Mexico Re-Closes Border

---

July/August 2014

Mexico Re-Closes Border WSPC Meeting Report Bair & Sons, Inc. POTATO COUNTRY 1409 S. 29th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Vol. 30 No. 5

Potato Country

www.potatocountry.com

30

Celebrating

Table of Contents

Years!

July/August 2014

4 8

Columbia Publishing 1409 S. 29th Avenue Yakima, Washington 98902 Phone: (509) 248-2452

Editorial Board

Bair & Sons, Inc.

Growing Quality Potatoes for Early Market

Washington State Potato Commission

Washington State Potato Commission

Chris Voigt Executive Director

(509) 765-8845

WSPC Elects New Leadership

10 A New Era in Potato Storage Oregon Potato Commission

(503) 239-4763

Bill Brewer Executive Director

Insect Identification Quiz: Andy Jensen, Ph.D., regional research director, Washington, Idaho and Oregon potato commissions. Disease Identification Quiz: Dr. Jeff Miller, plant pathologist and president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho.

Potato Country Contacts Tyler J. [email protected] Managing Editor

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

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

Denise Keller [email protected] Field Editor

D. Brent Clement [email protected] Consultant

Kirk Bair checks the yellow sticky cards placed in his potato field to monitor for potato tuber moths, which have been present in the area in recent years. Photo by Denise Keller. See story, page 4.

Departments 6 Country Talk 9 Calendar 12 Insect Quiz 13 PGW 14 In the News 17 Disease Quiz

On The Cover Kirk Bair grows 150 acres of Russet Norkotah in Pasco,Wash. Photo by Denise Keller.

2

Potato Country

July/August 2014

18 Market Report 20 In the Market

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Potato Country 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]. ADVERTISING SALES For information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submission, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call (509) 949-1620 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, 1409 S. 29th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902. 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, 1409 S. 29th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902. 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 (509) 949-1620. CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Send to: Potato Country, 1409 S. 29th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902

Bair & Sons, Inc.

Growing Quality Potat By Denise Keller, Field Editor

The Bair family has been farming on the outskirts of Pasco, Wash., since 1947. Pictured are (left to right): Brian, Katie, Kirk, Debbie and Kevin Bair. Photo courtesy Bair family.

O

n the outskirts of Pasco, Wash., a 60-acre plot of ground acquired by the Bair family in a post-war “land lottery” of sorts has turned out to be prime real estate for three generations of farmers growing early-market spuds. Now at the helm of Bair & Sons, Inc., Kirk Bair uses the area’s growing conditions to get his crop on the market as early as possible, while recognizing that quality must remain the top priority.

Finding Their Niche Bair’s farmland has been in the family since 1947 when his dad moved to Pasco from the Yakima Valley, where he had grown produce including watermelon and cantaloupe. As a World War II veteran with farming experience, he qualified 4

Potato Country

July/August 2014

to purchase a 60-acre parcel in the experimental block of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. Farmers’ names were put in one hat with unit numbers in another, and matches were made. The virgin land was covered in 25-foot-tall sagebrush with treelike trunks, Bair describes. In time, his dad cleared the land and began experimenting with what would grow in the area and what the market demanded. He produced beets, corn and wheat before planting potatoes for the fresh market in the early 1960s. A few years later, he started growing potatoes for the process market as well. After earning a degree in agronomy in 1976, Bair returned home to manage the family farm. He also took over his dad’s spud contract

until about 20 years ago when he found himself at a crossroads, needing to either expand or scale back. Choosing to spend more time with his wife and kids, he ended his contract with the processor and focused on the fresh market. Today, Bair farms 150 acres of Russet Norkotah in addition to 300 acres of wheat, corn and grapes. His son Kevin has been helping on the farm for the last five years. At an elevation of about 425 feet with “good sandy loam soil and good drainage,” Bair’s farmland and the surrounding area are well-suited for growing early-market fresh potatoes. “Everybody likes this area because we can get a jump on the market, get an early harvest and take advantage of the good prices,” Bair says. “Getting a good early crop is where the money is.” Bair plants within the first 10 days of March when the soil temperature reaches 40 degrees. Depending on weather during the season and the tubers’ growth, he starts digging at the end of July or beginning of August. “Every week that I delay getting my spuds harvested is about $100,000 a week that I lose,” the grower shares.

Ensuring Quality While a timely harvest is vital to a successful season for Bair & Sons, the calendar takes a backseat to careful cultivation and crop management. An early harvest date cannot make up for poor quality, the grower says. “In this day and age, you can’t provide a substandard product. You have to have a good quality potato in

toes for Early Market this market,” he elaborates. “Some guys farm more acres and figure they’ll make it up on volume. But the smaller the grower you are, the better job you have to do and the more you have to watch your expenses. We all try to do the best we can do.” Various pests and diseases continually threaten to interfere with the quality of Bair’s potato crop. Specifically, potato tuber moths have been present in the area during the last four or five years. Bair has been applying insecticides to control potato tuber moths, but they were still a problem in some acreage last year. As a result, the grower had to shift 20 percent of his potato crop from the fresh market to processing, a move that reduced his price from $250 a ton to $80 a ton. Bair wonders if running insecticides through center pivot irrigation may be diluting the chemicals too much. Thus, he is considering applying insecticides aerially this year before and during vine kill. Through the years, Bair has refined his cultivation methods to maximize quality as well. Early on, he found that “blind cultivating” had a tendency to throw too much dirt over the top of plants that were already struggling to emerge. Wanting plants to emerge—and, in turn, begin to set tubers—as early as possible, Bair instead waits until plants have emerged and become established before hilling the potatoes. He has found that this approach allows him to still hit the early-market harvest dates while also helping prevent green ends and providing additional protection from tuber moths since tubers are deeper in the soil.

