Mercer Canyons: Long-term Commitment to Land

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September/October 2012

Green Vine vs. Dead Vine Discussion Continues Mercer Canyons: Long-term Commitment to Land Stewardship POTATO COUNTRY 8405 Ahtanum Road, Yakima, WA 98903

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Vol. 28 No. 6

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Table of Contents

Columbia Publishing 8405 Ahtanum Road Yakima, Washington 98903 Phone: (800) 900-2452 Fax: (509) 248-4056

September/October 2012

6 8

Editorial Board

WSU Potato Field Day

Green Vine vs. Dead Vine: Impact on Storage Rot Washington State Potato Commission

Soil Fumigation Stewardship Programs

Chris Voigt Executive Director

(509) 765-8845

Fumigant Training Draws Crowd

12 Mercer Canyons

Newcomer Joins Farms Longstanding Commitment to Land Stewardship

18 HAREC Potato Field Day

Zebra Chip Returns to the Columbia Basin

Oregon Potato Commission

(503) 731-3300

Bill Brewer Executive Director

Insect Identification Quiz: Andy Jensen, Ph.D., regional research director, Washington, Idaho and Oregon potato commissions. Disease Identification Quiz: Phil Hamm, pathologist and superintendent, OSU HAREC.

Potato Country Contacts Alex Murphy holds up bittersweet nightshade as she talks to growers about the populations of potato psyllids that have been found overwintering on bittersweet nightshade. Photo by Denise Keller. See story, page 18.

D. Brent Clement [email protected] Publisher / Managing Editor

J. Mike Stoker [email protected] Publisher / Advertising Manager

Jeraleh Kastner ................. [email protected] Production / Circulation Manager

Denise Keller [email protected] Field Editor

EDITORIAL INFORMATION PotatoCountry is interested in newsworthy material related to potato production and marketing. Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: [email protected].

Departments 11 Disease Quiz 14 Insect Quiz 16 Market Report

On The Cover Mercer Canyons crop manager Matthew Funk checks the soil moisture during harvest. He tries to mitigate digging problems caused by the heavy soil found in some areas of the farm by ensuring proper soil moisture. Photo by Denise Keller

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Potato Country

20 PGW 21 Calendar 23 Equipment Update

September/October 2012

ADVERTISING SALES For information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submission, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call 1-800-900-7731 or email [email protected]. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION U.S........................ 1 year, $18.00; 2 years $31.00, 3 years, $41.00. Canada ................. 1 year, $30.00; 2 years $49.00; 3 years 68.00. Foreign ................. 1 year, $45.00; 2 years $85.00; 3 years $121.00. Payments accepted by check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Subscriptions can be entered online at www.potatocountry.com. Email address changes/corrections to [email protected] or send to Potato Country, 8405 Ahtanum Road, Yakima, WA 98903. Potato Country magazine (ISSN 0886-4780), is published nine times per year, mailed under permit No. 410, paid at San Dimas, CA. It is produced by Columbia Publishing, 8405 Ahtanum Road, Yakima, WA 98903. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Publishing. For information on reprints call 1-800-900-2452. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2

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September/October

Potato Country

5

WSU Potato Field Day

Green Vine vs. Dead Vine By Denise Keller, Field Editor

H

arvesting from green vine or dead vine is a longstanding debate in the potato industry, and a number of factors have to go into deciding which option is best for each grower’s operation. New research looking at how the crop’s maturity at harvest impacts its susceptibility to storage rot gives potato producers one more piece of information to consider in their decision. "Stakeholders can face a great amount of loss in storage across the U.S. It is reported that there’s an 8 percent loss of tubers in storage," said Brenda Schroeder, a bacteriologist with Washington State University (WSU). "That’s a large percentage of growers’ effort lost once they’ve harvested and put into storage." Schroeder is in the final year of an experiment, which has shown that a tuber’s susceptibility to some storage diseases including Fusarium dry rot can be affected by its maturity. On behalf of her research team,

which includes colleagues Tom Cummings and Dennis Johnson, Schroeder shared findings from their work during the WSU Potato Field Day held June 28 at the WSU Othello Research Unit.

Comparison of green vine and dead vine harvest The project originally began in 2009 as an overlap to Mark Pavek’s and Rick Knowles’ study evaluating the maturation responses of newly released cultivars relative to in-season nitrogen application rates. Tubers of varying maturity obtained from Pavek’s and Knowles’ project were inoculated to see how they would respond to various storage rot pathogens. According to Schroeder, it became evident that, in some cases, tuber maturity was impacting the tubers’ responses to the pathogens. However, because of the overlap of experiments, the researchers lacked adequate samples to have statistical assurance of their

WSU Potato Field Day attendees listen to a presentation from Axel Elling. Photo by Denise Keller

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September/October 2012

observations. Therefore, in 2011, Schroeder’s team began comparing green vine and dead vine harvest and the effects on tubers’ resistance to storage pathogens. "This is the crux of what our stakeholders would be focusing on. They would be focusing on harvest date as relative to planting date," Schroeder explained. Schroeder’s team planted some potatoes in April, and returned to the field to plant additional potatoes in May. At harvest, all of the plants from the April planting were dead, while only 60 percent of the plants from the May planting were dead. Following harvest, tubers were inoculated and stored for two months before being evaluated for storage rot.

Effect on Fusarium dry rot

Among the more noteworthy findings in this research came when tubers were rated for symptoms of Fusarium dry rot. Tubers from

ne: Impact on Storage Rot the April planting, which were harvested from dead vines, had a higher incidence of infection compared to tubers from the May planting. Severity was also greater in the more mature tubers, although this finding was not statistically supported, Schroeder pointed out. "Tubers that have been in the soil longer before harvest are at greater risk for becoming infected with Fusarium than tubers that are less mature," the bacteriologist reported. "If growers know they have historically had Fusarium problems on their farm, harvesting less dead vine and more green vine will be beneficial." The researchers evaluated Umatilla Russet in 2011 and 2012, as suggested by growers. However, the information from the experiment can be applied to other varieties, Schroeder noted. She plans to present poststorage data from this year’s research at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference in January 2013.

