INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
September 28, 2018
Articles
Frederick Springborn, Michigan State Univeresity Extension

Volunteer Potato Management Begins in the Fall

Fall practices can aid in controlling volunteer potatoes for the next growing season.
— Read More
September 28, 2018
Articles

Lamb Weston's Quest for Crispier Fries

Lamb Weston fires potatoes into metal blades at 75 miles per hour to make your fries. But when your delivery driver is slowed down by traffic, how will they hold up?
— Read More
September 28, 2018
Articles
Emmy Koeleman

The Future of Agriculture Requires New Thinking

An ecocentric or a technocentric approach? What is the future of agriculture and which of these 2 approaches can feed the world better?
— Read More
September 28, 2018
Articles

Idaho Russet Prices Drop Dramatically

Prices have fallen by half since the start of August, and growers are discounting to help move stock. Quality is excellent, however, which has become both a blessing and a problem.
— Read More
September 27, 2018
Articles, Irrigation

New irrigation.education Website Unveiled

The irrigation.education website has a new look and feel.
— Read More
September 27, 2018
Fertilizer, New Products

New Product: Brookside Agra Biomass Digester Program: Unique program utilizes natural products to return 20 to 30 percent of nutrients to soil

Unique program utilizes natural products to return 20 to 30 percent of nutrients to soil
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September 27, 2018
Articles
Rand Green

Albertsons Foodie Store Holds 'Potato-Palooza'

In late July, Albertsons Cos. LLC, the second-largest supermarket chain in North America, opened the first of its new Market Street culinary concept stores.
— Read More
September 27, 2018
Articles, Irrigation

Dilution Solutions Names Hyde as Sales Manager

Dilution Solutions, with corporate offices in Clearwater, Fla., has named Dennis Hyde as a national sales manager for irrigation.
— Read More
September 26, 2018
Articles
Kelly Jedrzejewski

Horticulture Grad Digs Into Potato Industry

Curtis Frederick is enjoying a career as a senior agronomist at Sterman Masser Inc., a large, family-owned potato company, in Sacramento, Pennsylvania.
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September 26, 2018
Articles
Ryan McCrimmon

Perdue Responds on ERS, NIFA Plans

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is seeking to reassure top ag lawmakers that USDA’s plan to relocate the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture out of Washington is sound.
— Read More
September 25, 2018
Articles, Potato Harvesting
John O'Connell

Smoke May Be Factor in Eastern Idaho Harvest

Early in potato harvest, area farmers are concerned heavy wildfire smoke throughout much of the growing season likely hindered crop development, especially in eastern Idaho north of Blackfoot.
— Read More
September 24, 2018
Articles

Variable Results in Idaho Harvest

While little more than a half-inch of rain fell across the eastern part of the state since the first of July, growers did not lack for water due to a plentiful snowpack this past winter.
— Read More
September 24, 2018
Articles
Charlie Gates

First Mop Top Virus Found in New Zealand

Potato mop-top virus has been discovered in New Zealand for the first time on two farms in Canterbury on the country's South Island.
— Read More
September 24, 2018
Articles, Fungicide
Albert Sikkema

Researchers Look for P. Infestans' Weak Spots: Here’s the current score in the arms race between pathogen and potato.

The cause of potato late blight is a very sneaky and stubborn micro-organism. But thanks to a new approach, scientists are getting a steadily clearer picture of its weak points. Here’s the current score in the arms race between pathogen and potato.
— Read More
September 21, 2018
Articles
Anthony Brino

Retired Grower Reflects on Lifetime’s Harvest

As potato harvest gets into full swing in Aroostook County, Maine, 85-year-old Bernard Webb of Fort Fairfield is not digging up any potatoes for the first time in his long farming career.
— Read More
September 20, 2018
Articles, Potato Harvesting

Spanish Versions of Windrower and Harvester Training Videos

The University if Idaho has released Spanish versions of the windrower and harvester training videos they released last month in English to help with bruise management.
— Read More
September 20, 2018
Articles
Chris Koger

Idaho’s 2017 Fresh Prices Raise National Average

The USDA released its annual summary of the previous season on Sept. 13. Overall production was 442 million hundredweight, compared to 441 million hundredweight in the 2016-17 season.
— Read More
September 20, 2018
Articles

Farm Bureau Rolls Out Ag Career Resources: Three new books, two new videos, one important topic: careers in ag

Three new books, two new videos, one important topic: careers in ag
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September 19, 2018
Articles