The grower also takes pride in the weed control on his farm. He keeps his fields clean and gives his spuds a good start by spraying herbicides during “drag-off.” In addition, when cultivating after plant emergence, he sprays more herbicides in the furrows as well as a foliar product over the top of the potatoes.

Surviving the Market With all the effort and expense invested in a potato crop, Bair, like all growers, hopes prices cover the costs each year. The ebb and flow of the fresh potato market is one of the biggest challenges he faces. “As potato growers, we tend to be our own worst enemy. We see good markets, and we overplant. And the following year, it’s a disaster,” Bair explains. “Last year was a good price, and this year looks good. But it

could crash after this year. “I have a hunch there are a lot of potatoes that went in this year,” he continues. “I could see the price being good until the middle of August, and then it could start going down.” With optimal growing conditions for the early market, Bair & Sons can take advantage of higher prices before the market gets crowded, Bair says, but that’s not to say the farm is immune from the effects of overplanting. “It affects the whole industry. It affects every individual farmer. When it’s a bad year, it takes a couple years to recover. If you have a couple bad years in a row, you could be having an auction,” the grower states. “My philosophy is don’t plant more potatoes than you can afford to lose.”

Kirk Bair’s youngest son, Kevin, has been helping him on the farm for the last five years. Photo by Denise Keller.

July/August

Potato Country

5

Country Talk

Prep N' Pop By Tyler J. Baum

I

t’s been an eventful summer so far to say the least. First we received the landmark news on May 19 that the Mexican government implemented its final rule to allow U.S. fresh potatoes to enter all of Mexico. While many rejoiced, I know of many people in the potato industry who were skeptical. So when Mexican potato farmers sued, closing the border back up June 9—after only 21 days—they weren’t surprised. In this issue, North American Potato Market News Publisher Bruce Huffaker gives us his take on the situation. This summer, we also saw an amendment approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to admit fresh potatoes into the WIC program. With all the ups and downs our industry is seeing, we still have a consistent 1.5 percent increasing trend line yields per year, compounded onto a consistent 1 percent declining demand per year. We’ve heard from the United States Potato Board that the average shopper— “Linda”—is in a “potato rut,” and that Millennials are looking for quick and easy ways to prepare meals that are fresh and good for you. It sounds like our industry could definitely use an innovation that transforms the way consumers look at potatoes. I think the Prep N’ Pop, from Doodads, LLC, based out of Greenwich, R.I., has the potential to do that. Back in the trade show during the POTATO EXPO last January, many people gathered around the Prep N’ Pop booth to watch Constance Rounsaville and coinventor Barry Blair demonstrate how quick and easy it is to peel a potato with the Prep N’ Pop. Blair says the invention was born out of necessity. His father, Norman, a lifelong cook who now suffers from arthritis, found he had 6

Potato Country

July/August 2014

Barry Blair demonstrates the Prep N' Pop

a hard time handling foods. One day in 2004, Norman decided to do something about it. He worked on a prototype tool, which he then showed his son, Barry. Barry admits it was “pretty much a pitchfork.” After some modifications and a second prototype, Norman and Barry knew they were on to something. After 100 design changes, the current Prep N’ Pop cuts prep time in half and eliminates the proximity of the cook’s hand to the peeler. It has received the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use commendation, has received five-star reviews and sold 200,000 units in three hours on the QVC network. “This tool goes hand-in-hand with the potato like a kid’s first baseball glove,” Barry says. “It literally transforms the chore of peeling potatoes into an effortless and fun experience.” For interviewing him, I received a free Prep N’ Pop to take home. My wife was skeptical of it at first, but once she tried it she was surprised at how much easier and quicker it is to peel potatoes.

So where does the potato industry come in? If grower-shippers are looking for a promotional product to give to consumers to boost sales, here it is. If regular Lindas get their hands on a Prep N’ Pop and find it’s faster, easier and—yes, more fun—to peel potatoes, they’re going to find more excuses to integrate fresh potatoes into their meals (which means, they also need more recipes to go with it). Potatoes are already diverse and economical—this tool would give meal preparers even more convenience. What about displaying coupons at the point of sale (for every five-pound bag of potatoes you buy, you get a coupon)? Send in five coupons, you get a free Prep N’ Pop. The possibilities are endless, but I’m going to leave it up to you guys to decide where you’re going to go with this. It’s up to you grower shippers to use innovation to your advantage. For more information, contact Barry Blair by calling (401) 862-8878, emailing [email protected] or by visiting https://prepnpop.com for a video demonstration.

Columbia Publishing *FREE Subscription for Growers!* Growers can sign up for a FREE one year subscription to any or all of the following magazines below! For U.S. growers only.

