INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
June 30, 2014

Mexico: U.S. Potato Imports Will Affect Tomatoes

Tomato growers in the Mexican state of Sonora are supporting the measures being taken by potato producers to stop the entry of the fresh produce into the country as they say it threatens the health of the state and of Mexico.
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June 30, 2014

Optic Sorting Future of the Industry: Automation offers cost-reduction benefits and guarantees consistent quality.

The fruit and vegetable industry is becoming increasingly automated. Mechanical sorting—and certainly manual sorting—is outdated, including in emerging countries. The Western and Asian markets are placing ever-higher demands on the external and internal q
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June 26, 2014
Fungicide

Syngenta Introduces Solatenol Fungicide : New fungicide controls rusts, many different leaf spots, apple scab, powdery mildew and Rhizoctonia

Syngenta has unveiled plans for the introduction of a new active ingredient. Solatenol will be available under four products for use on several crops, including potatoes.
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June 25, 2014
Insecticide
Vicky Boyd

Variety Helps against Tuber Moths

Tuber moths, long a bane of potato growers, may actually hold the potential to increasing yields.
— Read More
June 22, 2014
Kaitlin Loukides, ABC Local News 8

Unmanned Aircraft Soon to Launch over Potato Fields

Donna Delparte's office is cooler than yours. Period. Delparte is a researcher at Idaho State University's Department of Geosciences and is up to her ears in technology surrounding unmanned aircraft systems.
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June 21, 2014
Seed Potatoes

Wisconsin Helps Potatoes Become First Vegetable Grown in Space

There’s nothing better than eating fresh, locally grown potatoes and vegetables. Why shouldn’t astronauts have the same opportunity while in space for long periods of time? They do—thanks to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and NASA.
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June 20, 2014

Peru has 60 of 3,000 Potato Varieties Registered

Peru's vice minister of agrarian policy says Peru has only registered 60 potato varieties of the more than 3,000 varieties that exist in the country.
— Read More
June 19, 2014
Irrigation

Eastern Idaho Looking Good for Water, Crops

Despite mid-winter concerns, most Idaho growers are concern-free this season when it comes to moisture.
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June 18, 2014
Potato Storage

Webcast: Factors Causing Sugar Ends in Potatoes

Whether you call them glassy ends, translucent ends, dark ends, jelly ends or something even less flattering, sugar ends are a significant issue.
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June 17, 2014
Insecticide
Erin Lizotte

Potato Leafhoppers Reported on Chestnuts in Michigan

Potato leafhoppers have arrived in Michigan and, given the storm systems that have been moving through the state, they are likely to begin appearing in more northern regions at any time.
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June 16, 2014
Irrigation
Teresa Wright

P.E.I. Moratorium on Deep Wells Needs to Go, Says Cavendish Farms

French fry company may look elsewhere for potatoes if it can't get deep wells for crop irrigation.
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June 14, 2014
Fertilizer

IPNI Annual Program Report Released : “4Rs: From Theory to Practice”

The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) has just released its program report for 2014 titled “4Rs: From Theory to Practice.”
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June 13, 2014

Montana State Study on Mixed Cover Crops to be Highlighted in Field Tour

Mixed species cover crops, also known as cover crop “cocktails,” are the focus of a study by researchers at Montana State University and will be the topic of a field tour on July 8 from 9-11 a.m., near Conrad, Mont.
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June 12, 2014
Grower of the Month, Seed Potatoes

Unconventional Success: Sklarczyk Seed Farm of Johannesburg, Mich.

Sklarczyk Seed Farm of Johannesburg, Mich.
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June 12, 2014
Rene Thibault

Potato Production Prominent in North Dakota

It may be a surprise to hear that in 2012, North Dakota ranked fourth in the country in potato production. The state produced 2.5 billion pounds that year.
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June 11, 2014

Farmers, Ranchers Call on Congress to Do No Harm to Farm Bill

More than 30 agriculture groups are calling on Congress to oppose any amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would undo the careful compromises of the bipartisan 2014 farm bill, including the important risk management tools provided through
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June 10, 2014
Andy Nelson

Mexican Potato Growers Sue, Border Closes

U.S. potato exports to Mexico have stopped in response to a lawsuit brought by Mexican growers against the Mexican government.
— Read More
June 10, 2014
Potato Equipment

Schekall Liquidation Handled by Musser Brothers

Musser Brothers Auctions is holding a complete liquidation of Schekall Premium Seed Potatoes.
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June 09, 2014

Nominations Open for 2015 USPB Board Members

The United States Potato Board (USPB) announces nominations are now open for new Board Members for the 2015-2018 term. Fifty-nine members will be elected or re-elected.
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June 09, 2014

Potatoes, Tomatoes Most Commonly Consumed Vegetables

According to the loss-adjusted food availability data compiled by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), Americans consumed 52.3 pounds of potatoes and 31.1 pounds of tomatoes per person in 2012.
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June 06, 2014
Insecticide

First 2014 Psyllids Found in Southern Idaho

A collaborative project between the University of Idaho and Miller Research has trapped its first potato psyllid of the season.
— Read More
June 05, 2014
Insecticide
Marlena Hamilton

Texas Growers Watching Out for Potato Beetles

Potato growers in East Texas are experiencing a huge infestation of potato beetles this season.
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June 05, 2014
Idaho Potato Commission

Questions Answered on IPC’s All Things Potatoes Page

It’s the middle of the dinner rush, and the french fries are coming out of the fryer darker than usual. What’s an operator to do when a potato preparation crisis arises?
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June 05, 2014
Fungicide

Tracking Blight Pathogen to Ancestral Home May Aid in Global Fight

The cause of potato late blight and the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s has been tracked to a pretty alpine valley in central Mexico.
— Read More
June 04, 2014

IPNI Board of Directors Elects New Officers

New officers of the Board of Directors of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) were elected May 25 in Sydney, Australia.
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June 04, 2014
Whit Richardson

Maine Potato Processing Plant Expands : Naturally Potatoes plans to increase production by 25 percent next year.

Maine’s potato industry received good news when a potato processing company announced an expansion that will increase the amount of potatoes it’s buying from farmers at a time when demand from the state’s largest potato processor is falling.
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June 03, 2014
Jonathan Knutson

Potato Growers Have New Market to Tap

U.S. fresh potatoes are now allowed into all of Mexico, and the U.S. potato industry plans to expand its marketing efforts there.
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June 02, 2014

Five Idaho Counties Designated Natural Disaster Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Butte, Clark, Custer, Jefferson and Washington counties in Idaho as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought.
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