INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
March 31, 2014
Insecticide

Idaho Dept. of Ag Spring Pesticide Disposal Program

The ISDA is sponsoring their spring pesticide disposal program for Nampa, Weiser, Lewiston, and Coeur D'Alene.
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March 31, 2014
Insecticide

Open Access Article on Potato Leafhopper Ecology, Integrated Pest Management

A new, open-access article in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management summarizes the knowledge to date on the biology of the potato leafhopper.
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March 29, 2014
New Products

Now Available: 18th edition of Farm Estate and Business Planning : Newly offered in both print and PDF formats

This 496-page soft cover book is an excellent guide for farmers and ranchers who want to make the most of the state and federal income and estate tax laws to assure the least expensive and most efficient transfer of their estates to their children and he
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March 28, 2014
Irrigation
John O'Connell, Capital Press

Idaho Conducts Spring Recharge at New Site

SHOSHONE, Idaho — The state has conducted the first extensive aquifer recharge project at a new site off the Milner-Gooding Canal and plans to construct several more facilities engineered specifically to bolster groundwater levels.
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March 28, 2014
US Potato Board

2014 USPB Grower Survey Results: “Support now stronger than ever”

DENVER —Coming out of the January 2005 Grower Survey, 73 percent of U.S. potato growers rated the job being done by the United States Potato Board (USPB) as “excellent or good.” By many standards that level of support for an industry organization is very
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March 27, 2014
Seed Potatoes

Argentina Provides Cuba with Potato Genetic Material

A technical team from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina shared information about harvest and post-harvest mechanization technologies to increase and improve the varietal diversity of potato production in Cuba.
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March 26, 2014
Insecticide
Vicky Boyd

Webinars Focus on Hot Potato Production Topics

Focus on Potato has released three educational Web seminars aimed at helping potato growers better understand pesticides and manage diseases and insect vectors.
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March 25, 2014
Herbicide

BASF Studies Show Important Findings for Resistant Weed Management: Studies demonstrate importance of pre-emergence herbicides with multiple sites of action

With more than 60 million U.S. acres affected by glyphosate-resistant weeds and nearly every state affected by some form of resistant weeds, the challenge facing growers is increasing every year. In a 2013 survey of Midwest growers, BASF found that 76 per
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March 24, 2014

New Poll Identifies Top 10 Consumer Questions on GMOs : GMO Answers seeks to open new dialogue on GMOs and how our food is grown

The results of a new national survey, commissioned by GMO Answers and the Council for Biotechnology Information, identify the leading questions consumers have about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and how our food is grown.
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March 24, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Randy Hardy, NPC President

Growing the Industry’s Voice in the Political Arena

At the NPC Annual Meeting in January, America’s potato growers placed their trust in me to lead the National Potato Council as its president through 2014.
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March 24, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
William H. Bohl, UI Extension Educator

Protecting Your Crop After Harvest: Sugar ends in storage

“During the past decade there has been a constantly increasing demand for good seed potatoes.”
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March 24, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Blair Richardson, USPB President & CEO

Tapping Into the Millennial Target: Potatoes’ new biggest fans

Whether it is the constant attachment to their phones or using shorthand versions of the English language that sometimes feel like a language unto its own, there are many stereotypes associated with the “millennial” generation.
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March 24, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Frank Muir, IPC President

The Potato: More Than Just a Fad: How potatoes have survived the age of fad diets

Low-fat, no-fat, low-carb, dairy-free, gluten-free…
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March 21, 2014
Potato Equipment
Katrina Koerting

USDA Loan Program Expanded for Fruit, Vegetable Producers

It is now easier for farmers and ranchers around the country to finance equipment thanks to 22 new categories of eligible equipment for fruit and vegetable producers under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Storage and Facility Loan program. The ch
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March 20, 2014

Mexico Publishes Final Rule to Allow Cross-border Potato Trade

Washington, D.C., Denver, Colo. – The following joint statement is from the National Potato Council (NPC) and the United States Potato Board (USPB) on the final regulations published today by the Mexican government in the Diaro Oficial de la Federacion re
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March 20, 2014
David Fairbourn, USPB ICP Manager

USPB Awarded Produce for Better Health’s Annual Role Model Award

The United States Potato Board (USPB) was awarded the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Role Model award March 18 in Scottsdale, Ariz., by the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH). It is a distinctive honor which recognizes non-retail organizations whos
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March 19, 2014

Vivatson New NPPGA Chairman

Rick Vivatson of Cavalier, N.D., became the Northern Plains Potato Grower’s Association’s 65th chairman at the organization’s annual meeting and banquet Feb. 18. He succeeds Lance Hapka from Argyle, Minn.
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March 18, 2014
Fertilizer, Irrigation
Bill Spiegel

Enthusiasm for Cover Crops Evident at Omaha Meeting

Enthusiasm toward cover crops and the benefits they can provide to the nation’s agriculture soils was palpable during the first National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. More than 300 researchers, agronomists, farmers and teachers attended the i
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March 17, 2014
John O'Connell, Capital Press

Idaho Growers Sign Simplot Contract

J.R. Simplot Co. growers represented by Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative have reached a contract that reduces their payments by about 2 percent.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Event Calendar
Jim Crosslin

A Growing Threat?: Potato mop top virus and its growing importance in the U.S.