In order to qualify must fill out form below Information Name: __________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________ Street: __________________________________________ City:______________________ State:____ Zip: _________ Phone:___________________ Fax:___________________ E-mail:___________________________________________ r Grower

Sign me up for: r Potato Country r Onion World r The Tomato Magazine r Carrot Country Please send this form to:

Columbia Publishing & Design 1409 S. 29th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902

r Not a Grower

Prices for non-growers: Potato Country - 8 issues per year 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

Onion World - 8 issues per year U.S.: 1 year $16.00; 2 years $28.00; 3 years $36.00 Canada: 1 year $27.00; 2 years $45.00; 3 years $60.00 Foreign: 1 year $45.00; 2 years $80.00; 3 years $109.00

The Tomato Magazine - 4 issues per year U.S.: 1 year $8.00; 3 years $15.00 Canada: 1 year $12.00; 3 years $23.00 Foreign: 1 year $20.00; 3 years $39.00

Carrot Country - 4 issues per year U.S.: 1 year $10.00; 3 years $24.00 Canada: 1 year $15.00; 3 years $36.00 Foreign: 1 year $20.00; 3 years $49.00

July/August

Potato Country

7

Washington State Potato Commission

WSPC Elects New Leadership D

uring its annual meeting, The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) elected its new Executive Committee for the upcoming year. Nelson Cox was named chair of the commission and will officially begin his term July 1. Cox, who operates his family farm near Warden, Wash., has served as a commissioner of the WSPC since 2006. Cox will succeed Jared Balcom, who was the commission chair during the past year. “I have enjoyed my time serving the industry as a commissioner and look forward to working with the other commissioners during this upcoming year,” said Cox. “The objectives of the commission are the same and there is plenty of work to do to ensure we are all best meeting the needs of growers throughout the state. Whether that be looking to address legislative issues, research needs, communication activities or educational programs.” Balcom, who has been a commissioner since 2005, will continue to serve on the board. “It has been a busy year for the commission and even though my term as Chair is complete, I will continue to do my part in helping the industry during this very crucial time,” said Balcom. “There are always many activities and issues that we need to continue to address and be a part of.”

8

Potato Country

July/August 2014

Other members of the WSPC’s Executive Team include: • Mike Dodds (Moses Lake), 1st Vice Chair • Nick Johnson (Othello), 2nd Vice Chair • Rex Calloway (Quincy), Secretary • Stacy Kniveton (Pasco), Treasurer • Jared Balcom (Pasco), Past Chair Members of the WSPC Executive Team will each serve within their respective positions for one year. The commission is governed by 15 commissioners. Nine are growerelected positions and five are appointed positions by the commissioners. In addition, a representative from the Washington State Department of Agriculture also sits on the board. In accordance with its by-laws, the WSPC commissioners select a new chair and other leadership positions on a yearly basis.

Calendar July 9 Summer Farm Festival and Annual Field Day, Malheur Experiment Station. Contact: Janet Jones to reserve lunch by calling (541) 889-2174 or emailing [email protected].

July 27–31 98th PAA Annual Meeting, Davenport Hotel, Spokane, Wash. (Industry Day for growers—July 29.) Contact: www.cm.wsu.edu/ehome/paa2014.

Oct. 17–19 PMA Fresh Summit + Expo, Anaheim, Calif. Contact: www.freshsummit.com.

July/August

Potato Country

9

A New Era in Potato Storage JMC Staff Report

A

new era in potato postharvest storage management has finally come after many years of minimal changes to potato storage technology. JMC Ventilation/Refrigeration, LLC and Storage Systems Northwest, Inc., have combined to design and build a state-of-the-art potato storage that includes a straight-wall design with a neverbefore-seen, patent-pending air system that is unique and energy efficient—a concept that is completely new to the potato storage industry. For the first time, storage managers, farmers, storage and air-system designers, engineers and potato

10

Potato Country

July/August 2014

physiologists have come together to produce this one-of-a-kind building. The building is designed with efficiency and simplicity in-mind. The straight-wall design is one of the efficiency components that saves construction costs, but yet the structure can house more potatoes per square foot of floor space as a slant-wall or Quonset-hut type storage. The cost savings with this historical design can be used to put more air into the building—the more air, the better control the storage manager has with the potato pile. Not only has the building been welldesigned with storage manager and farmer

inputs, but it has been engineered down to such details as insulating the screws in the walls—even the columns and beams have been covered and insulated. The plenum has a unique design that allows for a more even air flow throughout the potato pile. In addition, the plenum has a separate access door to allow clearing and disinfecting. A constant-flow fresh air cold weather kit will be available in the near future that will insure a constant flow of fresh air into the building to minimize CO2 buildup. The fan-house has been enlarged so that the air and humidification system can be designed to fit the needs of the potatoes and not the needs of the builder. Owner safety concerns have been met throughout the building, especially in the fan-house. For example, the high voltage electrical is in a separate room away from the control panels. This design change addresses the OSHA arc flash requirements. In addition, the stairs are built to meet all building code requirements—the days of unsafe, nonuniform stairs are gone. The internal air-assisted insulation system utilizes the naturally occurring sensible heat of the potatoes to maintain a curtain between the outside environment and

the potatoes, thus making the entire facility more energy efficient. This exceptional design not only saves the storage owner money but allows optimal environmental control of the potatoes from the minute they enter the storage until they are removed. Combining good management and the capabilities of this building, pile shrinkage is now kept to a minimum. The facility can be sanitized with ease— the bays, the fan-house, plenum, the return air system, etc. The storage contains no wood or urethane. This building will meet all GAP requirements that will be coming in the future. Acceptance of the building within the industry has been overwhelming. Optional additions to the building have been given the “wow—great idea” reception. The number of buildings JMC builds per year is limited—they believe in quality, not quantity. It is best for growers to see the structures for themselves and then reserve a time-slot. Guided tours of constructed buildings are available by appointment only. Call Storage Systems Northwest, Inc., at (509) 543-3353 and ask for Rob Terry. July/August

Potato Country

11

Insect Biology Quiz Dr. Andy Jensen

All over the Northwest, yellow sticky traps are being used to track the flights of insects in potatoes, such as psyllids and leafhoppers. Yellow sticky traps catch a broad range of insects and spiders. Some growers and crop advisors might find it interesting to learn something about the other insects caught in yellow sticky cards. Can you identify the insects below?

B. C.

D. A.

E.

