INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
August 31, 2018
Articles

The Story Behind Lay's Potato Chips

It's an American-made classic by an American inventor that has become a summertime staple for any barbecue table: Lay's potato chips.
— Read More
August 31, 2018
Articles

Campaign Touts Potatoes as Fuel for Athletes

Potatoes USA has partnered with Colorado-based Sterling Rice Group to reinvent the narrative of our earthy friends.
— Read More
August 31, 2018
Articles
Tom Karst

Odiorne to Retire from Idaho Potato Commission

Don Odiorne joined the Idaho Potato Commission in 1989 and will retire at the end of this year.
— Read More
August 31, 2018
Articles

Wolfley Named CHS Bingham GM

CHS Inc., a leading U.S. farmer-owned cooperative, has named Jared Wolfley as general manager for its CHS Bingham business in Blackfoot, Idaho.
— Read More
August 30, 2018
Articles
Tom Karst

Walmart Helps Researchers Find Cause of Rejected Potatoes

University of Idaho researchers are working with Walmart to look at the reasons behind rejected or downgraded potato loads at the chain’s distribution centers.
— Read More
August 30, 2018
Articles

RPE Introduces Party Potatoes: RPE continues to make fingerling potatoes the unexpected crowd pleaser

RPE continues to make fingerling potatoes the unexpected crowd pleaser.
— Read More
August 30, 2018
Articles
Dennis M. Rettke

Washington Crop Benefiting from Hot Summer

As the harvest gets underway, producers are looking at a good quality crop with a well spread size profile, much of that due to the warm and dry summer.
— Read More
August 30, 2018
Articles

Sims Named Motion Industries Marketing VP

Motion Industries, Inc., a leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts, announces the promotion of Pamela Sims to vice president of marketing.
— Read More
August 29, 2018
Articles, Fungicide
Amanda Saville & Jean Ristaino, North Carolina State University

Doppelgänger: Phytophthora infestans look-alike causing disease pressure in North Carolina

P. infestans look-alike causing disease pressure in North Carolina
— Read More
August 29, 2018
Articles

Wada Partners with Genesis to Supply Organic Potatoes

Wada Farms Marketing Group has strategically partnered with premier organic packer Genesis Organics located in southern Idaho.
— Read More
August 29, 2018
Irrigation, New Products

New Product: Valley VRI-iS

Valley Irrigation announces the release of its next-generation variable rate irrigation solution: VRI-iS, which gives growers control of individual sprinklers for optimal control of water application.
— Read More
August 29, 2018
Articles

The Difference Between Seed Genetics and Traits

Most seasoned row crop farmers, and a fair number of younger ones, can remember the first time they poured a bag of traited seed into the planter.
— Read More
August 28, 2018
Irrigation, New Products

New Product: Valley Scheduling

Valley Irrigation announces the North American release of Valley Scheduling, its advanced irrigation management software to help growers make better irrigation decisions.
— Read More
August 28, 2018
New Products

New Book: Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures

The newest book from Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education provides practical tools to help you choose the best business entity for your operation.
— Read More
August 28, 2018
Articles
Tom Stoddard

What Every Grower Should Know about Gene Editing

With the help of gene-editing technology, what initially may have sounded like science fiction has become a useful tool at the hands of farmers across the country.
— Read More
August 27, 2018
Articles

Farms Becoming More Environmentally Friendly

Environmentally friendly farming practices now employed by nearly one-third of world’s farms
— Read More
August 27, 2018
Articles
J.P. Rhea

Common Questions about Organic Transition

What’s holding growers back from exploring the untapped potential of organic? Many express that their reluctance stems from a lack of resources to help with the organic farming transition process.
— Read More
August 27, 2018
Articles, Fungicide

New Late Blight Strain Identified

A new, mefenoxam-resistant late blight strain, US-25, has recently been identified in New York. This strain has, to this point, been found only on tomato.
— Read More
August 27, 2018
Articles
Tom Karst

Idaho Potato Commission Redesigns Website

The Idaho Potato Commission has redesigned its website, www.idahopotato.com, with mobile-friendly formats, scroll features, modified layouts and a load-on-demand feature.
— Read More
August 24, 2018
Articles
Jonathan Knutson

Red River Valley Potatoes Could Benefit from Rain

"If it's in a day or two days or five days — rain would help," said Andrew Robinson, Fargo, N.D.,-based extension potato specialist with both North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota.
— Read More
August 24, 2018
New Products, Potato Equipment

New Product: AgJunction Wheelman Automatic Steering: Wheelman puts precision agriculture productivity in reach of small farmers

Wheelman puts precision agriculture productivity in reach of small farmers
— Read More
August 23, 2018
Articles

Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches

Farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S. are looking for adaptation strategies as changes in weather make it more challenging to produce crops and livestock.
— Read More
August 23, 2018
Irrigation, New Products

