Potato Country November 2019

PotatoCountry.com • November 2019 Western focus. National impact.

TOP SEED

QUESTIONS 0 1

For the Advertiser Index click here

Clearing the Air Developing Seed Potato Markets

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Vol. 35 No. 7

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

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

November 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

6 Top 10 Questions When Buying Certified Seed 10 Developing Seed Potato Markets

Potatoes USA International Seed Symposium

12 Clearing the Air 14 Miller Research Offers Real-World Results Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day

24 Record Exports Despite Barriers to Trade Potatoes USA

28 Planting Essentials

Disease Identification

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.

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.

Buyers' Guide

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

32 Table Potato Supplies Tighten

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.

Market Report

Editorial Board Participants at the Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day board a trailer that will take them out into the field.

Every year, Miller holds two open houses, one in the summer and one in the winter.

Gary Roth

Chris Voigt

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

See the story on page 14.

(509) 765-8845

On The Cover This farm on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, serves as the site of the winter grow-out conducted by several state seed certification programs.

Asking about this post-harvest testing and other seed health parameters increases your odds of buying clean, healthy seed. Find the top 10 questions to ask on page 6. Photo courtesy Stewart Gray, Cornell University

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Potato Country

November 2019

(503) 239-4763

Departments 18 19 20 22 26 34

Calendar New Products Insect Quiz Disease Quiz In the News 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

Don’t miss the biggest industry event of the year

november 13 Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center 777 Bannock Trail, Fort Hall, ID 83203 (I-15 Exit 80) • Phone (208) 238-4800

9:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 12:00 pm

Meetings for IGSA, United Growers of Idaho, SIPCO, IACI Break to interact with industry members, vendors National updates by Potatoes USA and National Potato Council Lunch and presentation by IPC President/CEO Frank Muir (Grower of the Year Awards presentation by PGI) 1:30 pm Update on Dr. Joe Guenthner’s Economic Processing Expansion Study by Travis Blacker 2:00 pm Update on Quality Assurance project by Dr. Michael Thornton and Dr. Nora Olsen

Everyone in the Idaho® Potato industry is invited to attend, especially growers!

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information visit idahopotato.com/industry/harvest-meeting

P QUESTIONS O T

10

When Buying Certified Seed

By Amy Charkowski, Colorado State University; Stewart Gray, Cornell University; Russ Groves, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Alan Westra, Idaho Crop Improvement Association; and Mary Kreitinger, Cornell University

1. Is a North American Certified Seed Potato Health Certificate available for this seed lot?

A North American Certified Seed Potato Health Certificate is available for each certified seed potato lot produced in Canada and the United States. It provides a certification number and information on required inspections and disease estimates based primarily on summer inspections in the current crop year.

There is also information on the pedigree, origin of the seed lot and the number of generations it has been in the field. Buyers can request additional documentation such as field inspection, laboratory testing and winter grow-out reports. If there are problems, the health certificate will help seed certification agencies identify the source of the problem, and it may help in management decisions.

Contact information for state seed potato certification agencies and links to certification regulations are hosted by the Potato Association of America (www.potatoassociation.org/research/ seed).

Photo courtesy Amy Charkowski, Colorado State University

2. What were the post-harvest test results for this seed lot?

In addition to summer inspections, most seed potato lots produced in North America are subject to post-harvest testing (PHT), but methods, standards, and data reported and used for certification of seed lots differ by state. If uncertain, buyers can ask what’s included in the PHT. Generally, a 400-tuber sample is collected from each seed lot, but this number can vary depending on lot size. Most states perform post-harvest evaluations in Hawaii or Florida where the plants are visually inspected for obvious disease symptoms, herbicide damage and variety mixture; some laboratory testing may be performed to confirm Potato virus Y (PVY). Other states exclusively use laboratory testing and cannot provide data on herbicide injury, variety mixture or emerging pathogens for which routine tests were not completed.

Do you wonder why the disease estimate reported on the health certificate is sometimes more (or less) than what occurs in your field? Estimates reported on the Health Certificate are the percent of diseased plants/tubers in the sample tested and are not an estimate for the entire seed lot. A tool for calculating the disease estimate for the entire seed lot is provided at blogs.cornell.edu/potatovirus/tools-resources.

Use the tool and the information provided on the Health Certificate to calculate a more precise estimate of disease for a seed lot. Importantly, the precision of the entire seed lot estimate is highly dependent on sample size which is often not reported, but you can request this information. The greater the sample size, the more precise the estimate (Table 1).

Table 1. Estimates based on the sample versus the entire seed lot. Estimates for the entire seed lot require a statistical approach which also generates a confidence interval (range) based on the grower’s risk tolerance (e.g. 95 percent). The narrower the confidence interval, the more precise the estimate. Notice that sample number has a profound effect on the precision of the estimate.

Disease estimate and CI for the entire seed lot3 Sample number1

# of affected plants/ tubers

Disease estimate based on sample2

Disease estimate (95% grower risk tolerance)4

95% confidence interval (range)5

200

2

1%

3.1%

0.1-3.6%

200

4

2%

4.5%

0.6-5%

200

10

5%

8.3%

2.4-9%

400

4

1%

2.3%

0.3-2.5%

400

8

2%

3.6%

0.9-3.9%

400

20

5%

7.2%

3.1-7.6%

1000

10

1%

1.7%

0.5-1.8%

1000

20

2%

2.9%

1.2-3.1%

1000

50

5%

6.3%

3.7-6.5%

1. Sample sizes of 200 and 400 are representative of numbers of tubers collected for the post-harvest test.

Larger samples sizes are generally cost prohibitive. Number of plants observed in the summer inspections is generally in the range of 100-200 plants per acre.

2. Disease estimate of the sample is simply the number of affected individuals divided by the total sample number.

3. Disease estimate of the entire seed lot is based on statistical calculations and influenced by sample size.

4. 95 percent risk tolerance means that the estimates are correct 95 percent of the time.

5. Confidence interval (CI) reflects the range of disease incidence the seed buyer is likely to encounter in any subset of the total seed lot.

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November 2019

3. Was there bacterial ring rot found on your farm in the past year?

Bacterial ring rot (BRR), caused

by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, is a serious disease that can be spread through seed potatoes.

BRR is a zero-tolerance disease on seed potato farms, and infected seed lots cannot be legally bought or sold as there are no treatments to effectively control BRR once it has infected a plant. The pathogen spreads easily from infected to healthy tubers via contaminated seed cutters and pick-type planting equipment, and can lead to losses of 80 percent or more.