Risk of bacterial soft rot

During the first two years of the study, Schroeder looked at other storage rot diseases including late blight tuber rot and pink rot, but saw little response relative to tuber maturity. Bacterial soft rot continues to be included in her team’s work. The researchers are focusing on two bacterial pathogens, and are inoculating and analyzing tubers shortly after harvest and following long-term storage. While the researchers have been unable to measure a significant difference between the tubers harvested from green vine and dead vine relative to the pathogens and resulting tuber tissue loss, they have found that tubers are more susceptible to rot if inoculated after several months of storage. "So you’ll have a greater loss if you give the bacteria an entry point into your tubers when you take them out of storage," Schroeder warned. "Wounds are entry points for critical storage pathogens that could cause significant problems."

Commercial seed lot trial Prior to hearing from Schroeder, Field Day attendees viewed the results of the 2012 Commercial Seed Lot Trial. The 252 seed lots in this year’s trial were visually read for symptoms of potato leaf roll virus, blackleg, Potato Virus Y and other growth compromising factors. "Overall, I think the seed quality looked really good this year," observed WSU potato specialist Mark Pavek. "The overall virus load on the potatoes seemed to be about normal, where we had a few lots with really high loads of virus—particularly Potato Virus Y—and then we had quite a few lots that just had a single plant here and there, so really low numbers." For the second year in the 49-year history of the seed lot trial, evaluators found no potato leaf roll virus. Pavek attributed this to new pesticides used by seed growers and improvements made by certification agencies. "This trial provides us a historical gauge of seed quality coming into the Columbia Basin and helps identify new and emerging disease problems," Pavek explained. "It also helps us look at new varieties that may respond differently to these diseases and helps identify if any of them have advanced susceptibility or perhaps are somewhat resistant to diseases." The trial also serves as a way for participating growers to determine if an issue they experience in their commercial field is due to a seed-borne problem by comparing the performance of the seed in their field to the seed submitted in the trial.

Broad array of information Field Day attendance continues to increase annually, Pavek remarked, adding that the event’s diverse group of speakers sharing timely information helped draw a crowd of about 225 people. The agenda included the following presentations: • PVY strain typing in Othello, Wash. potato seed lot trials by Alex Karasev, University of Idaho

• Optimizing stem number and tuber size distribution with Rejuvenate and in-row spacing by Mark Pavek and Zach Holden, WSU • Fresh pack variety trial update: taste panel, yield, and economics by Rhett Spear, Mark Pavek and Zach Holden, WSU • Soil temperature during bulking and maturation affects retention of processing quality by Daniel Zommick, Rick Knowles, Lisa Knowles and Jake Blauer, WSU • Methods for monitoring potato psyllids and other insect pests in the Columbia Basin by Carrie Wohleb, WSU • Symptoms of herbicide applications to seed potatoes by Tim Waters, WSU, and Bill Cobb, Cobb Consulting • The link between vine growth, harvest index, post-harvest quality and profits by Mark Pavek, Rick Knowles, Lisa Knowles and Zach Holden, WSU • Simplot Plant Sciences variety development by Jolyn Rasmussen and Kerwin Bradley, Simplot Plant Sciences • Simplified irrigation scheduling using your phone or the internet by R. Troy Peters, Sean E. Hill and Gerrit Hoogenboom, WSU • Update on the effects of powdery scab galls on yield of Umatilla Russet by Tom Cummings, Dennis Johnson, WSU • Effects of potato cultivar and fungicides on A. solani and A. alternata isolates from the PNW by Lydia S. Tymon, Thomas F. Cummings and Dennis A. Johnson, WSU • Field performance of resistance to Columbia Root-knot Nematode with and without protection by C.R. Brown, H. Mojtahedi, J. Crosslin, R. Quick, L. Hamlin and R. Castañeda, USDA-ARS • Molecular control strategies against the Columbia root-knot nematode by Axel Elling, WSU • Beneficial predators in potatoes by Bill Snyder, WSU • Farm Hot Spots connecting managers to the fields by Bill Terry, Pierce Ag Technologies Group September/October

Potato Country

7

Soil Fumigation Stewardship Programs

Fumigant Training Draws By Denise Keller, Field Editor

P

otato growers and others impacted by the new risk mitigation measures on some of the industry’s most widely used soil fumigants have shifted from trying to change the regulations to trying to understand how the changes will affect their operations. Many of these changes were detailed during the Soil Fumigation Stewardship Programs held Aug. 1-2 in Pasco, Wash. and Moses Lake, Wash. Each meeting attracted about 215 people. Attendance at the meetings - which are sponsored by Dow AgroSciences LLC, Taminco, TKI and Amvac - has been on the rise since 2008 when soil fumigants came under greater scrutiny from regulators, according to Dow fumigant marketing specialist Ryan Roslak. "These meetings are really designed to heighten the awareness of safety, proper application, field preparation and general training of the entire industry, from the distribution down to the end users, as a means of trying to provide education and prevent incidences," Roslak stated, adding that the meetings also qualify as required training for handlers.

Learning from Phase I Of interest to many attendees was a presentation given by Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) case review officer Tim Schultz. He spoke about the new labels for metam

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Potato Country

products, beginning with a recap of the Phase I label changes. The first phase of EPA risk mitigation measures appeared on product labels in Dec. 2010. At that time, fumigants such as the metam sodium/potassium products and Dazomet, which had previously been general use pesticides, became federal restricted use pesticides, requiring anyone buying them or using them to have a license. In addition, applicators are required to complete a sitespecific Fumigant Management Plan (FMP) and Post Application Summary (PAS) for each application. Agrian is making available free software that helps soil fumigant users develop an FMP and PAS from a template. A representative from the company demonstrated the software during the meetings. The Phase I label also extended the "Entry Restricted Period" to five days following an application, and mandated wind restrictions, which vary according to the configuration of the pivot. Last fall, WSDA staff conducted several "spot use inspections" of soil fumigation applications and were pleased with the level of compliance and requests for clarification, according to Schultz. "As we found out, the applicators were doing a pretty good job with Phase I," the case review officer commented. "There were no reported occurrences in the fall

September/October 2012

of 2011, so that meant people are trying to do it right and follow the label."

