Potato research and the current crop were the topics of a University of Wisconsin field demonstration day at the Lelah Starks Seed Potato Farm near Rhinelander Wis., last week.
Amanda Gevens is a potato and vegetable disease researcher for the University of Wisconsin. She says the one good thing about a drier-than-normal June is fewer instances of potato disease.
“[We have had] relatively few disease calls in the crop but we have seen some,” says Gevens. “We’ve seen some blackleg around around the state. Certainly, we’ve had early blight in fields in lower canopies and mid-canopies, but it’s been managed very well.”
As for research this growing season, Gevens says she’s focused on comparing early and traditional planting dates and also on seed treatment.
“Comparing our outcomes with the fungicides applied in our smaller equipment that we can have a more controlled handle over and more maximal coverage of seed to what is happening on commercial farms, we’ve made those comparisons this season with very comparable outcomes which has been very reassuring,” she says.
Gevens says with last season affected by the pandemic, there is a lot of interest from growers and suppliers in this year’s research efforts.