5. What methods were used to manage aphid-borne potato viruses?

PVY and potato leafroll virus (PLRV), two aphid-borne potato viruses, can cause significant yield and quality losses in potato production. Both viruses can cause necrosis in tubers; PVY causes necrotic rings on the tuber surface while PLRV causes internal necrotic flecking.

PLRV is effectively managed by applying appropriate systemic insecticides at planting and supplementary foliar insecticides if colonizing aphids are found in the field. Transient aphid species do not spread PLRV, but they are responsible for most of the PVY spread that occurs during the growing season. Insecticidal control of transient aphids is ineffective, but mineral oil sprays can help if applied at the appropriate times and intervals.

Symptoms of Potato virus Y (PVY) include “mosaic” patterns on leaves, as shown on this Alturas plant (left). PVY can cause necrotic rings on the tuber surface, as seen on this Yukon Gold (right). Photos courtesy Stewart Gray, Cornell University

Bacterial ring rot causes foliar wilt, chlorosis and necrosis in the current growing season. Tubers show discoloration and necrosis of vascular tissue and central pith. Photo courtesy North Dakota State Seed Department

6. Was this seed lot produced in a field with a history of soil-borne viruses?

4. Have there been reports of late blight in your area this season?

If yes, determine whether seed lots from the supplying farm are at risk of carrying late blight, Phytophthora infestans. Identify the strain (genotype) of the pathogen and ask whether it is resistant to metalaxyl/ mefenoxam. Late blight is a particular concern when seed is purchased for use on organic farms since late blight management options are limited. Once a late blight epidemic has started in an organic potato field, crop destruction is often the only control option. In addition, late blight can spread across a community very quickly and destroy both potato and tomato crops.

Two soil-borne potato viruses, potato mop top virus (PMTV) and tobacco rattle virus (TRV), are becoming more widespread and can cause significant losses.

PMTV is spread by Spongospora subterranea, the soil-borne microbe that causes powdery scab. TRV is spread by the stubby root nematode. This nematode causes little damage on its own, but 100 percent losses can occur if TRV is present within resident nematode populations. PMTV, TRV and their vectors can persist in soil for many years, and management options are limited.

Seed certification does not currently test for these viruses, but seed lots generated on infested ground pose a high risk of infesting the buyer’s ground when planted, especially if the virus vectors are already present. Once established in an area, producers should practice sanitation of equipment to avoid movement of contaminated soil between fields, even during non-potato rotation years.

Potato mop top virus (left) and tobacco rattle virus (right) both cause necrotic specks and arcs in tubers, while foliar symptoms are rare. Seed certification does not currently test for these viruses. Photos courtesy Yuan Zeng and Ana Fulladosa, Colorado State University; and Ken Frost, Oregon State University

PotatoCountry.com

7

Top 10 Questions 7. Was this lot exposed to herbicide?

8. Was any variety mixture detected?

Herbicide drift and carryover from previous seasons or from equipment that hasn’t been properly cleaned will reduce the productivity of seed potatoes. Seed potato herbicide injury can include tuber cracking, unusual root and sprout growth and very poor or delayed emergence of seed tubers. The tubers may also be more susceptible to decay in storage and in the field. Seed potato farmers should be both scouting for and taking precautions against herbicide damage in their seed potato crops. Lots with herbicide damage that will impact yield should not be certified.

Farmers who produce early generation seed potatoes may grow 20 or more varieties. Variety mixture can occur at many points during production. Variety mixtures may not be a significant problem if the contaminating tubers can be identified and removed during field production and grading; however, there is a low tolerance for mixtures that affect processing.

Seed potato herbicide injury can include tuber cracking, unusual root and sprout growth and very poor or delayed emergence of seed tubers.

Photo courtesy Amy Charkowski, Colorado State University

9. What storage conditions were used for this seed lot?

Ideal storage conditions for seed are 38 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 percent relative humidity. As per certification regulations, seed potato farmers should clean warehouses prior to storing potatoes and should have protocols in place to ensure the seed potato lot identity is maintained throughout storage. Carbon dioxide levels need to be monitored; if too high, tubers can develop blackheart.

Tubers with severe blackheart will not sprout vigorously and may not grow at all.

10. Have you noticed any symptoms of tuber breakdown or soft rot?

Potato pathogens that cause tuber decay will spread quickly through a seed lot during planting, especially if the seed potatoes are cut prior to planting. Try to purchase seed potato lots that have not had blackleg (Dickeya spp.) in previous years and that have remained healthy throughout the winter storage season.

Symptoms of soft rot include sunken surface lesions and mushy, discolored interior tissue that ranges in color from cream to black and is often accompanied by a disagreeable smell.

Photo courtesy Amy Charkowski, Colorado State University

Editor’s note: This material is revised from the Management of Potato Tuber Necrotic Viruses website. Visit the website (blogs. cornell.edu/potatovirus) for more information on potato diseases and management options.

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

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November 2019

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Schedule Overview Monday, January 20 1pm - 4pm

Booth Move In

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Early Bird Recetion SpringHill Suites

Tuesday, January 21 8am - 10am

Booth Move In

8am - 12pm

Spanish Language Program

10am - 5pm

Trade Show

1:30pm - 5pm

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5pm - 8pm

Trade Show Reception & Potato PAC Auction-TRCC

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Wednesday, January 22 7:30am

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7:55am - 12pm

General Sessions

Mac is the co-host of Marketing Disrupted, a new series exploring how

9am - 5pm

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10am - 4pm

Spouses Program

show, which featured marketing executives from Google, Twitter, and Shopify, debuted as the number one business podcast in the country.

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Keynote Address Amber Mac

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Leadership Banquet @ TRCC

7:30am

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General Sessions

interviewed guests like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Joelle Pineau of the Facebook AI Research Lab, and Toronto Mayor John Tory about the Mac is the author of the national bestseller Power Friending and Outsmarting Your Kids Online. She has delivered keynotes at more than 300 events around the world, including events where she has interviewed PM Justin Trudeau and Shopify CEO Toby Lutke about the future of intelligence, the distraction economy, and what it takes for companies to adapt and grow. DMZ named Amber one of 30 inspirational women Denis Show, and SiriusXM Radio. www.potatoconference.com

Potatoes USA International Seed Symposium

Developing Seed Potato Markets Story by Nina Zidack, Montana Seed Potato Certification Photos courtesy Potatoes USA

W

hat country is sixth in potato production and uses virtually no mechanization to produce or harvest its crop? The answer is Bangladesh, a country that is seeking new sources of high quality, disease-tested certified seed potatoes.

This was just one fascinating fact that attendees of the International Seed Symposium learned during informational presentations in which U.S. seed industry representatives detailed seed potato production methods and standards in the U.S., and participants from visiting countries were given the opportunity to

describe potato production and the status of availability of quality seed in their countries.