Anticipating Phase II It turns out, Phase I — outside of adjusting to the FMP and PAS requirement — was the easy part, Schultz continued. Phase II, which will go into effect on Dec. 1, 2012, includes changes that will be harder for many growers to implement. "We had some people asking this summer, ‘How can we get this changed?’ Well, it’s too late for that. A couple years ago is when we were having that conversation. The ink has dried on it now," Schultz said, noting that there will be an opportunity to propose changes with the next re-registration process, which is slated to begin in 2013. The risk mitigation measure causing most concern is the implementation of buffer zones around treated fields. The size of the buffer will depend on the application method, acreage, application rate and any applicable buffer zone credit reductions. "Difficult-to-evacuate sites," which include schools, licensed day cares, hospitals and inpatient clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and prisons, will also need to be considered. If a difficult-to-evacuate site is within one-quarter mile of a field with a buffer zone greater than 300 feet, - or within one-eighth mile of a field with a buffer zone of 300

s Crowd feet or less - no soil fumigant application is allowed unless the site will be vacant during and for 36 hours after completion of the application. "The buffer zone growers will have around their fields and whether they have any difficult-to-evacuate sites nearby could determine the application method used, the rate, or whether that field can even be fumigated," Schultz stated. "And if they’re not able to fumigate that field, the field or portions of the field may no longer be able to be used to plant the crops they used to." Furthermore, an emergency preparedness plan may also need to be in place for applications made within a certain distance of a home, business or other occupied structure. The need for such a plan will be dictated by the size of the buffer zone and the distance of occupied structures from the edge of the buffer. If required, applicators must provide either on-site monitoring of the buffer zone perimeter or emergency response information directly to neighbors. Schultz encouraged growers to make plans now for next year’s fumigation season by determining how the new regulations will affect soil fumigant applications to their potato ground, taking into consideration buffer zones, adjacent fumigant applications, difficult-to-evacuate sites and other neighbors.

"Before, your only worry was keeping [the fumigant] on target and not letting it drift off-site. Now you have to be thinking more globally of the neighborhood, not just that field," Schultz reminded growers. He also acknowledged the complicated nature of the new label as he shared WSDA’s plan to provide technical assistance to help applicators understand FMP and PAS, crop residue, buffer

zone calculation, difficult-toevacuate sites, and handler and applicator training.

Training and licensing requirements The new labels also bring changes to the training and licensing requirements, which were addressed during the meetings by Margaret Tucker, WSDA program manager of certification and training.

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Tucker reminded her audience that when metam became a restricted use pesticide, the direct supervision requirement for private applicators became stricter. Private applicators are now required to be in the line of sight for the duration of a shank application and supervise all handlers. For water-run applications, applicators must be in the line of sight through the start of the application and return every two hours to inspect equipment and supervise handlers. "A fumigant and Worker Protection Standard trained handler may perform these monitoring functions onsite, in place of the private applicator, if they are able to communicate with the certified applicator at all times during monitoring activities via cell phone or other means," Tucker elaborated. The implementation of Phase

I labels also mandated that certified applicators provide fumigant safety training to handlers every 12 months. With the implementation of Phase II labels, applicators will be required to participate in active ingredient-specific fumigant training either online or onsite, and subsequently pass a test on the material presented, every three years. The training is developed by registrants and approved by EPA. Or, as an alternative, they may add the soil fumigation category to their license by passing a new state soil fumigation exam, and recertify with WSDA every five years. WSDA is in the process of developing this new soil fumigation exam that addresses risk mitigation measures in Phases I and II of the new label. Applicators choosing the certification option can request

a study manual from Washington State University’s Pesticide Education Program. The revised exam will be available Nov. 1.

Other topics discussed Meeting attendees also heard the following presentations: • Telone II and Telone C-17 Update by Ryan Roslak, Dow AgroSciences LLC • Review of Mitigation Measures for Metam Products and a Safety Update by Scott Larkin, Taminco • Update on Agrian’s Online Fumigant Management Plan and Post Application Summary by Jana Triffon, Agrian • Achieva’s Online Training Program: What is it and Who is it for by Scott Larkin, Taminco • Ground Applied Metam Sodium: Understanding the Challenges by Kyle Coleman, TKI NovaSource

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Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller

Can you correctly identify the answers to each of these questions?

1. This photo is showing what appears to be an abnormal growth on a potato stolon. The growth is characterized by a light brown color. In earlier stages the symptom may appear simply as a brown stripe that wraps around the stolon with a “barberpole” appearance. What disease or disorder is represented here?

2. A close-up examination of these potato roots shows galls that can be white to brown. These galls can be present on stolons, root hairs, and main stems. What is causing these galls?

3.This tuber is showing raised bumps. They are small and a closer examination shows that many of the “bumps” appear to have ruptured. What would be the cause of this problem?

4. These light-skinned tubers are also showing lesions which break through the skin. These lesions are larger than those shown in the previous photo. Could they be caused by the same pathogen?

5. A closer examination of the tuber lesions in Photo 3 shows that some of the bumps have ruptured and are filled with a brown, powdery substance. A microscopic examination of the brown “powder” reveals this structure. What is this called and why is it so problematic for potato production?

6. What is the cause of the necrotic arcs in this tuber? How is it related to the previous photos?

Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho. He can be contacted by phone: (208) 5315124; cell: (208) 431-4420; e-mail: [email protected]

ANSWERS PAGE, 15

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Mercer Canyons

Matthew Funk, a crop manager at Mercer Canyons, has been making changes to the farm's potato program since joining the operation less than three years ago. Photo by Denise Keller

Newcomer Joins Farms Longstanding Commitment to Land Stewardship By Denise Keller, Field Editor

S

oil presents one of the greatest challenges for managers of Mercer Canyons in Alderdale, Wash. The area’s unique soil chemistry forces the growers to be innovative in their farming practices. However, soil is also regarded as one of the farm’s greatest assets. The efforts of farm managers to protect the soil and other natural resources on the farm have resulted in numerous sustainability awards and greater productivity in their potato ground.

Potato production Mercer Canyons grows 1,800 acres of potatoes in Alderdale and nearby Paterson, just north of the Columbia River. Ranger Russets account for more than half of the potato acreage, with the remainder planted in Umatilla Russet, Alturas, Shepody and Russet Burbank. All the spuds go directly to the processing plant. Best known for its carrot production, Mercer Canyons also 12

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September/October 2012

grows onions, sweet corn seed, bean seed, wheat and specialty crops for juicing, in addition to potatoes. In all, the farm dedicates 7,000 acres to vegetable production. Another 1,000 acres are planted in wine grapes. Mercer Canyons is owned by fourth-generation farmer Rob Mercer. The Mercer family settled in the area and began farming in the late 1880s. The company that is now Mercer Canyons was established in 1959. Livestock was eventually replaced by vegetable production, and Rob’s father, Bud Mercer, planted the farm’s first 300 to 400 acres of potatoes in 1973.

