November 28, 2013

Canadian Growers See European Trade Deal as Good for Industry

They may plant in the red dirt, but the Prince Edward Island potato industry is in the black and learned at its annual meeting last Friday in Charlottetown the new European trade agreement will increase exports and reduce tariffs in the years ahead.
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November 27, 2013
Seed Potatoes

Farms Needed for Potato Trials

Ruth Genger, plant pathologist at University of Wisconsin-Madison, is looking for growers who are interested in participating in potato production trials in 2014.
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November 27, 2013
Cynthia David, The Packer

Industry Hopes Popularity of Reds, Yellows Pays Off

Sales of yellow-flesh potatoes have soared 24 percent since 2009, according to the U.S. Potato Board. Red potato volumes increased 4.1 percent in U.S. retail stores for the 52 weeks ending Aug. 31, according to the Nielsen Perishables Group.
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November 26, 2013
Dan Wheat

Trade Mission to China Opens Door for Potatoes

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's recent trade mission to Japan and China brought movement toward access for Northwest fresh and chipping potatoes.
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November 25, 2013
Grower of the Month, Seed Potatoes
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Like a Fish to Water: Lane Farms of La Grande, Ore.

Lane Farms of La Grande, Ore.
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November 24, 2013
Event Calendar

National 4-H Council Hosts Inaugural National Youth Summit : High school youth to experience STEM, agri-science, robotics and healthy living programs

The National 4-H Council and its National 4-H Youth Conference Center will host a series of educational youth summits to engage youth and introduce and advance their skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and healthy living pro
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November 23, 2013
John O'Connell, Capital Press

Heinz to Close Pocatello Plant

H.J. Heinz has announced plans to close its Pocatello, Idaho, plant, along with two other facilities.
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November 22, 2013
Irrigation

Irrigation Association Announces New Board of Directors

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Irrigation Association has elected three new members to serve on its board of directors from 2013 to 2016.
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November 21, 2013

NPC Calls for Consistency in FDA's Handling, Packing Regulations

The National Potato Council has submitted comments to the FDA in response to proposed rules that would impact the potato industry as part of FDA's implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
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November 20, 2013

Farm Bill Study May Help Potato Industry

The potato industry and lawmakers have another card up their sleeve in their effort to protect the starchy vegetables from those who seek to remove them from federal nutrition programs: a study inserted in the House's version of the farm bill that could b
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November 18, 2013
John O'Connell, Capital Press

IPC Planning 2014 Truck Tour

The Idaho Potato Commission is checking the costs of a likely third tour for the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck.
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November 16, 2013
Event Calendar, Insecticide

Miller Research Potato Pest Management Seminar: Dec. 16 and 17

Miller Research LLC will be holding its annual potato pest management research meeting on Monday, December 16 and Tuesday, December 17.
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November 15, 2013

USDA: Certification Gets Conservation Easements On Ground Faster

WASHINGTON - The nation's top easement program for protecting fertile agricultural land is making it easier for people to enroll land through advanced certification.
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November 14, 2013

Potato Packaging Bill Clears Pa. Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Legislation that would remove weight limit restrictions on potato packages in Pennsylvania has unanimously cleared the state Senate.
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November 13, 2013
Herbicide
John O'Connell, Capital Press

Testing Shows Dip in Idaho's Necrotic PVY Strains

The occurence of a necrotic strain of potato virus Y that had been on the rise in Idaho seed dropped significantly in the 2013 winter grow-out, University of Idaho researchers say.
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November 13, 2013
Web Exclusive

Simplot Hiring Fresh Commercialization Manager

The J.R. Simplot Company is looking to hire a full-time fresh commercialization manager to work with its plant sciences group in Boise, Idaho.
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November 11, 2013
Andy Nelson
Web Exclusive

NPC Issues Food Safety Document

The National Potato Council has released a best-practices document to help growers, shippers and packers ensure the safety of their potatoes.
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November 08, 2013
Potato Equipment
Web Exclusive

Mahindra Offers Holiday Sale: Red Ribbon holiday sales event now through Dec. 31

HOUSTON, Texas - Mahindra USA, the No. 1 selling tractor brand in the world based on volume, is offering its best prices of the year now through Dec. 31, 2013.
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November 07, 2013
Mark Graves, The Oregonian
Web Exclusive

Klamath Basin Growers Donate $100,000 to OSU

Klamath Basin potato growers have given $100,000 to Oregon State University's Klamath Basin Potato Endowed Faculty Scholar Fund.
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November 07, 2013
Insecticide, Potato Storage
John O'Connell, Capital Press
Web Exclusive

New UI Entomologist Has Zebra Chip Background

Arash Rashed, the new entomologist with the University of Idaho's Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, will specialize in cereals but has experience in zebra chip disease to help the potato industry research a new disease threat.
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November 06, 2013
Carrie McDermott, Daily News
Web Exclusive

USDA Celebrates Farm to School Month

The USDA's first Farm to School Census, taken during the 2011-12 school year, reveals more than 38,000 schools and 21 million students are taking part in the national program, serving more than $350 million in local food.
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November 05, 2013
Fungicide
Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio
Web Exclusive

Minnesota Wants to Contain Potato Pesticide Drift

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is trying to reduce the drifting of pesticides from potato fields to nearby homes and schools.
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November 04, 2013
Web Exclusive

IPC Appoints Three New Commissioners

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) announced the appointment of three new commissioners who will each serve a three-year term.
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November 01, 2013
Web Exclusive

Potato Council Releases Guidelines on Food Safety for Growers, Packers

The NPC recently released its Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Storage, and Packing of Potatoes and will host a media briefing about the document on Friday, Nov. 8, in a 30-minute webinar from noon to 12:30 p.m. ET.
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November 01, 2013
Insecticide
Web Exclusive

Syngenta Launches New Seed Treatment Insecticide : Registered in Argentina; multiple crops and countries pending

Syngenta announced this week the registration in Argentina of Fortenza, a novel seed treatment insecticide, for use on soybeans, corn and sunflowers. Further registrations are pending in multiple countries for both seed treatment and foliar uses across al
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