'What Are You Eating?' Campaign Ramps Up

Potatoes USA is ready to ignite its new performance strategy and campaign with several opportunities for industry members to get involved and extend these efforts.
— Read More
September 19, 2018
Articles

Farm Bureau Details Trade, Tariff Impacts on Ag

For the growth and renewed prosperity of agriculture, current trading relationships must be preserved and new opportunities for agricultural trade must be secured, AFBF said in a recent statement to the U.S. Senate agriculture committee.
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September 19, 2018
Articles
Rand Green

IPC Rolls Out New TV Ads

Both ads continue the theme of the TV campaigns of the last several years that play off of the highly successful ongoing national tours of The Big Idaho Potato Truck.
— Read More
September 19, 2018
Articles
Steven C. Blank

The Profit Problem of American Agriculture: What we have learned with the perspective of time

What we have learned with the perspective of time
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September 19, 2018
Articles

AGCO Launches AGCO Agriculture Foundation

The new philanthropic focus demonstrates AGCO’s commitment to specific Sustainable Development Goals developed by the United Nations that seek to end hunger and provide basic necessities to a growing world population.
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September 19, 2018
Articles

Vive Recognized as Top 10 Promising Canadian Tech Firms

Vive Crop Protection has been selected by The Lazaridis Institute to participate in The Lazaridis Scale-Up Program.
— Read More
September 18, 2018
Articles, Fertilizer, Irrigation
Guy Sela

Making Fertigation Work for Your Farm

This technology provides the opportunity to apply precise rates of water and fertilizers to the crop, and therefore, if designed correctly, can be an important precision agriculture tool.
— Read More
September 18, 2018
Articles

Managing Moisture Key for Red River Valley Growers

“Selecting irrigated ground has been well worth it, and this year was absolutely a prime example with the dry growing season that we had,” says Black Gold Farms' Keith Groven.
— Read More
September 18, 2018
Articles

Northwest Crop's 2017 Value Released: Idaho, Oregon, Washington potato industry valued at $1.83 billion for 2017

Idaho, Oregon, Washington potato industry valued at $1.83 billion for 2017
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September 18, 2018
Articles

Soil Holds the Secret to Mitigating Climate Change

Food production doesn’t have to be a victim of climate change. New research from Michigan State University suggests that crop yields and the global food supply chain can be preserved by harnessing the soil.
— Read More
September 18, 2018
Articles

Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Farming

An interdisciplinary team at Iowa State University is trying to bridge the gap between agronomy and engineering to increase efficiency and reduce uncertainty for a range of key agricultural issues.
— Read More
September 17, 2018
Articles

GROWMARK Announces 2019 Essay Contest Theme

The contest is open to all high school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
— Read More
September 17, 2018
Articles, Potato Harvesting
Rand Green

Idaho: Solid Norkotah Crop; Burbanks Lighter

While there is always variation from one field to another, growers were generally reporting good volumes of russet Norkotahs with a good size structure and very good quality.
— Read More
September 17, 2018
Articles, Potato Harvesting

Alberta Growers Fret over Late-Summer Snow

Some Alberta growers are concerned about their crops after a late-summer snowfall blanketed parts of the province, with more flurries expected in the forecast.
— Read More
September 17, 2018
Articles

U.S. Potato Export Value Reaches Record High

The $1.8 billion in international potato sales is the highest ever for the United States.
— Read More
September 15, 2018
Articles, Event Calendar

Coalition Sponsors Cuba-U.S. Agriculture Business Conference: Nov. 8–10 in Havana, Cuba

Nov. 8–10 in Havana, Cuba
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September 14, 2018
Articles, Event Calendar

National Ag Day 2019 Announced

The Agriculture Council of America will host National Agriculture Day on March 19. This will mark the 46th anniversary of National Ag Day, and the 2019 theme is "Agriculture: Food for Life."
— Read More
September 14, 2018
Articles, Irrigation
Ashley Nickle

Water a Concern for Colorado Growers

San Luis Valley potato growers need Colorado to get more snow this coming winter than it got this past winter.
— Read More
September 14, 2018
New Products, Potato Harvesting

New Product: Scotts Evolution Table

Scotts Precision Manufacturing Ltd. has launched the next generation of its dirt-eliminating Evolution Table. The equipment manufacturer has added programmable memory roller settings, self-cleaning and gentle salad rollers to its vegetable and fruit clean
— Read More
September 14, 2018
Articles
Tom Blackwell

U.S. Senator Calls for Probe of Alleged Canadian Potato Dumping

Canadian growers fire back, saying a favorable exchange rate is the only advantage they enjoy.
— Read More
September 14, 2018
Articles, Potato Storage
Carrie Huffman Wohleb