Problems and solutions These days, Matthew Funk manages Mercer Canyons’ potato crop, overseeing everything from ground preparation to harvest. The job is not an easy one, given the numerous challenges he encounters on the farm including strong winds, soil issues, rocky

ground and steep terrain. "Our biggest enemy out here is the wind. It is extremely windy, especially on the main farm," Funk says, describing how the wind comes howling right into the farm through a gap in the hills that runs along the river. In response, Mercer managers plant a cover crop on the entire farm each winter. After the cover crop is worked up during preplant tillage, a barley cover crop goes in with the planter to keep soil from blowing away, and in turn, reduce water use. The barley is sprayed when it’s about four or five inches tall, and the mat of dry vegetation helps preserve the soil until the main crop is established. Funk is also increasing the usage of vertical tillage, leaving vegetation on the surface to protect the soil from wind, as well as rain and runoff. The chemistry of the soil on the farm also presents a challenge. After years of being irrigated with water from the Columbia River, the soil’s pH level matches that of the river, which Funk says is 8.6, rather than the ideal potato production pH of 5.5. "So, we get deficiencies that you can’t overpower with applications. You have to outsmart it with application methods," the grower explains. "We’re banding fertilizer, or we’re timing it at certain times of the year when it’s going to be more effective." Specifically, the soil has been tying up phosphorus in the past, creating a substantial phosphorus deficiency. This year, Funk made drastic changes to how and when phosphorus was applied. What the grower sees in the vines and petiole samples prior to harvest looks "extremely promising," giving him reason to expect a significant bump in yield. Funk is also actively pursuing new rock removal technology to contend with the rocky ground in the area.

Conservation and sustainability What started in 2000 as a personal interest project of Mercer and as an extension of the company’s organic program has become a distinguishing feature of the farm’s landscape. Mercer Canyons has reserved portions of its land to create habitats for benefi-

cial insects, as well as upland game birds, waterfowl and deer. Approximately 400 acres are planted in native grasses designed to enhance the farm. "We want to make this place a better place for our kids and our community, so we’ve just been putting in more habitat areas every year for 12 years now," Mercer says. "The whole mindset of the farm from owner Rob Mercer on down is a big emphasis on being tenants of the land for the next generation," Funk agrees. "I think most any farmer who’s honest will tell you that we make our living off the soil. If the soil is used up, depleted or blows away, you have no way to make a living." He continues, "So, a lot of our management decisions are based on maintaining healthy, sustainable soils rather than straight profitability." To that end, lessons gleaned from the farm’s organic program, which consists of 400 acres, including 50 acres of potatoes, are sometimes applied to the conventional side of the operation, as well. "Some chemistries that are considered a little bit fringe and are used a lot in organics, we use on our main farm just because we’ve seen positive results from it, and there’s a mitigated impact on your ecosystem out in the field as far as maintaining predators, wildlife base, and worker safety," Funk reports. The grower adds that the habitats planted throughout the farm accelerate the influx of beneficial insects. With a place to overwinter and colonize before crops emerge, the farm is home to a healthy population of predators including ladybugs, lacewings and big eyed bugs. "We definitely don’t discount their importance. We try to use chemistries that preserve those predators as much as possible," Funk notes.

A quick study Funk is quickly getting up to speed on Mercer Canyons’ production challenges and farming practices after coming to work at the farm less than three years ago. (Continued on page, 22)

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Potato Country

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Insect Identification Quiz Dr. Andy Jensen

Insect eggs can sometimes be common on crops, weeds, and other plants. Here are four kinds of insect eggs for you to consider. Try answering the following questions: 1. Everybody likes matching tests. Can you put these insect names with the correct eggs? A. Psyllid; B. Colorado potato beetle; C. Lady beetle; D. Whitefly 2. One of these photos shows something special the others don’t. Which photo is it, and what’s special about it?

1.

2.

3

4.

The material here is provided courtesy of Andy Jensen, Ph.D., Regional Research Director for the Potato Commissions of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. He can be contacted at: 509760-4859 or [email protected].

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ANSWERS, Page 21

Know Your Diseases Answers PVX GIII 1. These symptoms characterize the beginning of powdery scab, caused by the pathogen Spongospora subterranea subsp. subterranea. 2. Some have compared these galls to the nitrogen-fixing nodules that form on legume crops in association with Rhizobium bacteria. However, the galls in these photos are caused by the powdery scab organism, Spongospora subterranea, subsp. subterranea. These galls can also be found on the root systems of nightshade plants. 3. Multiple organisms can cause symptoms similar to what is shown in this photo. Columbia root- knot nematodes can cause lesions like these on tubers surfaces, as can the common scab bacterium and the powdery scab organism cited in the first two photos. This tuber is affected by the powdery scab organism, Spongospora subterranea, subsp. subterranea. 4. The powdery scab organism can cause symptoms similar to what is shown in this photo, but this problem was caused by the common scab bacterium, Streptomyces. Multiple species of Streptomyces can cause scab, but Streptomyces scabies is most common.

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5. This is a photo of a cystosorus, or spore ball of the powdery scab organism. Cystosori (plural of cystosorus) release swimming zoospores which can infect potato roots and tubers. Cystosori have been reported to last as long as 20 years in the soil. The longevity of these structures makes crop rotation difficult to use as a management strategy. 6. The arcs in this tuber are caused by the potato mop top virus (PMTV). This symptom has also been called “spraing.” PMTV is vectored by the powdery scab organism in a persistent manner. This means that once the powdery scab organism has acquired the virus, it can transmit the virus continuously, and that the virus is propagated through the reproduction of the powdery scab organism. PMTV can cause foliar symptoms, but these may be very mild or not even visible depending on environmental conditions.

