customers who normally eat in the dining rooms each night. The hit that this has put on our industry will be felt for a while. While there is never a good time for something like this to happen, it occurred at probably the best time it could have – just prior to planting. If we had planted all of our normal acres anticipating continued growth in the coming year, we would be in a situation where growers would have potatoes turned away under the force majeure clause in the contracts after already expending all of the costs of planting and growing the crop. As it is, those growers who were reduced in their contracted volume have been significantly impacted, but nowhere near to the level that would have been if the pandemic had occurred in late summer or early fall. As an industry, I have complete faith that all of us will do whatever is necessary to weather this storm and come out of this crisis stronger than we were before. I commend the processors for establishing contract prices that were fair and reasonable, especially considering the economic environment we were in at the time the contracts were finalized. I hope all of you are able to survive this year and will be around to enjoy the economic rebound when it comes in the future.
"As an industry, I have complete faith that all of us will do whatever is necessary to weather this storm and come out of this crisis stronger than we were before."
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