Potato mop top virus (PMTV), which appears to be increasing in importance in the United States, is a soil-borne virus.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Alan Westra and Phil Nolte

A Nagging Issue: The persistent problem of bacterial ring rot

Each year, Idaho produces in excess of 30,000 acres of certified seed potatoes.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Adapting to Succeed: Maupin Welding's Success Amid Change

In 1982, DeeLane Maupin had an idea. He had worked for Webster’s Mile High Farm in Rexburg, Idaho, for several years, and he liked his work just fine.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Buyer's Guide: Fertilizer & Growth Promotors

To get a good-looking, high-yielding potato crop, growers depend on fertilizers and growth promotors to get the essential nutrients and minerals to their crop.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Buyer's Guide: Fungicide

Regalia biofungicide can be an important tool in your battle against early blight, late blight, white mold and Rhizoctonia
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Miller Research, LLC

Fungicides for Managing Late Blight in Potato

Late blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans) has occurred sporadically in Idaho since 1995.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Innovation for the Sake of Value: Bayer CropScience fungicide platforms

Sometimes innovation feels as if it came about just for the sake of innovation.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

New Products: Latest and Greatest

The M.K. Hansen Co. announces the introduction of its new AM410S soil moisture monitor that links to the internet via a network of low earth-orbit satellites.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Steve Smede

Potato Expo 2014: 'Drinking Out of a Fire Hose' in San Antonio

In his January 2014 presentation on key factors driving fertilizer markets, Simplot Marketing Vice President John Malinowski offered this telling perspective: “Sometimes we can get to thinking that local factors will determine what is going to affect our
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Megan Karlin

Preparing Leaders for Agriculture: Agriculture Future of America’s work with the rising generation

Like many high school seniors, Jenica Hagler searched for scholarships to help fund her college education.
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

The Best Offense: Preparation the Theme at Idaho Potato Conference

“Defense wins championships.”
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Grower of the Month
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

The Perfect Conditions: Barrett Potato Farms of Muleshoe, Texas

Barrett Potato Farms of Muleshoe, Texas
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March 16, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Sergio Feingold

The Right Sequence: The potato genome has been sequenced. What does it mean for growers?

A group of researchers from 14 countries (including partners from North and South America, Europe, Oceania and Asia) has recently released the reference genome for the potato.
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March 15, 2014
Seed Potatoes
Mark Reilly

University of Minnesota’s New Produce Progeny: MonDak Gold

A new graduate of the University of Minnesota’s agricultural researchers is eyeing the retail market this year. And it’s got a lot of eyes.
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March 14, 2014
Matthew Weaver

Columbia Basin Growers, Processors Reach Agreement

Columbia Basin potato growers have reached an agreement with several processing companies, even though they're receiving a lower price than they expected. Negotiator Dale Lathim said growers are concerned about setting a possible precedent, but he believe
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Cibus Global Acquires Nucelis

Cibus Global, Ltd., a cutting-edge technology firm and leader in the area of gene editing, has acquired the remaining interest in Nucelis Inc.
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Confessions of a Sportsaholic: Why setting hard screens is important

Hello, everybody. My name’s Tyrell, and I’m a sportsaholic.
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

EnSave Unveils Energy Data Collector Webinar Series

EnSave, Inc. is pleased to announce its schedule of energy data collector webinars for 2014.
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Farmlogs Co-Founder Makes Forbes 30 Under 30 List

ANN ARBOR RBOR , Mich. — FarmLogs co-founder and CEO Jesse Vollmar was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top “30 Under 30” in the energy and industry category.
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Kuhn Group Management Changes

The Kuhn Group, a world leader in the field of hay and forage, livestock, crop production and landscape maintenance, announces that Michel Siebert will retire at the end of September 2014, and that Thierry Krier, long-time president and CEO of Kuhn North
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

National Water Forecast Predicts Limited Supply in West

A limited water supply is predicted west of the Continental Divide, according to the NRCS National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) data in its first forecast of 2014.
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