This material is provided courtesy of Andy Jensen, Ph.D., Regional Research Director for the Idaho, Washington and Oregon Potato Commissions. He can be contacted at: (509) 760-4859 or [email protected].

12

ANSWERS, Page 21 Potato Country

July/August 2014

Potato Growers of Washington

The Consumer is Always Right T

he old adage that “the customer is always right” is as true for potato growers as for the retail world. The customer is multi-layered. As growers, your customers are the processors who buy your potatoes. In turn, their customers are the QSRs and foodservice companies. And, ultimately, their customers are the consumers. So, as consumers of frozen potato products demand a certain quality or reject a certain concept, the QSRs and foodservice companies demand changes from their suppliers to meet that demand. This gets passed up the line until the buck stops at the growers’ feet. We have been experiencing this reality for many years. However, the past couple of years, and over the foreseeable future, this will become an even bigger issue. The major challenge in the past was dealing with foreign material; the growing issue of our day is how to reduce the level of green or sunburned potatoes delivered to our processor customers. I am sure that many of you are saying to yourselves, “What do they expect? We grow these things in the ground and out in nature, not a laboratory!” That is true, and most everyone understands that zero tolerance will never be attained. What is expected,

however, is that growers will do everything they can to come as close to zero as possible. Adding vegetative material to the definition of foreign material within your contracts was something that, up until now, was not taken that seriously. That is why we now have such a huge penalty when excessive vegetative material is present. That penalty now has the industry’s attention, and has become a major focus for everyone. While the penalty was reduced in the 2014 contracts, that does not mean there is less emphasis on the issue. What it does mean is that you should have a better understanding of how this can be a problem, and that the processors recognize that you are responding to their concerns. In return, they are bringing the penalty down to a more reasonable level. If the incident of foreign and/ or vegetative material fails to continue moving downward, expect the penalty to be resurrected and re-imposed again. If that happens, growers will have no one to blame but themselves. The financial pain of the vegetative material “hot button” clause can be avoided if growers stay on top of best management practices. I am not an agronomist, but I am told that there are several cultural practices that can be done to prevent or lessen the occurrence

By Dale Lathim Potato Growers of Washington

of these types of potato defects. Letters sent out by some of your buyers indicating this is a concern should give you a heads up: come up with improved solutions to reducing such defect or expect to experience stiff penalties ahead that will get your attention. Is this a harsh way of dealing with an issue? Of course it is. However, in today’s corporate environment where the processor’s jobs are only as secure as the last quarterly profit report, they no longer have the luxury of working with you to resolve cultural challenges you should be able to resolve yourself. They do not like dictating this to you any more than you like having it forced down your throat. But in the world in which we live today, this is how business is conducted. Those who understand and adapt are the ones who will survive. Please take this issue seriously and continue to reduce the amount of vegetative material/foreign material in the loads of potatoes you deliver to your processor customers. Focus on finding ways to reduce the green/sunburned potatoes in your deliveries before more new, stiffer standards are mandated. The feedback coming in clearly foretells this to be the scenario of the future. Be prepared by taking constructive action now. Best of luck with your 2014 potato harvest. July/August

Potato Country

13

In the News: People and Products NASS Stock Report Potato stocks in Idaho on June 1 totaled 20.0 million cwt. Disappearance of the Idaho crop to date was 111 million cwt. June 1 potato stocks in Oregon totaled 3.00 million cwt. Disappearance to date was 18.6 million cwt. In Washington, June 1 potato stocks totaled 12.5 million cwt. Disappearance to date totaled 83.5 million cwt. Nationally, the 13 major potato States held 46.5 million cwt of potatoes in storage. Potatoes in storage accounted for 12 percent of the fall storage states’ production. Potato disappearance totaled 344 million cwt. Season-to-date shrink and loss totaled 27.6 million cwt. Since March 1, processors in Idaho and Malheur County, Ore., have used 22.8 million cwt of potatoes. In Washington and other Oregon counties, 19.3 million cwt of potatoes have been used by processors since March 1. Processors in the 9 major states have used 58.6 million cwt of potatoes since March 1. Dehydrating usage accounted for 11.3 million cwt of the total processing.

Mexican Growers Sue, Border Closes U.S. potato exports to Mexico have stopped in response to a lawsuit by Mexican growers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service stopped issuing phytosanitary certificates to U.S. fresh potato exporters in response to Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture announcement closing all border crossings. The border was closed June 9. Mexico recently published a rule in mid-March, which expanded the entire country to U.S. fresh potato exports. Before that, exports were limited to a 16-mile zone south of the U.S./Mexico border. At this time there is no indication when fresh potato trade between nations will resume.

Fresh Potatoes Approved for WIC Program WASHINGTON, D.C.—National Potato Council statement on the amendment approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to admit fresh potatoes into the WIC program. “We are grateful to the Senators and staff from both sides of the aisle who reviewed the science and the history of the WIC fruit and vegetable voucher program, and supported a path forward that will allow WIC participants access to fresh potatoes. 14

Potato Country

July/August 2014

“Based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the most recent CDC consumption data, all Americans, including WIC participants, are under consuming nutritionally rich potatoes. Since potatoes are a recognized source of potassium, fiber and folate—nutrients that are deficient in many WIC participants’ diets—adding them to this important federal nutrition program is grounded in science and common sense. “Reversing the ban on fresh potatoes in the WIC program has been a priority of the U.S. potato industry for some time, and the action by the Senate Appropriations Committee brings us one step forward to that goal. We look forward to the review of the fruit and vegetable components of the WIC food package, which we believe will maintain the valuable role of fresh potatoes in WIC participants’ diets.”