How to Manage Pink Rot

Pink rot is an important storage disease of potatoes. Caused by a soil-borne pathogen, Phytopthora erythroseptica, it’s found in potato-growing regions throughout the world.
— Read More
September 14, 2018
Articles

DeDecker Named Director of UP Research Station: James DeDecker will lead innovative crop and livestock research center on behalf of Michigan State University at the Upper Peninsula Research and Exte

James DeDecker will lead innovative crop and livestock research center on behalf of Michigan State University at the Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center.
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September 13, 2018
Articles, Irrigation
Lyndon Kelley

Irrigate Cover Crops for Better Emergence: If you have irrigation, don't forget to water-up your cover crops if fall rains fall short.

If you have irrigation, don't forget to water-up your cover crops if fall rains fall short.
— Read More
September 13, 2018
Articles
George Silva, Michigan State University Extension

Why Soil Test in the Fall?: Fall is an ideal time to soil test compared to spring. Here’s why.

Fall is an ideal time to soil test compared to spring. Here’s why.
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September 13, 2018
Articles

P.E.I. Expects Below-Average Crop: Even an average potato crop 'will be a challenge' this year

Even an average potato crop 'will be a challenge' this year.
— Read More
September 13, 2018
Articles, Irrigation, New Products

The Blueprint for Irrigation Technology

This week, more than 100 Valley dealers, technicians and employees from across Europe and Eurasia got a glimpse into the future.
— Read More
September 13, 2018
Articles, Fertilizer
Richard Jones

Biostimulants Basics

At this point, you have almost certainly heard about biostimulants. You may even have trialed them in your production. But you’re forgiven if you can’t explain just exactly what biostimulants are. In fact, there’s no universal, officially agreed-to defini
— Read More
September 12, 2018
Articles

Ag's Contribution to California Smog Questioned: Several inconsistencies undermine the conclusion that agriculture is a dominant source of nitrogen oxides.

Several inconsistencies undermine the conclusion that agriculture is a dominant source of nitrogen oxides.
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September 12, 2018
New Products

New Product: RazorEdge 1300 Series Disc Mower Conditioner

AGCO Corporation introduces the Hesston by Massey Ferguson RazorEdge 1300 Series pull-type disc mower conditioner. The RazorEdge 1300 Series are heavy-duty, with a fully welded frame for reliability and efficiency even in the toughest hay-cutting conditio
— Read More
September 12, 2018
Articles
Carlos A. Lazcano

A Grower’s Perspective: Why I Use Biostimulants

In general, biostimulants can potentially help the plant with any stress it encounters. Take into account that the crop’s root system is the portion of the plant that is the most affected by stressors.
— Read More
September 11, 2018
New Products

New Product: AxleSurance Weigh System: Easy-to-use system reduces installation time, real estate and operation time

Easy-to-use system reduces installation time, real estate and operation time
— Read More
September 11, 2018
Articles
Ashley Nickle

Colorado Growers Expecting Good Crop

Cooperative weather during the growing season has San Luis Valley potato industry members anticipating a good crop.
— Read More
September 11, 2018
Irrigation, New Products

Valley Adds Remote Irrigation Management Options

Valley Irrigation announces enhancements to its remote management technologies.
— Read More
September 10, 2018
New Products

New Product: VitTellus Soil Health Test : A next-generation soil health test providing actionable strategies for improved nutrient utilization and higher yields

A next-generation soil health test providing actionable strategies for improved nutrient utilization and higher yields
— Read More
September 10, 2018
Irrigation

Burks Steps Down; Abernethy Named Senninger President

Steve Abernethy has taken on the role of president of Senninger Irrigation. He has been a member of the Hunter Industries family for over 23 years and has a deep background in irrigation and distribution throughout the world.
— Read More
September 10, 2018
Articles

Canada: Prairie Provinces' Yield Down

The potato acreage may have increased this year in western Canada, but it doesn’t look like it will be the same story for yields.
— Read More
September 10, 2018
Articles

Union Pacific to Procure 1,000 Refrigerated Boxcars

Union Pacific will be acquiring 1,000 new high-tech refrigerated boxcars and has authorization to increase that number to 1,600 if needed. At a cost of $250,000 each, the purchase will constitute the largest equipment acquisition in company history.
— Read More
September 08, 2018
Articles, Potato Harvesting

Resources for Quality Improvement Now Available Online

The University of Idaho and Idaho Potato Commission have teamed up to provide employee training videos to ensure product quality through harvest and storage season.
— Read More
September 08, 2018
New Products