Every two years, Potatoes USA hosts an International Seed Symposium, bringing in guests from countries with established but growing seed potato markets and new potential markets. The symposium was held Aug. 5-6 in Denver and marked the highest attendance with 55 participants including 24 international guests from 10 countries. Countries with maintenance markets included Burkina Faso, Honduras, Nicaragua, Senegal and Uruguay; target markets included

Abdoulaye Bagaya, an importer from the African nation Burkina Faso, speaks about potato production and seed availability in his country.

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November 2019

Guatemala, Morocco and Myanmar; and new markets included Bangladesh and Cuba.

At the conclusion of the meetings, guests traveled to different seed potato producing states to tour farms and certification labs. Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Senegal representatives toured seed farms in California.

Guests from Myanmar went to Oregon and Washington where they visited seed farms and a research plot to observe breeding, tissue culture labs, greenhouses, fields, packing sheds and local agricultural practices. Delegates from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Cuba visited the San Luis Valley in Colorado where they toured five seed potato farms illustrating tissue culture labs, greenhouses, potato fields and crop diversification systems, as well as the San Luis Valley Research Center, which is the home of Colorado Seed Potato Certification. Guests from Morocco went to North Dakota and Minnesota to tour seed certification programs, seed farms and a large commercial potato operation.

Delegates from Uruguay visited Montana and Minnesota to tour the Montana State

Guests from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Senegal visit a seed potato farm in California.

University Seed Potato Lab and seed farms.

While the focus of the symposium is on developing new seed potato markets for U.S. farmers, the U.S. potato producers and industry folks that attended were enriched by their interactions with the farmers and potato practitioners from

other countries. We learned that while there are many differences in geographic, climactic and economic factors that drive our production systems, there is a common ethic of producing the best possible quality crops with whatever means are available.

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Clearing the Air T

he Humigator, an “air scrubber” from Idaho Hydro Tech, is said to prevent problems with airborne diseases such as silver scurf or black dot in storage. Now, the developers are sharing some thirdparty research that vouches for the potato storage technology.

Funded by a grant of nearly $200,000 from the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, Idaho State University’s biology department tested the Humigator’s efficacy in removing microbes from the air.

Research

Professor Peter Sheridan with Idaho State University led the research and published a report on the project. In the report, he explains that air contains large numbers of microscopic particles. Many are inorganic, such as fine dust; others

are organic, including mold spores, bacteria and viruses. Bacteria and smaller particles, including viruses, can stay airborne indefinitely. Mold spores are larger than bacteria, but still small enough to stay airborne for long periods. Some of the worst potato storage diseases are caused by molds, which spread primarily through the air via spores.

Sheridan set up the project to test the ability of the Humigator to remove mold spores, bacteria and viruses from air.

Microbes were counted in the Humigator discharge water after each test. The counts were found to be very consistent, according to the report. For yeast spores, this consistent count averaged approximately 1 x 105 spores per mL, meaning the Humigator captured about 3.6 x 1010 (36,000,000,000) spores. For bacteria, the count was over 10 times as

Workers build a current model Humigator at the factory in American Falls, Idaho.

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Potato Country

November 2019

high. This count averaged 1.04 x 106 bacteria per mL. Humigation reduced the average number of bacteria by over 80 percent on 33 of the 68 collection plates and reduced the overall bacteria accumulation by over 44 percent.

The researcher also ran the experiments at high and low concentrations of organisms to further test the limits of the Humigator. For the humigation experiments done at high concentrations of E. coli (around 109 bacteria per mL, using a 1000 mL culture), the Humigator was extremely effective in removing the aerosolized bacteria from the air in the test room (Fig. 1), Sheridan reports.

Findings

The Idaho State University experiments using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (as a stand-in for common potato storage mold spores such as Helminthosporium Solani, commonly known as silver scurf) indicate that humigation is also effective in removing these particles from the air (Fig. 2). The yeast cultures used as inocula for the experiments were at least two orders of magnitude lower than the concentrations used in the high-

concentration E. coli experiments, due to the fact that one can obtain higher cell densities with bacteria than with yeast or other eukaryotic unicellular organisms.

However, it is still evident that the Humigator was able to remove the yeast from the air, although some collection points show up as “hot spots” in all the experiments, likely due to the airflow currents in the test lab. The report points out that unlike potato storage facilities, the test lab is not designed for controlled airflow, so these “hot spots” may be expected in a room like the test lab, but less likely in buildings designed for controlled airflow such as common potato storages. The researcher recommends more testing on this.

Sheridan states that the experiments have been quite successful in testing the capabilities of a Humigator unit that is commonly deployed in potato storages to remove mold spores and other pathogens from the air. The tests at the Idaho State University laboratory were run for much shorter durations and in a non-optimized ventilation structure (a room with many corners) due to logistical constraints. However, Sheridan says

This Humigator model 2120 is up and running at a potato storage in Shelley, Idaho.

he can conclude that humigation does capture both mold spores and bacteria in significant numbers, explaining that it appears that if either microbe type reaches the Humigator, it is very likely to be captured. In addition, he would expect performance to improve further with a more ideal ventilation structure.

Idaho Hydro Tech is currently planning more real-world testing of the Humigator.

PotatoCountry.com

13

Miller Research Offers

Real-World Results Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

F

or Jeff Miller, the Real World is not a “reality” TV show about 20-somethings living in an anything-butreal-life environment. “Real world” to Miller represents what he prides himself on: producing potato test trials grown in real grower conditions. He faces the same conditions, circumstances and situations that commercial potato growers see day in and day out.

The owner-operator of Miller Research in Rupert, Idaho, Miller runs between 50 and 60 field trials a year for a list of crop protection, nutrient and irrigation clients that reads like a who’s-who in the potato industry. These companies use Miller because what works at Miller Research also works for commercial growers.

The Father, The Son

After earning a degree in plant pathology from Utah State University, Jeff’s dad, Terry, came home to grow potatoes in eastern Idaho. Contacts from University of California Berkeley started asking Terry to conduct some field tests on his farm. Terry quickly developed a reputation for running trusted, unbiased tests. He then started doing some trials for the Idaho Potato Commission and soon realized there was a need for a fulltime, independent research facility. Terry started Miller Research in 1975. He gave up the commercial growing side of his operation to focus solely on research in 2002.

Growing up, Jeff wanted to eventually

Trent Taysom (left) and Terry Miller with Miller Research answer questions at the company’s field day.

Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day provides an opportunity to see a variety of potato diseases.

take over Miller Research, so he, too, became a plant pathologist. But providence steered him to the University of Minnesota, where he became a faculty member. When a job opened at the University of Idaho, Miller jumped at the chance to move closer to home and his roots. After six years at the University of Idaho Extension in Aberdeen, Idaho, Jeff finally took over the family business in 2007. Though “retired,” Terry still occasionally helps out.

The Reputation

Jeff has maintained the trusted, unbiased reputation for testing started by his father, but it is also the flexibility and responsiveness his company can provide that keeps customers coming back.

“We have greater control, and I don’t have to publish,” Miller says. “We are easy to work with, and we give customers the tests they asked for with unbiased results.”

Because he is not publishing white papers, his studies don’t take two to three years as they might at a university.

Without added red tape, the company 14

Potato Country

November 2019

can quickly react to client requests. Trial results are delivered in December, and Miller will even feed information to customers throughout the trial.

Because Miller Research is independent, Miller can also provide non-disclosure trials, usually balked at by universities, he says. He has more work than he can handle.

The Layout

While he is appreciative to have so much work, Miller does wish he had more space to do it. The operation is only 45 acres, 35 of which are rented. Potatoes are on a three-year rotation. Miller would like to rotate every four or five years, but like most real-world growers, he simply does not have enough land. The facility also tests sugar beets, small grain, corn, alfalfa and has even grown lima beans for a pesticide registration.

Another difficulty Miller Research shares with real-world growers is a lack of labor. Finding people to do fieldwork is challenging. The small community in which the company is located simply does not have enough part-time labor during harvest. Additionally, workers will opt to work for larger growers in the area because they can provide longerterm employment. Miller was able to hire someone to help with harvest this season, but when the person had an injury, Miller ended up taking his place.

Attendees at the Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day inspect test plots as Jeff Miller explains what they are seeing.

The Tools

Miller Research has developed its own methods and tools in order to ensure reliable testing. Miller has a large machine that simulates a pivot, but can be used on small plots, allowing him to test products applied through fertigation and chemigation.

A self-propelled, V-twin-powered sprayer built on-site has been designed to apply precise rates of product, without overspray. It uses a magnetic mixing tank and air pressure to accurately replicate label stipulations.

These tools and the fact that he doesn’t have to give any attention to selling or marketing potatoes allows Miller to focus on research and really figure out what works and what doesn’t.

“Growers are smart or they wouldn’t be growing potatoes,” Miller says.

PotatoCountry.com

15

Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day He cautions growers, however, to be skeptical. Some products are good, but others have not been tested thoroughly enough. Other products may work on their own, but not well when used in combination with what growers are already using. Miller also reminds growers who do their own testing to make sure their results haven’t been skewed by other factors they may not have even considered.

The Presentations

Every year, Miller Research hosts a summer field day for about 120 attendees.

Then, in January or February, Miller again invites the potato industry to his facility to hear the results of those summer trials. Miller shares yield data and outcomes of his potato plots and best management practices for a variety of diseases plus real-world results and recommendations for real-world growers.

Agronomist Trent Taysom with Miller Research shows off the company’s custom-built sprayer.

16

Potato Country

November 2019

Jeff Miller details research projects at his company’s field day.

Jeff Miller shares some insight with an attendee at the annual Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day. James Woodhall with the University of Idaho explains the university’s spore trapping program to attendees at the Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day.

PotatoCountry.com

17

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Dan Tim

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Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to noon

Pat

Dan, Dave, Pat and Tim Lake

For more information call: 208-529-8376

(406) 253-3638 (office), (406) 676-2175 (fax) e-mail - spudman@ronan.net

Toll Free: 800-635-2274

35822 Spring Creek Road l Ronan, MT 59864

Fax: 208-522-2954

Calendar Nov. 5-7

Jan. 16

Nov. 13

Jan. 20–21

Montana Seed Potato Seminar Holiday Inn, Missoula, Mont.

MSU Potato Lab, (406) 994-3150 Big Idaho Potato Harvest Meeting Shoshone Bannock Casino Hotel, Fort Hall, Idaho www.idahopotato.com/industry/harvest-meeting

Nov. 20-21

Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, Wash.

Sheri Nolan, (509) 585-5460 or www.pnva.org

Dec. 11-12

Washington Potato Summit Northern Quest, Spokane, Wash.

Katy Dray, (509) 765-8845 or kdray@potatoes.com

Jan. 14-15

Potato Expo 2020 The Mirage, Las Vegas www.potato-expo.com 18

Potato Country

November 2019

NPC 2020 Annual Meeting The Mirage, Las Vegas Hillary Hutchins, hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org Spudnik Ag Summit Blackfoot, Idaho

Jan. 21–23

Idaho Potato Conference and Ag Expo Pond Student Union Building and Holt Arena Pocatello, Idaho Jill Randall, jillr@uidaho.edu

Jan. 21–23

Washington-Oregon Potato Conference Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, Wash. www.potatoconference.com

Feb. 24–27

Potato D.C. Fly-in Capital Hilton, Washington, DC Hillary Hutchins, hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org

New Products

Company Introduces Irrigation Water Optimizer Precision Laboratories has expanded its offering of irrigation water optimizers with the introduction of Stretta. The product is designed to maintain ideal moisture levels in the plant root zone, leading to enhanced soil-applied input performance and reduced plant stress. This, in turn, improves crop quality and increases yield.

The company recommends applying Stretta through an irrigation system using drip tubes, tape, micro emitters or overhead sprinklers. It is compatible with most fertilizer products.

Visit www.precisionlab.com.

Valley Irrigation Previews New Software Solution Valley Irrigation plans to release Valley 365, a new crop management tool, early next year. The cloud-based platform is designed to simplify the way growers use Valley’s current crop management technologies. With a single sign-on, growers can forecast and plan with Valley Scheduling, monitor and control with AgSense, identify field issues and take action through Valley Insights, and deliver uniform and accurate water to the crop with Valley Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI).

Visit valleyirrigation.com/365.

Certis Selling New Insecticide

Sponsored by:

Certis USA is now distributing Requiem Prime, a foliar-applied insecticide to control potato psyllids, leafhoppers, mites, thrips and whiteflies.

An emulsifiable concentrate formulation, Requiem insecticide is powered by a synthesis of terpenes discovered in an insecticidal plant.

The active ingredient is attracted to the oily outer surfaces of target pests and is said to work against all lifecycle stages of target pests.

Development of resistance is unlikely, according to Certis, making it an option for resistance management, especially alongside other chemistries facing resistance issues.

The product has a zero-day preharvest interval.

Visit www.certisusa.com.