Aceto Hires Nathan Oberg PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—Aceto Agricultural Chemical Corporation announced that Nathan Oberg has been hired as its Director, Business Development. Oberg assumed his new role May 7, according to Terry Kippley, Senior Vice President. Kippley stated, Nathan Oberg (Aceto) “We are excited to have Nathan join the team. His unique technical background and experience will allow Aceto to provide an enhanced level of support to the potato industry and other markets.” In his new position, Oberg will work to support and grow Aceto’s postharvest preservation business in both North America and emerging markets, including China, Russia and the Middle East. He will also help Aceto add new products to its crop protection product line. Nathan joins Aceto having most recently worked for Agri-Stor Company as Vice President, where

WORLD’S LARGEST USED

he led commercial operations providing a broad portfolio of postharvest preservation products and services to the potato industry. Oberg earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Washington State University and a Master of Science in Plant Science, with concentration in Postharvest Crop Protection, from the University of Idaho. Nathan will be based in Twin Falls, Idaho and can be reached at [email protected].

Irrometer Moves after 63 Years RIVERSIDE, Calif.—After 63 years in the same location, Irrometer Company, Inc., has moved its operating facilities to an industrial complex located at 1425 Palmyrita Ave., Riverside, Calif. 92507. The move will serve the company's goals for future expansion and new product development for years to come. Irrometer is excited that the new building has ample room for customer training and product demonstration, where live product data will be available for online observation. Founded in 1951, the IRROMETER Company has been a leader in the manufacture of soil moisture measuring and monitoring equipment, with a worldwide distribution network. Contact Irrometer Company at (951) 682-9505 by phone or at [email protected] by email.

EPA Appeals Rejection of Water Transfer Rule, Setting Up Dueling Suits EPA and western states are appealing a lower court ruling that vacated the agency's rule exempting water transfers from Clean Water Act (CWA) permit requirements, but environmentalists say an ongoing appeal of a citizen suit in California over water transfers could lead another appellate circuit to address the issue first, potentially creating dueling precedents that the Supreme Court may seek to resolve. EPA and western state officials who support the agency's rule filed notices of appeal in a federal district court in New York on May 29 and 28, respectively, indicating that they plan to ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to review the lower court's ruling in Catskill Mountains Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Inc. et al. v. EPA, et al. The South Florida Water Management District, which participated in the case as an intervener, has also joined the appeal. Governors of the

POTATO EQUIPMENT INVENTORY

Like new for less Dikers & Cultivators 2012 A.E. Dammer Diker 6 row 36” shear trip 2005 Spudnik 6 row cultivator/diker 1990 A.E. Tillage Master 6 row 36” Hyd. Warehouse Odenberg Optical Grader Titan II Flat conveyors different dimensions EDP mini bagger 1ph Pilers 2005 Milestone 42" all belt Arcing 2000 Spudnik 860, 36"x48', 3ph 2000 Double L 861, 42"x49' 3ph Dusters /Treaters 2002 Milestone 42" 3ph 1994 Better built CDT 10, 1ph 1996 Milestone 30" barrel 1ph Planters 2007 Spudnik 8040 cup 4 row semi Mech. 2005 Underhaug 6 row new style, hydr. 34" 2005 Lockwood 506 pick 6 row semi hydr. Planter Fillers/Tare piler Spudnik Tube 16” x 20’, 1ph Industrial Dirt Conveyor 24" Clod Hoppers +DUULVWRQƓQJHUWDEOH, 3ph +DUULVWRQƓQJHUWDEOH, 3ph Eliminator / Collector 2013 Spudnik 900-72" DE 2 pups 2011 Logan 84" Dirt Elim./Sizer 2001 Milestone 60" Sizers 1994 Spudnik 925, 60", 3ph 1989 Milestone 48" 1ph Seed Cutters 1996 Better Built 400, 60", 3ph 1993 Milestone 48" Recond. 1988 Milestone 36" 1ph Telescopic Conveyors 1996 Double L 820, 30" x 60', 3ph 1995 Spudnik 1225, 30/36"x85', 3ph Harvesters 2 row 1999 Spudnik 5620 1995 Lockwood 4600 Scoopers 1998 Spudnik 350, 30" 3ph 4wd Spudnik 24" 3ph Trailers 1997 Spudnik 42'/30" 2 axle elec. 1991 Farmbed 48'/25" 3xle elec. Harvesters 4th Row 2012 Lockwood 474H 2007 Double L 853 Shredders 2007 Newhouse 1752 34" 2007 Newhouse 1752 34" 1990 Ace 6 row

Shop the Full Inventory at agritechcorp.com/potatocountry

scan this to shop now!

@AgritechCorp 1(855) 375-6111 July/August

Potato Country

15

In the News: People and Products states that filed the appeal, including those from Colorado, New Mexico, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, earlier this month urged the agency to appeal the district court's ruling and pledged to support the agency's defense of the rule. Western states sought to defend the rule against environmentalists' facial challenge because they frequently use water transfers for irrigation and to address water shortages caused by drought. Another group of states, including New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Washington, is expected to support environmentalists who are challenging the rule.