New Potato Board Members Named

DENVER — On Jan. 7, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appointed or reappointed 38 grower members to serve on the United States Potato Board for three-year terms beginning March 1, 2014, and ending February 28, 2017.
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March 14, 2014| Published in the March 2014 issue

Wilbur-Ellis Sponsors NPC

Wilbur-Ellis Company, a recognized leader in crop production technology and the distribution and marketing of plant protection, seed and nutritional products, announced that it has become an official 2014 sponsor of the National Potato Council (NPC).
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March 13, 2014

Monsanto Opens Search for Farm Mom of the Year : Nominations accepted Feb. 27 through March 31

ST. LOUIS — She works every aspect of the farm, keeps everyone on task, and even advocates for the industry she loves. Farm moms are amazing women, and Monsanto Company wants to continue recognizing their efforts. As a result, the company today announced
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March 13, 2014
Irrigation
USDA

USDA Announces Grants to Help With Future Water Challenges

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March 12, 2014
Irrigation
TC Media

P.E.I. Growers Tell Committee of Need for Deep Wells

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island — A group of potato farmers got a chance to present their more controversial side of the growing debate over deep-water irrigation Thursday, telling members of the legislative assembly they believe the moratorium should
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March 11, 2014
John O'Connell, Capital Press

IPC Expands Food Blogger Programs

The Idaho Potato Commission is expanding its emphasis on partnerships with bloggers to promote Idaho spuds.
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March 10, 2014
Event Calendar

Webinar: National Economic Outlook for Farms and Agribusinesses: Tuesday, March 25

Join PNC Bank on National Agriculture Day as PNC senior macroeconomist Gus Faucher and PNC agricultural banking market manager Warren Graeff provide an economic update for U.S. farms and agribusinesses. The webinar will take place Tuesday, March 25 from 8
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March 10, 2014
Seed Potatoes
KayDee Gilkey

U.S. Potato Board Focuses on Mature Markets Relationships

While one of the United States Potato Board’s priorities is opening up new markets to U.S. potatoes, it also realizes the importance of attending to mature markets as well.
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March 09, 2014
Matthew Weaver

Mexico Access Anticipated as Soon as Monday for U.S. Potatoes

The U.S. potato industry expects word as soon as Monday on access to Mexican fresh potato markets.
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March 09, 2014
Dennis O'Brien, ARS Information Staff

New Reference Provides Uses, Origins of Economically Important Plants

At 1,336 pages, World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference is more for professionals and scientists than the casual reader. The book could also be considered a testament to the diversity of our plant life.
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March 08, 2014
Fungicide, Insecticide

Controlling Zebra Chip From Inside Out

Zebra chip disease in potatoes is currently being managed by controlling the potato psyllid with insecticides. But one Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist is trying to manage the disease symptoms with alternative methods and chemistries.
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March 07, 2014
Matthew Weaver

Washington Commission to Give Away 10,001 Bags of Potato Chips

The Washington State Potato Commission will give away 10,001 1-ounce bags of potato chips on National Potato Chip Day.
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March 06, 2014

Idaho Potato Commission Conducts National Survey for Potato Lover's Month : Americans prefer their spuds baked and grown in Idaho

And the survey says...we live in a tater nation! In a new survey by the Idaho Potato Commission, 97 percent of Americans said they eat potatoes and more than 81 percent enjoy them as a side dish, snack or main course on average of three days per week.
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March 05, 2014

Future Leaders Trained At Potato Industry Leadership Institute

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Twenty-four potato growers and industry representatives joined together to form the 2014 class of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute , an annual program jointly administered by the NPC and the USPB that identifies and cultivates t
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March 04, 2014
Event Calendar

UI Extension Offices Link Up with 3-State Women in Agriculture Conference

MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho Extension offices in Idaho Falls and Bonners Ferry will offer local venues for participants to join the 2014 Women in Agriculture Conference planned simultaneously at 28 locations in Washington, Idaho and Oregon March 1
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March 04, 2014

Washington State Potato Commissioner “Loves the Industry”

"I love the industry and I want to do everything I can to help it," Washington State Potato commissioner Frank Martinez says about why he serves on the Potato Commission board. Martinez, who will be 63 years old next month, has been a commissioner for 12
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March 03, 2014
Event Calendar

Cover Crop Management Webinars

The American Society of Agronomy is sponsoring a four-part webinar series on the use of cover crops. There is no cost to participate, but enrollment is required at least one hour prior to the start time (11:00 a.m. Mountain Time).
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March 03, 2014

White Potato Remains Chopped

AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine — U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, both expressed disappointment in response to the USDA’s announcement that it will continue to exclude white potatoes from the WIC program.
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