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Market Report

Drought and the 201 A

s we go to press, much of the U.S. is gripped in a drought. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, USDA forecasts that corn production will 13 percent short of the 2011 crop, while soybean production is expected to drop by 12 percent. On the other hand, this year’s wheat crop has come through virtually unscathed. Wheat production is expected to increase by 13 percent. A big question for potato growers is, “What impact will the drought have on potato production?” A related question is, “What impact will the drought have on demand for potatoes and potato products?” We take a look at both issues, and explore strategies that the industry might deploy as it approaches the 2012/13 marketing season. USDA will not issue its first estimate of 2012 fall potato production until Nov. 9. However, its current estimates put early potato production (spring and summer crops) at 44.0 million cwt. That is up 5.5 million cwt. from early 2011 production, a 14.2 percent increase. Early crops only account for about 9 percent of U.S. potato production. Therefore, this year’s increase may not be as important as the percentage gain suggests. Nevertheless, the best evidence available indicates that early crops have escaped the negative impact of summer heat. In fact, the only thing that may keep harvest from exceeding the forecast level is that growers have had to pass over some fields, due to the lack of markets for chip contract overages. USDA reports that growers planted 1.003 million acres to fall potatoes this year. That exceeds 2011 plantings by 45,500 acres, or 4.8 percent. Idaho accounted for 55 percent of the extra potato acreage. The remaining increases were scattered across the country. In 16

Potato Country

most growing areas, fall potatoes went in the ground earlier than normal (the biggest exception was in the Columbia Basin). The early start to the growing season created the potential for potato yields to set records in a number of growing areas. However, growing and harvest conditions will be major determinants of the final crop size.

Yields trending upward Fall potato yields have been in a relentless uptrend since World War II. Yields deviate from the trend, but the central tendency has been for U.S. fall potato yields to increase about 5.1 cwt. per acre each year since 1980. During that time, the biggest positive deviation from the trend was 20 cwt. per acre (in 2000). The largest negative deviation from the trend was 19 cwt. per acre (in 1988 and 1990). USDA currently estimates the 2011 fall potato yield at 414 cwt. per acre, which is 15 cwt. below the trend. Backward spring weather, which delayed planting and crop development, was the major contributor to last year’s low yield. Last year’s poor yields set the stage for a potential rebound this year. The trend yield for the 2012 crop is 434 cwt. per acre. With this year’s area for harvest, 990,800 acres, that would produce a 430.0 million cwt. fall potato crop. At that level, production would be up 41.1 million cwt., or 10.6 percent, from the 2011 crop. Of course, yields can deviate from the long-term trend. If we use the extremes reported above, production could range between 411.2 and 449.8 million cwt. Note that, even at the low end of the expected production range, this year’s fall potato crop would exceed 2011 production by 22.3 million cwt., or 5.7percent.

September/October 2012

What about the drought? Most fall potato crops are irrigated. Though water supplies are restricted in a few growing areas, most potato growers can find enough water to keep their crops growing. Growing areas that rely upon rainfall have suffered, but timely rains have helped crops in several of those areas. This summer’s heat may be a bigger factor in reducing potato yields. However, the evidence for such losses is inconclusive. Reports on early test digs paint a mixed picture. Each year, North American Potato Market News makes an early-August production forecast. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, that publication is forecasting the 2012 average yield at 423 cwt. per acre. The forecast yield falls 11 cwt. short of the long-term trend. At 419.1 million cwt., forecast production is up 30.2 million cwt., or 7.8 percent, relative to the 2011 crop. Final production will vary from the forecast, depending upon how this year’s crop finishes. Still, it appears that production will be at least 22.3 million cwt. above the 2011 crop. Could yields fall more than 19 cwt. per acre below the trend? This year’s drought is said to be the worst in more than 50 years. Such an extreme event might support an extreme drop in yields. However, most potatoes are not in the areas that have been hit hardest by the drought. They have plenty of irrigation water. While summer heat may trim yields, the preponderance of evidence suggests that this year’s drought is not an extreme event for potatoes. The biggest impact of the summer heat may be on potato quality, rather than on the size of the crop. Therefore, growers and other industry players need to make plans to deal with a large potato crop. Will the summer drought impact

12 Potato Crop

Feed crop prices may open doors

upon the amount of solids in the potatoes. Studies suggest that at an $8.00 per bushel corn price, the equivalent feed value of potatoes with 21 percent solids is about $3.50 per cwt. Finally, export markets for potatoes and potato products should not be ignored. Opening the Mexican market to table potatoes would relieve a lot of pressure from this year’s supplies. However, the earliest that could be expected would be March. If history is any guide, it could be March 2022. European crop problems could provide more immediate relief. Potato production in Northwest Europe could drop to its lowest level since 2006. That may

boost demand for fresh potato exports to the Caribbean and to North Africa. However, the biggest impact is likely to be on demand for exports of North American French-fries. That demand is already strong. The limiting factor for that outlet is likely to be processing capacity.

Editor’s Note: To contact Mr. Huffaker, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: PO Box 135, Shelley, ID 83274; telephone (208) 525-8397; fax (208) 5258569; or e-mail [email protected].

OPTIMAL LONG STORAGE

s

Canela Russet s

demand for potatoes and potato products? Reports of increasing food prices make the news on a daily basis. Meanwhile, it appears that potato prices should be reasonable, due to this year’s increased production. If retailers pass lower prices through to consumers, potato prices could be cheap, relative to other foods, and particularly to other produce items. The industry should make every effort to promote potatoes as one of the best food values available during the 2012/13 marketing season. The outlook for meat prices is more complex. High costs for livestock feed may force producers to liquidate herds. That could put downward pressure on meat prices, at least during the first half of the marketing year. Lower meat prices could work to potato growers’ advantage. Potatoes are viewed as a complementary dish served with meat. Relatively low prices for meat and potatoes could help to boost retail sales for both.