UF/IFAS Finding Could Help Farmers Stop Disease GAINESVILLE, Fla.—A University of Florida scientist

16

Potato Country

July/August 2014

has pinpointed Mexico as the origin of the pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish Potato Famine, a finding that may help researchers solve the $6 billion-a-year disease that continues to evolve and torment potato and tomato growers around the world. Late blight killed most of Ireland’s potatoes, while today it costs Florida tomato farmers millions each year in lost yield, unmarketable crop and control expenses. For more than a century, scientists thought the pathogen that caused late blight originated in Mexico. But a 2007 study contradicted earlier findings, concluding it came from the South American Andes. UF plant pathology assistant professor Erica Goss wanted to clear up the confusion and after analyzing sequenced genes from four strains of the pathogen, found ancestral relationships among

them that point to Mexico as the origin. Goss and eight colleagues analyzed the genes of potato late-blight pathogens from around the world. Potato late blight, which flourishes in cool, damp weather, is caused by the pathogen phytophthora infestans. Scientists sequenced four genes from more than 100 phytophthora infestans samples, plus four closely related species, to tease out the pathogen’s origin. Knowing the origin provides insight into its genetic diversity and the ways it adapts to different environments, Goss said. The pathogen also moved from other related species to the potato late in the evolutionary history of potatoes, she said, perhaps one reason potatoes are so susceptible to the disease and why finding a breeding-based solution to the disease has been so difficult. Goss wrote the paper, published online in June by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with scientists from eight other university and government agencies.

Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller

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

1. In addition to the white spots forming on the leaf, the coloring on this potato leaf is patchy with areas of darker green and lighter green. What is the term that describes this symptom, and what is the causal agent? The variety is Russet Burbank. Photo courtesy of Phil Hamm.

2. This leaf is showing patches of yellow and green that are more pronounced than the patches shown in Photo 1. Are these symptoms caused by the same agent? Photo courtesy of Phil Hamm.

4. The primary symptom here is not yellowing or mosaic in the leaves, but rather the rolling and curling of the leaves. What is responsible for this symptom? Photo courtesy of Phil Hamm.

3. The yellowing in these leaves is much more pronounced, both in terms of color intensity and in the size of the patches. What is causing the problem? What is the name of this symptom? Photo courtesy of Phil Hamm.

5. The leaves in this photo are mottled and crinkled. What is causing this combination of symptoms? Photo courtesy of Nora Olsen.

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; email: [email protected]

ANSWERS, PAGE 22

July/August

Potato Country

17

Market Report

Mexico—One Step Forward

O

n May 19, the Mexican border opened for imports of fresh table and chip potatoes going to any municipality with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Prior to that time, imports were limited to table potatoes sold within 26 kilometers of the U.S.-Mexican border. The U.S. potato industry heralded the opening as a great victory for the U.S. potato industry, which had the potential to slow, or even reverse the downtrend in demand for U.S. potatoes. The border stayed open for exactly 21 days. CONPAPA, the Mexican potato growers’ association, filed a suit to stop the imports. Though details are still sketchy as this is written, press reports indicate that that the law suit cites phytosanitary issues (the grower organization claims that the imported potatoes threaten to introduce quarantine pests, in spite of a number of restrictions designed to reduce that possibility). The reports indicate that SENASICA (Mexico’s equivalent of APHIS) decided to close the border once the lawsuit was filed, though we currently have no indication that a Mexican court ordered it to do so. Ironically, the order prevents potatoes from entering the 26-kilometer border zone, as well as the remainder of Mexico, since rules for imports to the border zone were scrapped in favor of uniform rules for potato imports going throughout Mexico. Why is Mexico important to the potato industry? In the twelve months ending April 30, the U.S. exported 1.68 million cwt of table potatoes to Mexico’s border zone. About 8.2 million people live in the border zone. The country has a total population close to 120 million. It would take time to develop the market, but if the border were to remain open, Mexico’s table potato imports could easily double during the coming year. Were they to follow a growth trajectory similar to what has happened in the border zone, Mexico could be importing 12–20 million cwt of table potatoes per year, within 10 years. Mexico also has the potential to become a large market for chip potatoes. Snack food companies cannot purchase enough locally grown potatoes to keep their plants running efficiently. Efforts to boost Mexican chipstock production have met with limited success. U.S. chipstock would be competitive with local potatoes in much of the country. Developing contracts would take time, but there is a large market for potato chips. Within 10 years, Mexico’s chip potato imports could approach 10 million cwt per year, assuming that the border reopens soon. 18

Potato Country

July/August 2014

If the Mexican market reopens soon, it could halt the slide in demand for U.S. potatoes, but it is unlikely that the extra business would be sufficient to reverse the downward trend in potato acreage. Demand for U.S. potatoes has been declining about 0.6 percent per year during the past 15 years. If that trend were to continue for another 10 years, U.S. growers would need to produce 414 million cwt of potatoes in 2023, down from the 437.5 million cwt produced in 2013. If exports to Mexico were to reach 30 million cwt (table and chip potatoes) for the 2023 crop, production would need to be closer to 446 million cwt. While that is slightly larger than the 2013 crop, it would be nowhere near the volume needed to offset the expected increase in yields, over that time. Without the increase in exports to Mexico, growers would only need to harvest 864,000 acres of potatoes in 2023. If exports to Mexico were to reach 30 million cwt for the 2023 crop, the needed potato area would increase to 930,000 acres. In 2013 growers harvested 1.052 million cwt of potatoes. Exports to Mexico could play an important role in stabilizing the U.S. potato industry. Under optimistic assumptions, they would add 66,000 acres to the 2023 potato crop. However, by itself, Mexico could not be considered a deal changer for the U.S. potato industry. Rather, it must be considered as only one part of an integrated effort to boost both domestic and export demand for U.S. potatoes and potato products. While Mexico is an important element in that strategy, the potato industry must not let it distract efforts to develop other markets for potatoes. Recent events highlight the risks in depending too much on the Mexican market, to solve the potato industry’s structural problems. Twenty years ago, the U.S. and Mexico ratified NAFTA. Among other things, that agreement was supposed to remove quotas and tariffs on Mexican imports of U.S. potatoes within eight years. Mexico was to eliminate any other non-tariff trade barriers. Phytosanitary issues were supposed to be dealt with using “science-based” standards. At the end of eight years, Mexico was importing less than half the potatoes that it did before NAFTA was implemented. About that time, a new agreement was negotiated, which was supposed to introduce U.S. potatoes to all of Mexico, in phases. The first phase was to open the 26-kilometer border zone to imports. Phase II would allow imports throughout the country’s border states. In phase III, all of the country would be open to imports, subject only to phytosanitary and pack-

