Michigan State University and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission are hosting a potato field day at the Montcalm Research Center in Lakeview, Michigan, on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Brief introductions by Chris Long, a potato extension specialist with MSU Extension and the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, and Kelly Turner, chief executive officer of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, will kick off the event. Three one-hour presentations on climate resilience, current production season challenges, and advancements in potato pathology, nematology and storability will follow. Participants will then have the opportunity to attend a catered lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m.
“We always look forward to the potato field day because potatoes are a critical component to Michigan agriculture, and MSU researchers and outreach specialists are well-positioned to respond to industry needs,” Long said.
Presentations:
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Climate Resilience
- Increasing the resilience of potato production to combat climate change – Dave Douches, professor and director of the MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics lab at MSU.
- Tools to manage nutrient utilization and reduce environmental impacts of fertilizer leaching – Kurt Steinke, associate professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
- Improving irrigation water use efficiency utilizing soil moisture sensor monitoring tools – Younsuk Dong, an outreach specialist in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering; and Lyndon Kelley, a water management and irrigation educator in MSU Extension.
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Current Production Season Challenges
- Colorado potato beetle management impacted by symptoms of climate change – Zsofia Szendrei, associate professor in the Department of Entomology.
- Will RNA-based insecticides get around resistance problems? – Szendrei.
- Dry weather and weed management challenges – Erin Burns, assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
- Potato volunteer management – Burns and Szendrei.
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Advancements in Potato Pathology, Nematology and Storability
- Soil health management as an essential tool to manage climate impact on potato production – Marisol Quintanilla, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology.
- Impacts of DMN (1,4-Dimethylnapthalene) on potato storage pathogens – Celeste Dmytryszyn, a graduate student in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences; and Ray Hammerschmidt, a professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
- Current potato storage pathology research – Jaime Willbur, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences; and Emma Schlachter, a graduate research assistant in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
- Advancements in potato storage varieties (Mackinaw and Petoskey) – Chris Long
This is a free event, and online registration is currently available. RUP and CAA credits are approved. For more information on registration or credits, contact Megghan Honke Seidel at honkemeg@msu.edu.