Valley Releases Hybrid Configuration for X-Tec Motor

The hybrid X-Tec pivot configuration uses the high-speed Valley center drive motors on the inner drive units and X-Tec drives on the outer drive units.
— Read More
August 23, 2018
Articles, Potato Equipment, Potato Harvesting
Nora Olsen & Mike Thornton, University of Idaho

Preparing Equipment for Harvest

The bulk of harvest is just ahead of us and here are a few reminders to ensure equipment is ready for handling the new crop.
— Read More
August 23, 2018
New Products

Alterra 570 Headlines Textron’s 2019 ATV Lineup

Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. announces new Textron Off Road ATVs for the 2019 model year, led by the new Alterra 570 ATV and an updated Alterra 700 line.
— Read More
August 22, 2018
Articles, New Products

New Product: Benson Hill Gene Editing System: Agribody Technologies will employ Benson Hill Biosystems’ novel gene editing system to express gene targets validated to increase yield, stress tolera

Agribody Technologies will employ Benson Hill Biosystems’ novel gene editing system to express gene targets validated to increase yield, stress tolerance and shelf life.
— Read More
August 22, 2018
Articles
Jen Lynds

Legislation Passed to Benefit Potato Research

Growers across the nation could benefit from a financial victory that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) secured in the fiscal year 2019 Appropriations Minibus that recently passed in the Senate.
— Read More
August 22, 2018
Articles, Fertilizer, New Products

Ostara Reaches Agreement with Taurus to Market Products in Canada

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies announces a long-term exclusive distribution agreement with Taurus Agronomic Marketing to market and sell Ostara’s Crystal Green phosphate fertilizer and forthcoming technologies in western Canada and Ontario.
— Read More
August 22, 2018
Articles
Demi Knight

University of Lethbridge Seeks to Strengthen Alberta Potato Market

It’s an industry that professionals say injects more than $1 billion into Alberta’s economy each year.
— Read More
August 21, 2018
Articles
Luis Fieldman

Massachusetts Grower Carries on Tradition

His hands are creased from a lifetime of toiling on his family’s potato farm, but there is a youthful joy in Frank Szawlowski’s eyes as he raises a handful of his red potatoes.
— Read More
August 21, 2018
Articles
Shashi K.R. Yellareddygari

Understanding Tobacco Rattle Virus in Potato

Tobacco rattle virus causes the economically important corky ring spot disease. Tobacco rattle virus is transmitted in the filed by soil-inhabiting stuffy root nematodes of the genera Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus.
— Read More
August 21, 2018
Articles, Herbicide

Catch Weed Escapes Before It’s Too Late

Weeds typically stop growing once crops approach dense canopy closure, but this does not mean you can stop worrying about weed management.
— Read More
August 20, 2018
Articles, Fertilizer, Irrigation

Podcast: ‘Keeping Potatoes Healthy During Summer Heat’

Specialists from Yara discuss how the potato crop is dealing with the current heat wave in North America.
— Read More
August 20, 2018
Articles, Fungicide
Jaime Willbur

Late Blight Confirmed in Southern Michigan: Late blight has been confirmed on commercial potatoes in Monroe County. There are predicted high risk levels throughout southern Michigan.

Late blight has been confirmed on commercial potatoes in Monroe County. There are predicted high risk levels throughout southern Michigan.
— Read More
August 20, 2018
Articles
National Potato Council

China Imposes Tariffs on U.S. Fries, Dehy

The escalating trade war between the U.S. and China increased further as both sides recently announced new multi-billion tariffs on a host of goods.
— Read More
August 20, 2018
Articles
Michael Larkin

Experts View Ag Robot Revolution as Imminent

A farming robot revolution is imminent, with fruit-picking machines nearly ready to roll into the fields and start replacing human workers.
— Read More
August 20, 2018
Articles

Researchers Urge Variety Development in Andes Region

Researchers from Colombia and Canada are working with public and private sector partners to increase production and consumption of yellow potatoes across Colombia and beyond.
— Read More
August 20, 2018
Articles
Anthony Brino

Wide Range of Experiments Underway at Maine Research Farm

Farmers, researchers and members of the public gathered at the University of Maine’s Aroostook Research Farm in Presque Isle Aug. 8 to learn about the latest in potato research.
— Read More
August 18, 2018
Articles
Gregory Wallace

EPA Ordered to Ban Chlorpyrifos

A federal court on Aug. 9 ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to ban a pesticide used widely in farming.
— Read More
August 15, 2018
Articles, Fungicide, Herbicide, Insecticide

IPM a Powerful Tool for Potato Growers

Growers who practice integrated pest management (IPM) can positively impact their crop production and their bottom lines.
— Read More
August 14, 2018
Articles, Irrigation
Lyndon Kelley

Timing the Last Irrigation Application: Maximizing profit and returns on resources invested can be dependent on the last irrigation application.