d, Two Steps Back? aging rules. Needless to say, Mexico never implemented phase II or phase III. Since bottoming out at 130,000 cwt for the 2001/02 marketing year, exports to Mexico climbed to a peak of 1.77 million cwt for the 2012/13 marketing year. All of those exports have been confined to the border zone. The recent opening came as a result of Mexico’s interest in joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal. Mexico agreed to open its border to potato trade, though neither the country’s potato growers nor its agricultural bureaucracy has been enthusiastic about the deal. Rules for the trade required that all table potatoes be sold in packages containing 20 lbs of potatoes, or less. The packages needed to be labeled, indicating that the potatoes were not to be used for seed, and the potatoes could only be sold in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. However, Mexico has no way to prevent retailers from opening packages, to sell the potatoes in bulk, nor would it be able to prevent anyone from purchasing potatoes in wholesale markets and taking them outside of municipal boundaries, either for personal use or for resale. We suspect that these cumbersome and unenforceable rules provided the opening for potato growers to file the lawsuit that has resulted in closing the border. Exporters are concentrating on getting the 26-kilometer border zone reopened, before tackling the bigger issue. That may take quite a long time, though retailers in the border zone will be pressing hard to reestablish their supplies. However, the old rules have been scrapped. Mexican growers are experts at making rules work to their advantage. This would not be the first time that they have managed to turn a forward step into two steps back for potato imports. If the border zone does not reopen, that will push an additional 1–2 million cwt of table potatoes on to the domestic market, over the next year, which would be a big challenge for marketers to manage, in a way that would not depress U.S. potato prices. What can the U.S. do to reopen the border as quickly as possible? In the past, the U.S. has been reluctant to tie potato exports to other produce business (though it has seemed more willing to do so during the recent round of negotiations). Mexico exports more produce to the U.S. than it imports. It has a lot of issues that it needs to deal with, in order to expand that business. If the U.S. decides to use those issues to apply pressure, it might not take another 10 years to get back to where we were on May 19. However, if USDA decides that potato issues are a separate matter, it

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

is unlikely that Mexico will ever become a large market for U.S. potatoes. Based on our experience in the U.S., it would be easy to assume that the issue will have to work its way through the Mexican court system before it will be resolved. If we allow Mexico to follow that path, it will be years before anything will be resolved, most likely in favor of the growers. On the other hand, political pressure properly applied might get the issue resolved much sooner than most people think. Editor’s Note: To contact Mr. Huffaker, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: P.O. Box 135, Shelley, ID 83274; telephone (208) 525-8397; fax (208) 525-8569; or email [email protected].

July/August

Potato Country

19

In the Market: New Products and Services BioSafe’s Bin Piler Applicator BioSafe Systems’ Bin Piler Applicator is a simple-to-use injection system that makes potato storage disease control trouble-free. The adjustable waterpowered dosing system provides various and accurate dosing dilutions from 1:20 to 1:200, and there is no electrical requirement as the injector hooks up to any ¾-inch water line. In addition, the cart comes equipped with a standardized spray bar assembly that may be easily mounted to any type of bin piler conveyor. The portable injection system has a tough roto-molded design and crash bar that provides the 15-gallon polyethylene tank with durability and protection. The applicator also has a narrow base and 10-inch wheels, allowing for easy storage and maximum mobility. The water pressure driven chemical injector is a high quality choice that will facilitate economical operation. BioSafe Systems recommends the Bin Piler Applicator as an integral part of the application of any of BioSafe Systems’

20

Potato Country

July/August 2014

storage disease control products, including StorOx 2.0 and OxiPhos. Call (888) 273-3088.

Lindsay FieldNET for Wireless MicroIrrigation Management

Lindsay product, is an easy-to-use wireless irrigation controller that acts as the point of connection in the field, making the remote control over irrigation pumps, valves, filters and injectors possible. The integrated 4-in-1 controller enables growers to quickly schedule flush cycles to run automatically by operation time or pressure differential, easily set up or adjust crop temperature protection plans as conditions change, and have unlimited control of water, fertilizer and chemical use. Visit www.myfieldnet.com.

Lockwood 672 Harvester

OMAHA, Neb.—Lindsay Corporation introduces FieldNET for wireless microirrigation management, allowing growers access and control of their entire irrigation operation at any time and from anywhere. A new addition to FieldNET is MULTICONTROL, which provides growers with 4-in-1 control of their entire irrigation system, including management and control of pumps and valves, fertilizer and chemical injectors, filter flush capabilities and frost protection plans. MULTI-CONTROL, a Growsmart by

Lockwood Mfg. announces the addition of the 672 Harvester to its equipment lineup. The 672 model is a two-row, direct load potato harvester. Improved floatation, increased visibility and a lightweight frame

are only a few of the great features of the 672 harvester. The Lockwood 672 Harvester is built with all of Lockwood’s latest innovations, including a Can-bus system with userfriendly joystick that provides the operator the ability to quickly manipulate the nose height, booms and other controls without looking away from the field. And when the 672 digger nose comes in contact with a large rock, the digger nose will retract up and over the rock. This helps minimize damage to the digger nose, allowing for more harvesting time and less down time. There are a variety of options to customize the 672 harvester to fit the grower’s needs and land conditions, including a full line of side elevator cleaning tables, fullwidth cleaning tables available for Direct Load and Wrap Around models and a bulk Boom Hopper to allow non-stop digging. Lockwood also proudly builds a variety of potato planter, windrower and handling equipment. Call (800) 247-7335 or visit www.lockwoodmfg.com.