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

147 DAYS OF DORMANCY

High prices for corn, soybeans, and other feed crops may open doors for alternative potato uses. We have had inquiries about the feasibility of using potatoes to produce ethanol. While the high cost of corn may make that feasible, capacity to produce potato ethanol is extremely limited. However, potatoes can be used for livestock feed, providing that feeders can be assured of a steady flow of potatoes so that they do not need to change rations on a frequent basis. While livestock feeders traditionally have not paid much more than the cost of transportation for the potatoes that they use, given this year’s high prices for corn and other feedstuffs, they should be willing to pay higher prices, depending September/October

Potato Country

17

HAREC Potato Field Day

Zebra Chip Returns to the Columbia Basin By Denise Keller, Field Editor

P

otato growers concerned about zebra chip making a repeat appearance in the Pacific Northwest heard reassuring words from Oregon State University (OSU) researchers during the OSU Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC) Potato Field Day, held June 27. Addressing a crowd of more than 165 attendees, several of the field day presenters spoke about various aspects of zebra chip disease as they shared findings from their latest research, as well as the most recent observations from the region’s commercial fields. Following the field day, zebra chip was confirmed in two potato plants from a single field east of Hermiston on July 24. A week later, two psyllid samples collected near Cold Springs Reservoir and at HAREC were positive for the disease, and additional plants have since been confirmed in two other fields. However, most samples have been negative, and, as of mid-August, damage resulting from zebra chip is minor. The disease, which is spread by potato psyllids infected with the liberibacter bacterium, was found for the first time in Washington, Oregon and Idaho last summer, affecting most of the major cultivars grown in the region.

Zebra chip control The lessened severity of zebra chip disease in the Pacific Northwest thus far this 18

Potato Country

year comes as little surprise to HAREC director Phil Hamm. He likened zebra chip disease to other challenges that growers have encountered during the last 15 years. Diseases such as BLTVA and late blight caused havoc the first year they hit the area, Hamm pointed out, but are now controlled readily due to greater awareness and better management. "If I was a potato grower knowing what we know today about zebra chip, I wouldn’t put it any more important than controlling leaf roll virus, Potato Virus Y, late blight, tuber moth or leafhoppers. Expensive? Yes. But, not different, just one more thing," he advised. Growers have seen zebra chip disease devastate the potato industry in states such as Texas, a zebra chip hotspot during the last decade. However, Hamm said, Northwest growers expect less risk than those in Texas because of a number of differences including the timing in which psyllids migrate to the area. "In Texas, potato psyllid levels are already high when the crop emerges, and a percentage of the insects carry the bacterium," Hamm elaborated. "There has been no information that overwintering psyllids in the Columbia Basin contained liberibacter. So, either numbers have to build or migrating psyllids must enter the Columbia Basin, either of which takes time." He adds that sequential infrared photos taken last year picked up what appeared to be individual psyllids entering fields. When left untreated, the infected areas of the field

September/October 2012

increased in size weekly. "Growers may not be able to control potato psyllids coming into their fields and possibly infecting random plants, but it is extremely important not to let them colonize (i.e. lay eggs and multiply)," Hamm stressed. Researchers advise growers to keep psyllids from becoming established in their fields by monitoring for the insect, reviewing regional trapping reports and following recommended insecticide application schedules. In addition, it is important to be diligent about psyllid control throughout the season to prevent late season infection. Because symptoms increase in storage, according to Hamm, tubers that may show very few or no symptoms at harvest may develop symptoms in storage. Zebra chip causes dark streaks in the tuber flesh, which are intensified when the infected tubers are processed into chips or fries.

Infected volunteer potatoes As part of OSU’s efforts to gain a better understanding of zebra chip management specific to Northwest conditions, the plant pathology program has been looking at the role volunteer potatoes may play in the spread of the disease. Specifically, can volunteers be a potential source of liberibacter bacterium to psyllids? To find out, the researchers returned to three fields that in 2011 had a 30- to 40-percent incidence of zebra chip. Volunteers were abundant when researchers surveyed the fields in May 2012. Plants showing zebra chip symptoms such as stunting, yellowing and leaf distortion were also easy to find, Hamm reported, estimating as many as 607 infected plants per acre in one field of corn that had been planted in Umatilla Russets the previous year. With thousands of potentially infected plants in the fields, these numbers are contrary to what other researchers have seen in small greenhouse or field testing, Hamm said. The volume of potatoes left in the field during harvest, together with a mild winter, resulted in a large potential source of the bacterium. However, while the large number of infected plants shows that volunteers could act as a source of liberibacter, Hamm believes this is unlikely to become a prob-

lem - particularly in 2013 and subsequent years - due to several conditions. High numbers of infected volunteers were only found in the three fields that had substantial zebra chip infection in 2011. Insecticides were not sprayed in a timely manner in those fields last year, Hamm noted, because Integrated Pest Management was being practiced and the usual insects that require control were not present. "Last year we had a situation where there were lots of psyllids carrying liberibacter. But we will not be caught twice," Hamm stated. "So next year, are we going to have any fields that have heavy infection leftover from this year’s seed? No." In addition, plants infected with zebra chip, for the most part, are short lived, Hamm said. A second check of the fields in late June after cultivation and herbicide applications revealed no volunteer plants likely to have the disease. The plants’ short lifespan - in addition to becoming "covered" by the growing corn - would seem to further reduce the likelihood of volunteers acting as a source of liberibacter because significant numbers of psyllid vectors are not typically found in the Northwest early in the growing season. "Of course, if we have a large number of psyllids that overwinter, and we have folks that are not taking care of their fields and not dealing with the volunteers, then we could still have issues," Hamm warned, adding that organic fields and those with reduced insecticide programs may pose a risk to conventional fields.

Potato psyllid monitoring OSU entomologist Silvia Rondon updated Field Day attendees on the region’s ongoing potato psyllid monitoring efforts. In addition, she continues to deliver the latest information from the insect trapping program through weekly emails. This year, potato psyllids were first found in the Columbia Basin in mid-June. Further, psyllids carrying the liberibacter bacterium were found at two locations near Hermiston during the week of July 30. "I think growers have been extremely diligent in looking for psyllids," Rondon said. "It is really important for growers to know when the first psyllids were detected because based on that, they can plan their

control program." The researchers are also studying the potato psyllid’s ability to overwinter in the Columbia Basin. It had been thought that psyllids are unable to overwinter in the Pacific Northwest. However, recent research suggests adult psyllids can survive the winter in certain areas of the region. In late March, overwintering populations of potato psyllids were detected on bittersweet nightshade plants. By early April, the adult insects had laid eggs. Alex Murphy, a postdoctoral scholar at Rondon’s lab, will sample bittersweet nightshade plants in the area again this fall and winter. "This winter was very mild. This could have been a unique situation where the potato psyllids survived the winter this time," Murphy explained. "Next winter could be much more harsh, and there will be no psyllids on these plants, so there will be no concern about whether the psyllids are surviving the winter."