Maximizing profit and returns on resources invested can be dependent on the last irrigation application.
— Read More
August 14, 2018
Articles

Keenan Joins Potatoes USA

Potatoes USA welcomes its newest team member, Kendra Keenan, as an assistant marketing manager.
— Read More
August 13, 2018
Articles
Kelly Jedrzejewski

Student Seeks to Improve Ag at Home and Abroad

— Read More
August 11, 2018
Articles

Climate-Resistant Potatoes Researched in Europe

Research at the James Hutton Institute has led to the discovery of genetic variations which can help protect potato crop yields at high temperature.
— Read More
August 10, 2018
Articles

Late Blight Confirmed in Wisconsin, Illinois

The US-23 genotype of Phytophthora infestans (the causal agent of late blight) was detected on commercial potatoes in Adams and Marquette Counties in Wisconsin and in Illinois.
— Read More
August 10, 2018
Articles
Krishna Ramanujan

Researcher Joseph Sieczka Dies at 79

Joseph Sieczka, professor emeritus of horticulture, an expert on potatoes, died July 29 at his home in Mattituck, N.Y. He was 79.
— Read More
August 10, 2018
Fungicide, Insecticide, New Products

Vive Announces Five New Products for 2019: New nanotechnology-enabled products provide proven insect or disease control

New nanotechnology-enabled products provide proven insect or disease control
— Read More
August 09, 2018
Articles, Fertilizer

Krull Joins Nufarm Portfolio Solutions Team

Nufarm announces the hiring of Mike Krull as North America lead for portfolio solutions.
— Read More
August 09, 2018
Fungicide

Late Blight Confirmed in Washington State

Late blight was found and confirmed north of Pasco, Wash., in the first week of July. The infected field was treated with a fungicide 12 days prior to the report.
— Read More
August 09, 2018
Articles

Campaign Highlights Potatoes' Performance-Boosting Benefits

The potato industry is making a strong statement about potatoes to demonstrate the performance-boosting benefits of America’s favorite vegetable.
— Read More
August 09, 2018
Articles

Dome Named Potatoes USA Global Marketing Manager

Potatoes USA announces that Kayla Dome has joined its staff as global marketing manager for the organization’s retail sector.
— Read More
August 09, 2018
Articles
Tom Karst

Wisconsin Potato Outlook Rebounds After Rough Start

With cool and wet weather in April and May, unseasonably hot weather around Memorial Day and dry weather in July, Mother Nature has given Wisconsin potato growers a challenging season.
— Read More
August 08, 2018
Articles

Playing by New Rules: Updated hours of service regulations and what they mean for growers and shippers

Updated hours of service regulations and what they mean for growers and shippers
— Read More
August 08, 2018
Articles

Simplot Gets License for Gene Editing Tools: Potential benefits include higher yields, improved environmental impact and reduced food waste

Potential benefits include higher yields, improved environmental impact and reduced food waste
— Read More
August 08, 2018
Articles
John Keeling, Executive VP and CEO, National Potato Council

Moving Forward: The potato industry is keeping up the good fight in D.C.

The potato industry is keeping up the good fight in D.C.
— Read More
August 07, 2018
Articles
Joseph Cyr

Dry Conditions Having Small Impact in Maine

Although it has been a dry, hot summer, the potato-growing season in Maine appears to be right on schedule, according to industry officials.
— Read More
August 07, 2018
Articles

RDO Backs Off Minnesota Expansion

Minnesota’s largest potato producer is backing away from a controversial expansion just south of the Mississippi River headwaters.
— Read More
August 07, 2018
Articles
Buzz Shahan, Chief Operating Officer, United Potato Growers of America

It’s Up to Me?: It is up to you to know the production number that assures your financial future.

It is up to you to know the production number that assures your financial future.
— Read More
August 07, 2018
Articles
Mike Wenkel, Executive Director, Michigan Potato Industry Commission

High Priority: Research continues to be focus in Michigan

Research continues to be focus in Michigan
— Read More
August 06, 2018
Fertilizer

Soil Phosphorus Availability and Lime

More than just pH? Soil’s prior management impacts response to liming
— Read More
August 06, 2018
Articles
Keith Loria

Oregon Crop Looking Good Despite Water Concerns

As potato growers in Oregon prepared for harvest, the Oregon Potato Commission was looking forward to a successful year with a high-quality crop.
— Read More
August 06, 2018
Insecticide, New Products

Torac Insecticide Granted Registration in Eastern States

— Read More
August 06, 2018
Articles, Fertilizer

Consummate Pro: Exploring the science behind microbial fertilizers and soil probiotics

Exploring the science behind microbial fertilizers and soil probiotics
— Read More
August 06, 2018
Articles, Grower of the Month
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Still Growing Up : 2018 IGSA Russet Aristocrat Dale Mickelsen continues to seek out paths to prosperity

2018 IGSA Russet Aristocrat Dale Mickelsen continues to seek out paths to prosperity
— Read More
August 06, 2018
Articles
Robert Mikkelsen, International Plant Nutrition Institute

Let’s Not Ignore the Obvious: Sustainable agriculture can’t ignore plant nutrition.