The Lockwood ACS-5 Lockwood Mfg. has added another Air Controlled Separator model to its line of potato handling products. In addition to the ACS-8 model, Lockwood now offers the ACS-5, which features a 60-inch air

247-7335 or by visiting our website www. lockwoodmfg.com.

Marrone Bio Venerate Bio-insecticide

chamber. The Air-Controlled 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. The 60-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. Lockwood also manufactures highquality, reliable potato planters, windrowers and harvesters. For more information on products Lockwood has to offer, please contact one of our potato specialists at (800)

DAVIS, Calif.—Venerate bio-insecticide is a new tool to help growers control cropdamaging insect pests, fight the development of insect resistance and reduce pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. This new broad-spectrum bio-insecticide is active against a wide array of chewing and sucking insects and mites and features novel modes of action that stem from a diverse set of chemical compounds extracted from a newly discovered bacterium. Venerate is labeled for a wide array of crops and is approved for use in conventional and organic systems. It is available in a liquate formulation with flexibility to apply by ground or air, no limit on the number of applications allowed per season, and a minimal four-hour re-entry interval. The product is non-toxic to fish, birds and most beneficial insects including honeybees, and also has the advantage of a zero-day, pre-harvest interval and an exemption from MRL tolerances—a measure of pesticide residue limits that must be met for most food crop exports. Growers should check with their local ag chemical retailer or Marrone Bio Innovations rep for product availability in their state.

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 12) A.This is a damsel bug, a.k.a. “nabid.” These are aggressive predators of many pest insects. B. An easy insect to recognize, this is a lady beetle. In its efforts to escape the trap, it spread its dark-colored wings and got more thoroughly stuck in the glue. C. Many of you who look at yellow cards for potato psyllids may recognize this insect; it is one of the common non-potato psyllid species caught on our yellow cards. This species feeds on relatives of lambsquarters. D.Another voracious predator in potato fields, this is a big-eyed bug, a.k.a. “Geocoris.” E. This is a leafhopper, one of the many species that is caught on yellow sticky traps deployed for beet leafhopper monitoring. This species is not a concern for potatoes.

NEW/USED WALk-IN COOLER-FREEZER REFRIGERATION SySTEMS HUGE INVENToRY-All SIzES BUY  SEll  NATIoNWIDE  AMERICAN WHOLESALE CO. TOLL FREE 877-220-8882 WWW.AWRCO.COM  [email protected]

July/August

Potato Country

21

PACIFIC NORTHWEST VEGETABLE ASSOCIATION

28th Annual Conference

Know Your Diseases Answers (continued from page 20) 1. These mosaic symptoms are being caused by PVYO. PVY stands for Potato Virus Y, one of the most important viruses affecting potatoes. Several different strains of the virus have been described and are designated by the superscript. Some examples of the different strains include O (common strain), N (tobacco veinal necrosis strain), and NTN (tuber necrotic strain, a subset of N), and C (stipple streak strain). This virus is spread primarily by aphids but can also be spread by plant to plant contact. Aphids carrying the virus need to only feed for a short time (seconds) in order to transmit the virus. This is called non-persistent transmission. Different strains can cause different symptoms on different varieties. A good resource for viewing these different symptoms can be found at www. potatovirus.com. 2. The symptoms in this photo are caused by tobacco rattle virus (TRV). The conditions caused by this virus have also been called “spraing” in some parts of the world. Necrotic arcs in the tubers are also caused by this virus, and this disease is called corky ringspot in North America. The virus is vectored by the stubby root nematode (Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus species). 3. This symptom is also called “calico,” and is the result of infection by alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV). This virus is widespread, but not considered to be of economic importance based on the fact that incidence is usually low and the impact on the plant is not as severe as with other viruses. The virus is self-eliminating, meaning that it does not transmit itself through seed tubers.

November 12 - 13 • 2014 Three Rivers Convention Center | Kennewick, WA (509) 585-5460 · www.pnva.org 22

Potato Country

July/August 2014

4. Several pathogens can cause leaf rolling or curling symptoms like this, including Rhizoctonia, Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso, the cause of Zebra chip), and potato leafroll virus (PLRV). In this case, this plant is infected with PLRV. PLRV is spread by aphids. Unlike PVY, aphids must feed for a long period of time (persistent transmission). This makes it relatively easy to manage PLRV by managing aphids. 5. This combination of symptoms is caused by a combination, or co-infection, of PVY and PLRV.

THE START OF A BAD YEAR FOR NEMATODES AND A GOOD YEAR FOR POTATOES

High-yielding, high-quality potatoes begin with Telone® II soil fumigant. Telone creates a zone of protection around roots, providing the highest level of nematode management ZKLOHDOVRPDQDJLQJZLUHZRUPV3OXVE\VLJQL¿FDQWO\UHGXFLQJ nematode populations, Telone becomes part of an effective long-term nematode management program. ® Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an ǞŽǟǞ  ĔǞĔ6Ĕ"ǞǞǞĔĔǞǟ ǟĔ  'ĔǟǞǞ) ǟ 0, ǟ ǟ  ĔǞĔ Ĕ