PotatoCountry.com

19

Insect Biology Quiz Dr. Andy Jensen

Entomologists who work on potato inevitably receive tubers with various kinds of tunnels, holes, divots and internal damage that people think might be caused by an insect. Unless the insect(s) is still present, determining the culprit is often impossible. Some insects and other arthropods can cause tuber damage directly, while others are most often found in association with damage caused either by other arthropods or by pathogens such as Fusarium, Streptomyces or Pythium. Below are three photos of damaged tubers, for all of which the damaging animal was known.

A

Question: What was the causal agent for the damage in each photo?

Answers on page 25

20

Potato Country

November 2019

C

B

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

DROGE FARMS Manhattan, Montana GEN 2 & 3 In All Varieties: • Alturas • Burbank • Clearwater • Teton Russet

Glenn: 7590 Stagecoach Trail Rd. (406) 580-7588 Vernon: 7525 Stagecoach Trail Rd. (406) 539-6586 Tim: 7666 Stagecoach Trail Rd. (406) 539-7200

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PotatoCountry.com

21

Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller 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

Unfortunately, tubers do not always make it out of the ground in good health. The pictures for this month’s quiz represent diseased tubers found during the 2019 harvest.

The tubers in photo A were decayed at the stem end. Inside the decayed tissue were what appeared to be small mouse droppings. This disease symptom is uncommon.

What could cause this?

Photo B shows two tubers that both had wet, dark symptoms on the exterior of the tuber. The problem appeared to start at an eye for the tuber on the left, while the problem started at the stem end for the tuber on the right. Are these symptoms the same thing, or are they different?

A Photo courtesy Nora Olsen, University of Idaho

Photos C and D are of the same tuber, showing the exterior and interior of the tuber.

What has caused this tuber to crack, and why is the internal tissue discolored?

B

C D 22

Potato Country

November 2019

Answers Page 27

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To learn more, visit novasource.com or call 800-525-2803.

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PotatoCountry.com

23

Potatoes USA

Record Exports Despite Barriers to Trade

By John Toaspern, Chief Marketing Officer, Potatoes USA

D

espite numerous hurdles, U.S. potato exports achieved record levels for both value and volume for the July 2018 – June 2019 marketing year.

U.S. exports were hindered by retaliatory tariffs, uncertainty in U.S. trade policy, a strong U.S. dollar, high freight costs and tight U.S. potato supplies. However, international demand remained very strong, and potato supplies in the main competitors of the European Union (EU) and Canada were down.

The value of total U.S. exports increased 1 percent to $1.8 billion, driven by a 1 percent increase in exports of frozen potato products, which make up 65 percent of the total, and a 3 percent increase in dehydrated potato exports.

The value of fresh potato exports, which includes table-stock and chip-stock, was off less than 1 percent, and potato chip exports were down 1 percent. The volume of total exports grew 2 percent, in this case, led by a 6 percent increase in fresh potato exports and 3 percent increase in dehydrated exports. When the fresh weight equivalents for the processed products are applied, the total amount of potatoes exported out of the U.S. is 73 million hundredweight.

The 20 percent retaliatory tariff placed on imports of U.S. frozen fries by Mexico resulted in a 25 percent decline in the volume exported, a total of lost sales of 37,172 metric tons valued at $33 million.

The 10 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. frozen imports to China resulted in an 8 percent decline; however, this tariff is still in place and is slated to increase with the next round of tariffs. During the marketing year, the U.S. dollar

Growing Quality Seed For 50 Years!

Left to right: Sid, John, Jonathan, Carl, Nick and Cliff.

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Russet Burbank, Umatilla, Dakota Russet, Clearwater

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

24

Potato Country

November 2019

strengthened 3 percent compared to the Euro and 6 percent to the Korean Won. Total world potato imports increased once again, up 4.5 percent in 2018, reflecting strong international demand.

Canada surpassed Japan as the top U.S. export destination on a volume basis because of the 14 percent increase in fresh exports to this market. The majority of these fresh exports were potatoes from Idaho to be processed into frozen fries in Prince Edward Island. Mexico remained the third largest market but declined 13 percent because of the trade wars, while Korea moved into a strong fourth, up 14 percent. The Philippines entered the top five for the first time, up 11 percent.

Looking forward, demand for U.S. potatoes remains extremely strong in the international markets; however, several obstacles remain. A big concern is the upcoming elimination of tariffs in Japan and Vietnam on frozen and dehydrated products from our competitors Canada and the EU. Another concern is that it appears the EU crop will rebound from the 23 percent decline in 2018, though supplies will remain tight at least through the remainder of 2019. U.S. processors have added capacity, but the U.S. crop is forecasted to be down 3 percent for 2019. It is important to note that over the past 10 years, frozen production in the Netherlands and Belgium has increased by 68 percent while U.S. frozen production has only increased 10 percent over the same time.

To help combat this increased competition and try to overcome some of the barriers, Potatoes USA continues to invest additional marketing funds into the international markets. Potatoes USA received $5.1 million in Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) funding in addition to the $4.98 million in Market Access Program (MAP) funding from USDA. These funds will be used to bolster programs in existing target markets as well as expand into new markets of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 20)

Buyan Ranch

Some of Montana’s Finest Certified Seed Potatoes Photo A: This is a bit of a trick question because there was a pathogen involved in this tuber that created a good environment for a common fly maggot, the lesser bulb fly, to live and grow. Lesser bulb fly is the most common kind of maggot I have seen in hollow tubers like this one. This tuber came from storage in May, the shell still quite firm, but the hollow center contained several maggots about ¼-inch long.

Photo B: This is also a sort of trick question because this damage was not caused by an insect or any other arthropod; it was caused by slugs. If the slugs were not still present at harvest, I might have considered this damage to be most likely caused by wireworm.

Photo C: These tunnels were caused by wireworms and subsequently invaded by saprophytic fungi. This is the less common type of wireworm damage, the more typical being healed-over shallow holes.

Umatilla (G3 & G4) · Russett Burbank (G3) Clearwater Russet (G2 & G3) Isolated Area • Strict Roguing & Sanitation Hawaii Seed Plot Tested • Virus Tested 242 Bivens Creek Road • Sheridan, MT 59749 Bill: 406-596-5142 • Marcus: 406-596-7353

Spudequipment.com Pilers

2007 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2003 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2002 Spudnik 860 Piler 42” belted chain, VFD 230 volt 3ph remote 1999 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC, 3ph remote 1994 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3ph Remote 1991 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3ph Remote 1991 Max 430 30” x 55’ 3ph 230 volt belt chain elev.