New Product: Kason Flo-Thru Sanitary Screener

The new low-profile Flo-Thru sanitary screener from Kason scalps oversize particles and foreign matter from dry bulk materials and solids-laden slurries at high rates in low headroom areas.
— Read More
September 07, 2018
Articles

Tiger-Sul Adds Harrington to Marketing Team

Global agriculture firm Tiger-Sul Products has added veteran marketer BJ Harrington to its team, broadening the company’s ability to reach new markets and to better serve existing markets.
— Read More
September 07, 2018
Irrigation, New Products

New Product: Agri-Inject ReflexCONNECT

Building on the success of its Reflex Variable Rate Fertigation system, Agri-Inject has taken fluid injection to the next level with ReflexCONNECT, putting fluid injection at operators’ fingertips.
— Read More
September 07, 2018
Articles
Jill Rittenberg, Global Marketing Manager, Potatoes USA

Staying Ahead of the Game: For successful new product innovation, start with potatoes

For successful new product innovation, start with potatoes
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September 07, 2018
Event Calendar, Irrigation

Calendar: Western Water Summit: Feb. 6-7 in San Diego

This special gathering will bring together professionals involved in all facets of managing our most precious resource. Groundwater, surface water, wastewater, drinking water, irrigation, water law, reuse, conservation and efficiency, erosion and sediment
— Read More
September 06, 2018
Articles
Frank Muir, IPC President and CEO

Here We Go Again…: Big Idaho Potato 2.0 takes off across America

Big Idaho Potato 2.0 takes off across America
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September 06, 2018
Articles
Buzz Shahan, Chief Operating Officer, United Potato Growers of America

Accounting vs. Economics: Knowing the difference determines long-term viability of your business and the industry.

Knowing the difference determines long-term viability of your business and the industry.
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September 06, 2018
Articles
Andrew Hollingshead, Nora Olsen, Mike Thornton & Jeff Miller

Leaking Out : Harvest time tuber temperatures and storage conditions influence leak

Harvest time tuber temperatures and storage conditions influence leak
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September 06, 2018
Articles

Computer Models Provide New Insights for Late Blight Control

Wageningen University & Research uses computer models to develop sustainable management strategies in the control of potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans.
— Read More
September 05, 2018
Articles, Seed Potatoes
Kay Ledbetter, Texas A&M University

Lots of Options: Texas A&M breeding trials offer reds to russets, babies to bakers

Texas A&M breeding trials offer reds to russets, babies to bakers
— Read More
September 05, 2018
Articles

Connon Joins Potatoes USA as an Assistant Marketing Manager

Potatoes USA welcomes Erena Connon as a new assistant global marketing manager supporting the ingredient, school foodservice and nutrition marketing programs.
— Read More
September 05, 2018
Articles, New Products, Potato Equipment, Potato Harvesting

Dewulf Introduces Two New Machines

During Potato Europe 2018, Dewulf will present not only several familiar favorites but also two new machines.
— Read More
September 05, 2018
Articles
Alexis Stockford

Soil Conservation in Potato Production: Growing potatoes requires disturbing the soil, so how does that mesh with soil conservation efforts? Experts say it can.

Growing potatoes requires disturbing the soil, so how does that mesh with soil conservation efforts? Experts say it can.
— Read More
September 05, 2018
Articles
Stanley Moore, Michigan State University Extension

But They’re Family!: Families working together on the farm experience great benefits, but it can also present unique challenges.

Families working together on the farm experience great benefits, but it can also present unique challenges.
— Read More
September 04, 2018
Seed Potatoes, Smorgasbord

The Smorgasbord: AmaRosa

AmaRosa is unique among commercially available potato varieties as it sets a large number of smooth, small, fingerling-shaped tubers with red skin and red flesh and excellent culinary quality.
— Read More
September 04, 2018
Articles
Karel Strubbe

Quality vs. Quality: How food businesses can increase margins and reduce risk

How food businesses can increase margins and reduce risk
— Read More
September 04, 2018
New Products, Potato Equipment

New Product: Soucy HD Closing Wheel

Thanks to its high-performance material, this unbreakable, low-maintenance wheel is for all planter types.
— Read More
September 04, 2018
Articles

Klamath Basin Growers Connect with Processors

The 18th Annual Gold Dust & Walker Farms tour last week provided about three dozen growers — both chip and fresh market — and processors the chance to see the progress on potatoes and connect with before harvest begins.
— Read More
September 03, 2018
Articles
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Familiar Feeling

Annual PAA meeting reminiscent of "a scientific family reunion"
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