Seed-borne zebra chip study OSU’s Jordan Eggers added to the zebra chip coverage with a report on the 2012 seed-borne zebra chip screen house study. OSU researchers are looking at the effect of liberibacter infection in tubers that could either be used as seed in production or be a source for infected potato volunteers. Tubers collected from symptomatic plants in infected fields last fall were planted in the HAREC screen house this spring. The study includes five cultivars: Norkotah Russet, Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet and Alturas. Preliminary data suggests that liberibacter infection delays — and in many cases, prevents — plant emergence. Of the seed planted in the screen house that originated from plants infected with liberibacter, only 54 percent produced plants. Further, less than 12 percent of the plants that emerged showed symptoms of zebra chip. "The take home message so far is that most tubers infected with Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum won’t even produce plants," Eggers summarized. "And if they do, the likelihood that the plants will show symptoms of zebra chip and be a reservoir where psyllids can acquire the bacterium is low."

However, a few plants that emerged with symptoms are still alive and could be a source of the bacterium in rare cases. Eggers plans to evaluate yield and grade at harvest, and analyze differences between the various cultivars and seed treatments included in the study.

Other topics covered Following the zebra chip reports, Field Day attendees also heard the following presentations: • Update of Syngenta product registrations by Chris Clemens, Syngenta Crop Protection • Disease issues in seed lots 2012 by Jesika Holcomb, OSU • Integrated management of PVY by Barry Jacobsen, Montana State University • What monitoring water will tell you about nitrogen by Lora Mickelsen, IRZ • Phosphorus use in potatoes by Don Horneck, OSU

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September/October

Potato Country

19

Potato Growers of Washington

Decisions That Will Impact Your Bottom Line

A

s we approach the potato storage season, it should remind us that now is the time to be making decisions for next year’s crop. Such decisions will be as important to your bottom line as those you will be making next spring and summer after the crop is planted and growing. This past year, for the most part, Columbia Basin growers did a great job of planning. You came very close to matching your market needs with acreage planted. I commend you for showing self-discipline and not succumbing to the temptation to speculate with open potatoes. Unfortunately, growers in other production areas did not all follow your examples. Because you were wiser in your decisions, we are in a very good position for the coming year. But deciding how many acres to plant and which varieties to grow is only part of the equation. There are many other factors that may not affect the overall potato market, but certainly will have an impact on your bottom line.

Competition for fertile land For many of you, tying up fertile ground is still your biggest concern. With prices high for a number of other commodities, that concern will not change for 2013. Rent continues to climb, and land and water costs now account for more than a quarter of the growing costs for out-of-field potatoes. With that much of the cost of production tied up in land, it becomes super critical that potato growers rent only the 20

Potato Country

best ground possible, and commit as early as possible. This past year, some failed to do so — they were either unwilling or unable to pay the high costs demanded — and ended up with marginal ground. Such ground may work in a year when the weather is mild and growing conditions are favorable; however, in years like 2012, where there are wide swings in the weather pattern plants are frequently stressed. Consequently, yields and quality issues are magnified and in such fields can be easily seen. The old saying that you get what you pay for is certainly true when it comes potato ground. The same thing can be said for seed. With the high number of acres planted last spring and mostly “iffy” seed available late in the season, finding high quality seed was both difficult and expensive. Some growers discovered that they had failed to set aside enough money in their budgets to compensate for the added financial requirement. A number were forced to settle for whatever seed they could find, regardless of the risks involved. The cheaper seed often had higher virus levels and other problems, and those who planted it are now paying a price. In past years, they would never have taken such risks

Heat extremes have taken their toll Heat extremes this year have definitely stressed the crop. We are seeing more symptoms of seedrelated issues, such as PVY and

September/October 2012

By Dale Lathim Potato Growers of Washington

black leg, than we have seen in any of my 19 crop years on the job. Whenever I heard growers at planting time mention that they only planted a particular lot because it was the only one they could get, it made me very nervous—and I am sure that the growers themselves were even more so. Take a look at some Columbia Basin fields, and you will understand my point: Now is the time to line up your seed for next season. Don’t wait too long and find yourselves having to settle for whatever you can get next spring. Another decision requiring immediate attention is to determine what you need to do in terms of your equipment needs, especially if you are planning to upgrade or replace. Due to heavy demand for machinery in North and South America as well as Asia, you need to be getting your orders in now. Such action will be important if you want to be guaranteed delivery in time for when the equipment is needed.

Look around you Take a look at what the more successful potato growers in your area are doing. I will bet that they are in line with everything suggested in this column. You are competing against the industry’s best. If you are going to survive in this challenging industry, it would be wise to follow their examples. Good luck to each of you as you wrap up the 2012 harvesting season. I look forward to seeing you at industry meetings this fall and winter.

Calendar Oct. 26-29 PMA Fresh Summit, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif. Contact: Produce Marketing Association, (302) 738-7100, www.pma.com Nov. 8-9 Montana Seed Potato Seminar, Grand Tree Inn, Bozeman, Mont. Contacdt: Potato Lab, MSU, (406) 994-3130, [email protected] 2013 Jan 9-11 Potato Expo 2013, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Contact: Hollee Alexander, (202) 682-9456, Hollee@ nationalpotatocouncil.org. Jan. 11-12 National Potato Council Annual Meeting, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Contact: Hollee Alexander, (202) 682-9456, [email protected]. Jan. 22-24 Eastern Idaho Ag Expo, Holt Arena, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. Contact: Avid Beale, (800) 635-2274. Jan. 23-24 University of Idaho Potato Conference, Student Union Building, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. Contact: Jill Randall, (208) 529-8376. Jan. 29-31 Washington-Oregon Potato Conference, Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, Wash. Contact: (509) 766-7123,

This list is only partial. Call for more info or check our website

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Harriston 4200 80" with sizer. 2011 Harriston 240- 96" peg belt blower ellis 2001 Harriston 240- 96” w/finger table, 3ph 1997 Harriston 200-80” w/finger table, 3ph 1995 Harriston 200-80" w/12pt-finger table, 3ph

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Eliminator / Collector

2001 Spudnik 950, 72” B.C. Elev., finger table, split table, 3ph 2001 Milestone 60" hang on elimnator 240 volt 3ph 2001 Double L 807, 62" w/ 2-stingers,sizer 1996 Milestone 72" Dirt Elim. sizer 1994 Milestone 72",Dirt,Size,Sort 3ph hyd adjust

Sizers

1. Photo 1, Colorado potato beetles; photo 2, whiteflies; photo 3, psyllids; and photo 4, Lady beetles. Colorado potato beetle and lady beetle eggs are very similar but are tough to distinguish in the field. Psyllid and whitefly eggs are also similar; usually, whitefly eggs are slightly smaller, have short stalks, and may have some of the waxy powder from the adult whiteflies. 2. Photo 3 of psyllid eggs has two species. The eggs with short stalks are potato psyllid, while the egg with a long stalk is a close relative that lives on bindweed.