1989 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3phase Remote 1985 DL 813 30” BC 3ph

Scoopers

1990 Spudnik 150 30” 230 volt 3ph

Stingers

2016 Logan Trac Pro Telescopic 36”/42” x 6’ Tel. 2010 Logan Trac Pro Telescopic 36”/42” x 6’ Tel. 2014 Logan Trac Pro 30” x 10 belt 3ph Double L 832 BC 30” fingers Spudnik 48” x 10’ belt

Conveyors - Telescopic

1998 Spudnik TC 36”/42”/60’ 3ph Refurbished 1990 Double L 810 30” x 50’ 3ph 230 volt 1986 Spudnik 1200 TC 30” x 55’ 220 volt single phase

Conveyors - Straight

1975 Spudnik 1200 30” x 17’, 29’, 30’,33’ 3ph Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph (10) 1990 Double L 808 30” x 20’ 3ph

Sizers/Eliminators

2003 Milestone 84” DES, BC Elev, peg belt blower 2003 Milestone 84” DES, Belt Elev, dirt & sizing rolls cross conv.

2003 Spudnik 995 84” peg belt blower, dirt rolls & sizing 3ph 2002 Spudnik 925 72” 3ph 2000 Double 878 DE 78” 3ph flip down 72” sizer 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim. 62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer 1997 Milestone MSDES 72” 3ph Dirt Elim Sizer

Crossovers/Wind Rowers

Dirt Eliminators

2015 Double L 953 50/50/45/45/45/ Grimme DR1500 2 row 2- 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 973 4 row 36” row 2009 DL 973 4 row 36” row 2008 Lockwood 474H 4 row 2007 Double 853 4 row 50/50/45/45

2000 Spudnik 900 60” 230 volt 3ph hang on tare 97 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1990 Double 806 Collector 44” 2-pups

Rock/Clod/Eliminators

2015 Lockwood Air Vac 2014 Spudnik 991 72” Air Sep 2007 Harriston Clod Hopper 240 model 3ph 1998 Harriston Clod Hopper 200/80” 230 Volt 3ph 1994 STI 1260 Sand Machine

Even Flows & Crop Carts

2016 Milestone 100cwt, Stinger, tilt belt 1996 Double L 860 600 cwt 3ph Bijlsma Hercules Con 200 Receiving Hopper

Beds

1995 Double L 801 20’ updated Dual Drive 1991 Double L 801 20’ 1986 Logan 20’ new paint & planetary gearbox 1989 Logan 20’ w/ EZ Tarp 1985 Logan 20’ Electric 1983 Logan 20” Electric

Trucks

2007 Sterling 13spd MB 425hp, no bed, frame for 22’ bed, has PTO 2001 Freightliner F80, Cum 5.9L 225 hp 2011 Logan 22’ bed 9sp Rd Ranger 1985 IH 5000 Pay-Star 290 hp Cum., manual

2012 Spudnik 6160 6 row dual discharge 50mm 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row RH 50/50/50 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row LH 50/50/50 2003 Lockwood 5000 Four Row LH 50/50/50 1998 Double L 851 Four Row RH 50/50/45

Harvesters

Seed Cutters 1998 Milestone 60” 1993 Milestone 36”

Treaters

2015 Milestone 36” Liquid Treater 2013 Better Built CDT 10’x 10” dust auger 1996 Milestone 36” Duster

Planters

2016 Spudnik 8080 8 row pull 36” 2009 Harriston cup planter 8 row pull loaded 34” 2009 Lockwood 4 row air cup 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row off set hitch 2005 Harriston model 4016 cup, Raven Controller 36” 2005 Lockwood 6 row Pick 36” 2003 Kverneland 8 row 34” rear steer, tanks, pumps 2000 Grimme 8 row 34” row rear steer 1995 Kverneland 3300 6 row 34”

Planter/Tare/Piler

1989 Double L 815 24” x 24’ cleated belt 220 Volt 1ph DL 815 30” x 24’ hyd belt chain DL 814 24” x 30’ hyd belt chain

Water Dammers

2009 Logan 6 row Yield Pro Water Dammer 2006 Spudnik 8060 Cultv. Bed Shaper Diker 1991 Ag Engineering 6 row Dammer Diker 1994 Ag Engineering 4 row Tillage Master 9 shanks Hyd reset Milestone 6 row Water Dammer

Shredder/Vine Beaters 2012 Newhouse P1952 Pull hitch Tire Roller 36”

MISC.

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

Warehouse/Packaging

Tilt belt Warehouse Even flow 600cwt 8’6” x 26’ x 14’ 30” belt 230 V 3ph 2012 Kwik Lok 865 Bag closer 2- Milestone Screw Sizers with belts with feed conveyor Newlong Sewer DS-9C Northwest Bagger Ernst roll sizer 72” Volm Pak 8000 w/ carousel

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

25

In the News

Studies Sing Praises of Potatoes A study out of Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, found that children experienced better memory recall, improved blood sugar levels and increased levels of satiety after eating white potatoes compared to other carbohydrate sources at breakfast. The study was published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

Another review article, published in Current Nutrition and Food Science, examines the various nutritional benefits of potatoes. Compared to other vegetables, potatoes are richer in essential nutrients that support multiple health outcomes, such as proteins, starch, fiber, and vitamins and minerals including vitamin C and potassium, as well as phytochemicals such as lutein and zeaxanthin. In particular, resistant starch, a predominant carb in potatoes, may positively impact the health of the gut microbiome.

The Alliance for Potato Research and Education is currently funding five studies investigating the benefits of resistant starch in potatoes, including the potential to improve gut health and positively impact heart health and insulin sensitivity.

Report Ranks Potatoes Number One

Potatoes came in as the top produce item and the top vegetable purchased by consumers in Fresh Trends 2019.

More than 60 percent of all consumers said they bought potatoes in the past year, with russets being the favorite type.

More than seven in 10 shoppers said they used spuds as a side dish in the past year, while 37 percent of buyers made potatoes the main dish.

Shoppers age 59 and older comprised the group most likely to buy potatoes; consumers ages 18 to 39 were among the least likely to buy. In addition, families with three or more kids were among the most likely to buy potatoes overall.

While most shoppers picked up conventionally grown potatoes, one-tenth of buyers said they always bought organic product, up one percent from last year, and 27 percent said they purchased organic potatoes at least some of the time.

Streich and Associates, Inc.

Clearwater Atlantic Russet Ranger All Varieties • Virus Tested Generation II & III Montana Seed Potatoes

Do YOU Have Enough Dikers?