Sustainable agriculture can’t ignore plant nutrition.
— Read More
August 05, 2018
Articles, Grower of the Month
Sarah Ehrlich

New Venture: Colorado’s Three S Ranch makes the switch to seed production

Colorado’s Three S Ranch makes the switch to seed production
— Read More
August 05, 2018
Articles, Between the Rows
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Between the Rows: Finest Hour: Embracing life and people, warts and all

Embracing life and people, warts and all
— Read More
August 04, 2018
Articles, Final Countdown
Yi Wang & Amanda Gevens, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Top 5: Understanding Pink Eye of Potato

Pink eye is a disorder of potato tubers that can cause costly storage losses for potato growers and can reduce tuber quality to the point where tubers will be rejected by processors.
— Read More
August 04, 2018
Articles

Broadband Internet in Rural Areas Is Essential: As farming moves rapidly into the digital age, the need for faster, more reliable broadband access in rural areas grows.

As farming moves rapidly into the digital age, the need for faster, more reliable broadband access in rural areas grows.
— Read More
August 03, 2018
Articles

Researchers Discover New Tool in Late Blight Fight

— Read More
August 03, 2018
New Products

New Product: Challenger TerraGator C Series Applicators

AGCO Corporation, introduces the new TerraGator C Series high-flotation nutrient applicator and redesigned spray system.
— Read More
August 03, 2018
Articles, Irrigation, New Products
Brad Buck

SmartPath Technology to Lead to Smart Farm Irrigation

By testing new technology, University of Florida scientists will work with growers to encourage their use of alternatives to fresh water by using new smart irrigation systems.
— Read More
August 03, 2018
Articles

Tasteful Selections Expanding Again: Innovation coupled with customer and consumer demand drive latest expansion

Innovation coupled with customer and consumer demand drive latest expansion
— Read More
August 03, 2018
Seed Potatoes, Smorgasbord

The Smorgasbord: Pinto Gold

This month’s Smorgasbord looks at Pinto Gold, a just-released variety developed by the University of Maine Potato Breeding Program.
— Read More
August 02, 2018
Articles, Grower of the Month
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

On the Right Track: Kettle Brand’s Tater Tracker program invites consumers onto farms

Kettle Brand’s Tater Tracker program invites consumers onto farms
— Read More
August 02, 2018
Articles, Fungicide, Herbicide, Insecticide

BASF Closes Acquisition of Assets from Bayer

BASF has closed the acquisition of a range of businesses and assets from Bayer. The transaction is a strategic complement to BASF’s crop protection, biotech and digital farming activities.
— Read More
August 02, 2018
Articles, Irrigation

IA Announces Industry Achievement Award Recipient

The Irrigation Association has named Jim Klauzer of Clearwater Supply in Ontario, Ore., as the recipient of the 2018 Industry Achievement Award.
— Read More
August 02, 2018
New Products, Potato Equipment

Buyers' Guide: Bagging & Packaging Equipment

Check out the latest equipment to help package those precious potatoes for the consumer.
— Read More
August 02, 2018
Articles
Keith Loria

Washington Growers Struggle to Keep Up with Demand

The Washington State Potato Commission has been pleasantly surprised by the weather and its impact on this year’s potato crop.
— Read More
August 01, 2018
New Products

New Product: AyrMesh IndoorHub

The new AyrMesh IndoorHub is a simple indoor meshing wi-fi access point. It is an upgrade to Ayrstone’s successful IndoorAP, with several important improvements.
— Read More
August 01, 2018
Articles, Irrigation

Drought Affecting P.E.I. Potato Industry: Only so many ways to produce more potatoes in province, says P.E.I. Potato Board

Only so many ways to produce more potatoes in province, says P.E.I. Potato Board
— Read More
August 01, 2018
Articles

June Retail Potato Sales: Volume Down but Value Up

The total volume of potatoes sold at retail in the U.S. was down 3.2 percent in June 2018 compared to June 2017, though the value did increase slightly.
— Read More
August 01, 2018
Articles
Daniel Vanderhorst

Black Gold Set to Harvest Indiana Reds

Black Gold Farms is gearing up to harvest its sixth Indiana red potato crop the first week of August.
— Read More
August 01, 2018
Articles

Potato Plant Discovered by Darwin to Go on Display

The plant specimen was re-discovered in a cupboard of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) five years ago after being discovered by the famous naturalist on an island off Chile in 1835.
— Read More