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2010 Logan 30" 3ph Spudnik 24" 3ph

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1999 Trail Tech 45’ 3axle 1994 Lamb Weston 42’, elec hydr. Marquez 50' 3 axle S

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Planters

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Trucks w/ Beds

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1993 Spudnik 22' PTO 1990 DL 801 20' 1980 Logan 18' bed 1980 Logan 20' bed

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Potato Country

21

Continued from page 13

www.pnva.org 

Information:  (509) 585‐5460 

22

Potato Country

September/October 2012

Funk was raised on a farm near Bakersfield, Calif. His family grew potatoes until 1978, and then moved into diversified row crops. Later, while working in maintenance for an Idaho onion grower-packer, Funk began to look for an opportunity to return to farming. He landed a job at Mercer Canyons and quickly found himself in the potato crop manager position. His knowledge of the potato industry increased greatly when he attended the Potato Industry Leadership Institute in February. During the weeklong education and training program, Funk toured potato production areas of upstate New York, established a network of industry contacts and gained insight into the political aspects of the business. Pursuit of a leadership position within the potato industry, which is encouraged during the annual program, may be in Funk’s future, he says. But for now, he is focusing on settling into his new job. Mercer has given Funk the authority to make changes, and he is making use of it. "Between new people, new equipment, and new steps we’re taking for fertilizer and ground prep, we’ve turned this department on its head completely. There’s nothing we do that we haven’t changed. It’s been a steep uphill learning curve for everybody," Funk reflects, mentioning the use of a new V-Ripper to increase the depth of pre-plant tillage without destroying the soil profile. In addition, Mercer Canyons is heavily using GPS to achieve planting accuracy, as well as electrical conductivity mapping in order to variable rate applications of nitrogen, potassium and even chicken manure. "One of my pet peeves is companies that have been around a long time and keep doing things the same way because that’s the way they’ve always done them. Usually when companies do that, they’re on their way out of business," Funk observes. "I wouldn’t say we’re on the bleeding edge of technology, but we’re certainly out in front."

Equipment Update

Lockwood Introduces the Air-Controlled Separator Lockwood Mfg. is proud to announce the addition of a new potato handling product. The AirControlled Separator is a complete handling and cleaning system that efficiently removes rocks, dirt, vines and other debris effortlessly. With the aid of high velocity air, you can now clean and separate loads of potatoes easily while minimizing damage.

How the ACS-8 works

The 96 inch air chamber first cleans the debris by running the load over a full-width cleaning table to remove excess dirt, vines and corn stalks. The remaining contents move

into the high-flow air chamber that efficiently elevates the potatoes into a high stream of air, lifting them onto the discharge conveyer while allowing the stones to continue through, removing them from your potatoes.

Features of the ACS-8 include:

• Complete system includes vacuum chamber, cleaning table, containment center and air supply unit • 5,000 cwt. per hour capacity • 96-inch-wide stone table for preliminary dirt and rock removal • 48-inch potato discharge conveyor • Collection conveyors for both dirt and stones to one discharge point • 460 volt 3 PH VFD controlled motors on all tables and conveyors for maximum efficiency • Containment unit for collection

of fine dirt and debris (vines, corn cobs, stalks, etc.) • Provides a clean and noise-free work environment for employees • High efficiency backward inclined fan • 170 HP Cummins engine power plant • Hydraulic activated clutch for remote start up • Central control panel with remote access to air supply unit • Range of accessory options to customize your ACS-8 Lockwood also manufactures high quality, reliable potato planters, windrowers and harvesters. For more information on products Lockwood has to offer, please contact one of our potato specialists at 800.247.7335 or by visiting our website www.lockwoodmfg.com.

The reserved block of rooms with our seminar rate will be held until Oct. 8, 2011. Be sure to mention that you are with the Montana Seed Potato Seminar! September/October

Potato Country

23

C H. SuL fat e

of

1 Pota S H

How to ensure that a potash decision doesn’t cause quality issues to sprout up Sulfate of Potash (SOP) from Great Salt Lake Minerals (GSLM) provides your operation with a more efficient potassium source resulting in better yields, fewer defects, greater consistency and more. Using anything less can put your fertility and profits at risk.

Fig. 1b | A recent study revealed a higher rate of sprout development in storage potatoes harvested from Muriate of Potash (MOP) plots as compared to SOP treated plots.1

The unique benefits of GSLM SOP include: • Low chloride (less than 1%) delivery of potassium • Dual nutrient with 17% sulfur in the sulfate form • Helps promote plant health • Better quality yields with fewer defects • More consistent sizing, quality, color and solids • Improved plant water use • Reduced sprouting in storage • Greater storage life and reduced shrinkage

Fig. 1a | Solanum tuberosum

Research conducted in Idaho comparing SOP and MOP found that SOP fertilized potatoes produced a greater number of U.S. #1s, higher overall yields and specific gravity.2 To learn more about how SOP can enhance the yield and quality of your potato crop, contact us today.

1-855-313-3331 TextbookPotatoes.com

1 2

S.Essah, 2009. Unpublished data. U.S. #1 Potatoes are defined as tubers over 10 oz. Yield increases for SOP potatoes compared to MOP was 5-10%. Specific gravity increases on SOP fertilized potatoes measured between 0.001 and 0.004 per potato. Source: Westermann D.T. and Tindall T.A. 1998. Idaho, Potassium Fertilization of Russet Burbank Potatoes Better Crops/Vol. 82 (1998, No. 2).