Specializing in:

Russet Burbank, Umatilla and Clearwater Modern seed potato facilities Environmentally controlled storage

Steve Streich • 406-253-2276 Paul Streich • 406-253-0642 www.montanaseedpotatoes.com

955 Columbia Falls Stage • Kalispell, MT 59901 spudtruck@montanasky.net

26

Potato Country

November 2019

Ag Engineering

509-582-8900 www.DammerDiker.com

Know Your Disease Answers (from page 22)

R ITE T RACE Advanced Track & Trace System

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

NEW!

Photo A: The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (cause of white mold of potato) was recovered from these tubers. This fungus causes white mold on potato vines. In tropical areas, the fungus has been known to infect tubers, but this is rare in North America. The structures that look like mouse droppings are sclerotia (hard pieces of the fungus) of the white mold fungus.

Photo B: The tuber on the left is showing symptoms of Pythium leak, and the tuber on the right is showing symptoms of pink rot. Pythium leak is characterized by gray infected tissue which oozes water when the tuber is squeezed. Pink rot generally begins at the stem end. In this photo, the infected tissue is cream-colored and is visible on the top portion of the tuber as you look closely.

EASILY TRACE loads from field to storage n Modular design to suit any size operation. n Straightforward components are easy to install. n Integrates with Greentronics yield monitor.

Fully-automated traceability solution. Generates detailed Field and Bin Maps.

Click on loads to pop up details and reports. n Provides clear links between field and storage g track quality characteristics and provide transparency to buyers and processors. n Provides data for efficiency analyses and a variety of management reports. n

Photos C and D: These are severe symptoms of corky ringspot, caused by tobacco rattle virus (TRV). This virus is vectored by stubby root nematodes. Often, the disease is D manifest by dark brown patchesL of tissue inside the tuber. However, external symptoms like those in photo C can also be present.

FI E

from FIELD

fr o m

to TRUCK

to DETAILED MAPS

to STORAGE

• Ranger Russets

• Russet

Burbank

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

519-669-4698•greentronics.com

planting Essentials Ag Engineering & Development Company www.dammerdiker.com Pocket Pitter Reservoir Tillage Equipment

The Pocket Pitter provides excellent results with onions and narrow row crops, beans, grass seed, peas, wheat, greens, sugar beets, garlic, corn and potatoes.

The Pocket Pitter uses a heavy-duty, fivespoke wheel with heavy chrome castings to create a reservoir, or narrow slice, 18 inches long between the rows, or on top of the bed.

This creates water-holding reservoirs with very little soil disturbance as the wheel on a common shaft rolls between rows of plants.

The Pocket Pitter is designed for long life with minimal maintenance requirements.

All Star Manufacturing & Design LLC

www.allstarmfgllc.com

Better Built Potato Seed Treater

All Star Manufacturing and Design offers a recently improved Better Built liquid and powder combination potato seed treater.

By taking the guesswork out of mixing slurry, the new design allows the user to set the desired rate, and the treater will adjust the slurry to the proper amount to be applied to the cut seed. This eliminates the requirement of an agitation mixing tank.

28

Potato Country

November 2019

Lockwood

www.lockwoodmfg.com Air Cup Series Planters

Lockwood’s full lineup of planters includes the Air Cup Series, which offers planting accuracy and consistency.

GPS steering is known for being hard on kingpins. New for all 2020 rear-steering models is a ball joint system in place of kingpins and bushings. This eliminates the need to grease the joints, eliminates binding and reduces high-wear items and maintenance.

Removing kingpins and bushings makes the planter smoother to operate while turning, whether going forward or in reverse.

Replacing the spindle, bushings, washers, spacer, grease fittings, etc. now involves only a ball joint and two nuts. Contending with fewer parts will save growers time and money.

Harriston Industries

www.harriston-mayo.com Clamp Planter

The Harriston Clamp Planter is a lowmaintenance machine built to provide exceptional quality, reliability and accuracy. The planter’s positive seed clamping action greatly reduces skips and assures accurate seed placement.

The specially designed shoe allows some loose soil into the furrow to prevent seed roll, which helps maintain accuracy at greater planting speeds. The Harriston hydraulic drive has many features including easy, on-the-fly seed spacing adjustments, seed bowl height control and planting efficiency stats all from inside the tractor cab.

PotatoCountry.com

29

planting Essentials

Mayo Manufacturing

www.harriston-mayo.com Mayo Telescoping Loader

The Mayo Telescoping Loader is a high-capacity planter filler and field loader. This multipurpose machine has many additional uses including truck loading and trans-loading. Other uses are shortterm piling and elevating sized potatoes. For versatility, the boom telescopes and swings 180 degrees. Options include wireless remote control and generator.

Milestone

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

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

30

Potato Country

November 2019

Spudnik

www.spudnik.com 12-Row Foldable Planter

Increasing efficiency and versatility for farm operations is constantly the goal of Spudnik Equipment Company.

With the development of the 12-row foldable planter, a single tractor and operator can increase planting efficiency by 66 to 100 percent over an eight- or six-row planter. The foldable 12-row planter gives the flexibility to navigate obstacles in the field and plant 12, 9, six or three rows. The increased efficiency allows growers to better plan and manage the critical planting window for optimum plant growth and development.

Paired with the 700-sack-capacity Crop Cart, overall planting efficiency is further increased by reducing planter fill time.

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

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Dan Kimm Kimm Bros.

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

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

www.manhattanseedspuds.com PotatoCountry.com

31

Market Report

Table Potato Supplies U.S.

table potato shipments from the 2018 crop dropped 1.4 percent below year-earlier movement, to 92.7 million cwt. That reduced shipments for the season to the lowest level in modern history.

The 2019 crop is shaping up to see additional declines. Much will depend on how the crop fares during harvest, but by the end of September, the potential for table potato supplies to exceed yearearlier volumes was extremely limited.

Growers cut back on table potato acreage.

Crops in western and northern growing areas went in the ground seven to 10 days later than usual, on average. Yields in key table potato growing areas are likely to fall short of last year’s records.

Revised data show that growers planted 7,700 more acres to potatoes in 2019 than they planted in 2018.

However, those increases came primarily in response to increased demand for fry-quality processing potatoes and chip potatoes. The largest increases came in Washington, Florida, California and Texas. The revised data also show 1,000 acre increases in the potato area for Maine and Wisconsin. The planted area for the other states either matched or fell short of year-earlier acreage.

32

Potato Country

November 2019

Fewer Acres, Lower Yields

Table potato acreage appears to be down from last year in a number of states where the total planted area went up, as well as in those states where acreage declined. Washington is a prime example.

In addition to planting more ground in response to processing contract volume increases, several growers converted a portion of their table potato ground to processing potatoes. One Columbia Basin packing shed closed its doors at the end of the 2018-crop storage packing season.

Reports indicate that a few other Basin sheds intended to close once the harvest was complete. Texas is another example.

The largest table potato storage operation in the state cut back its planted area by 25 percent after producing a record crop in 2018. While less dramatic, table potato acreage is also down in Colorado, Idaho, the Red River Valley and Nebraska.

Backward spring weather delayed planting in most western and northern potato growing areas. While crops have made up for some of the delays, growers believe that crop development is seven to 10 days behind average in most of the key storage areas. Where possible, growers delayed vine kill and harvest to let crops bulk up. Columbia Basin crops may have been able to reach their full yield potential before vine kill, but the risk of harvest losses compelled growers in most areas to live with reduced yields.

Test digs in several key states were showing yields on table potatoes that were as much as 50 cwt per acre less than 2018 yields. Both Idaho and the San Luis Valley, the two largest table potato shipping areas in the country, are reporting yields that are well below last year’s records. Growers in several other areas are expecting yields to fall short of those for the 2018 crop. A second year of below-average rainfall will trim

yields in the northern Red River Valley.

Several factors may have been involved, including acreage cuts, planting delays and frost damage, but we know that Arizona’s shipments fell 31 percent short of last year’s pace. Shipments from Kern County’s spring crop were off by 8.4 percent.

Wisconsin is one of the few growing areas likely to ship more potatoes from its 2019 crop than was available from the 2018 crop. That state was hit by a multitude of problems in 2018, including planting delays, a Memorial Day heatwave that hit much of the potato crop at a critical point in development, excessive rainfall through most of the growing and harvest season, and a hard freeze when several thousand acres of potatoes were left in the ground.

Wisconsin crops have faced another challenging year in 2019, but should do better than in 2018 as long as growers can harvest the crop before winter weather sets in. This year’s planting delays were at least as severe as those for the 2018 crop. Wet weather leeched nutrients out of the soil. Test digs are showing that yields may fall short of the 2018 crop.

Nevertheless, if the crop can avoid frost damage, shipments from the 2019 crop are expected to exceed year-earlier movement by 25 percent or more. Yet, this year’s shipments from the state are likely to be the second lowest since the state’s 2011 crop.

Supply Shortfall

The net result is that fresh potato shipments from the 2019 crop are likely to fall 4 million to 6 million cwt short of the 92.7 million cwt shipped from the 2018 crop. Shipments from the 2018 crop already fell almost 250,000 cwt short of the 92.95 million cwt of potatoes shipped from the 2010 crop, the previous

Tighten low volume record for the modern era.

This year’s shipping downturn is likely to be unevenly distributed between the various table potato types. Cutbacks in Idaho, the Columbia Basin, the San Luis Valley and Nebraska will have an oversized impact on russet potato shipments. During August and September, red potato shipments were running 29 percent behind last year’s pace. That may improve as the season progresses, but supplies in the largest red potato storage area, the Red River Valley, are likely to fall short of last year’s volume. Other growing areas are not likely to make up the difference. We expect the expansion of yellow potato sales to continue, though shipments during August and September have been running about 14 percent behind last year’s pace.

Growers will need to be careful to avoid taking too low of prices for their potatoes this year. Sharp reductions in the available supply should boost prices well above the cost of production. Last year’s shipping downturn did most to boost prices for red potatoes. Yellow potato prices remain relatively strong. On the other hand, russet table potato growers have struggled with low prices for the past several years. Buyers want to base this year’s pricing on five-year averages.

The downturn in supplies should lift prices much higher if growers can even out the flow of potatoes throughout the storage season.

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS

• Shipments of fresh potatoes from the 2019 crop could fall 5 percent or more short of last year’s record low movement.

• Both acreage and yields for table potatoes will be down from last year.

• Russet potato growers will need to show discipline if they hope to benefit from price increases that should accompany this year’s expected supply shortfall.

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) 5258397; or e-mail napmn@napmn.com.

PotatoCountry.com

33

Potato Growers of Washington

Plant Expansions Benefit Entire Basin

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

T

he recent announcement and groundbreaking of the McCain Foods Othello, Washington, plant expansion is a very positive message for the entire Columbia Basin potato industry.

Ever since McCain Foods purchased its current plant in Othello nearly 30 years ago, the company has been a very steady player in the Basin. There have been a few tweaks to the plant over the years, but there have been no major expansions or changes in the volume of potatoes contracted or finished product produced in Othello.

During the same 30-year period, the J.R. Simplot Company acquired the Nestle plants, and Lamb Weston acquired the Universal Frozen Foods and Twin City Foods plants. In addition, over the past five years, Lamb Weston has expanded plants in Boardman, Oregon; Richland, Washington; and Hermiston, Oregon. While McCain has been a steady presence, the other processors have been increasing their percentages of the Columbia Basin potato crop for which they contract and process.

All of the mergers and now expansions taking place should signal to the entire potato world the confidence that the processors have in not only the future growth of frozen potato products, but especially the growers of the Columbia Basin stepping up and meeting their needs.

To meet these needs, growers have been building new storages, adding additional and/or more efficient machinery to produce the necessary tonnage of potatoes and, most importantly, acquiring additional land through purchases and long-term leases.

Many people inside the industry have been saying for years

that there is not enough cropland to support additional plants.

This was being said even before the recent expansions, and so far there have not been issues with securing additional cropland.

Why the discrepancy? It simply boils down to economics.

While the non-potato crops were at record high prices at the beginning of this decade, many landowners would not consider renting out their land for potatoes, as they found it more profitable to grow the other crops themselves than to rent their land to a potato grower. This resulted in demand for leased land to exceed the available supply, which drove rents up. In the end, potato growers acquired all of the acres needed.

As the non-potato commodity prices declined, more cropland became available for rent. Also, as the purchase price of land continued to skyrocket, with investment money from outside of agriculture buying a majority of the available acres, fewer landowners were willing to grow non-potato crops and even more land gradually became available for potato production.

Additionally, the conversion of significant acreages of permanent cropland back to annually cropped land made even more land available, and we have been able to meet the needs of the current expansions without sacrificing yields or quality by shortening rotations or planting on marginal ground.

By my estimations, the current economic environment and the available water rights would result in sufficient acreage to allow the Basin to comfortably supply all of the announced plant expansions and still leave room for the addition of at least one more plant. If we can complete some of the water projects that many of you have been tirelessly working on for years, the sky is nearly the limit as to how many plants could be added in the future.

With each expansion, the entire potato industry in the Basin receives a great boost through additional acres being contracted, the purchase of more equipment and inputs and the creation of additional jobs.

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Potato Country

November 2019

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