ST. PAUL, Minn.-Economics is an important aspect of any commodity, and potatoes are no exception. Potato growers who understand the economics and economic issues related to their crops are in a solid position to succeed.
In the Plant Management Network's latest Focus on Potato webcasts, Joe Guenthner, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at the University of Idaho, offers growers and consultants an economic perspective of potato crops through two presentations, titled "Potato Economics" and "Potato Economic Issues 2012."
"Potato Economics" lays a foundation of economic principles that apply to potato markets. It helps growers and others in the potato industry understand the economics of potato production, consumption and markets. Viewers will learn about domestic and international issues that can affect the profitability of potato growing, packing, processing and marketing. View this presentation at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/potato/potatoeconomics.
"Potato Economic Issues 2012" covers four economic issues that are affecting the potato industry this year:
- Market power in the potato marketing chain;
- Potato production costs;
- Crop protection and the influence of pests, such as zebra chip, on the competitive
position of potato production regions; and
- Marketing, which includes discussion of a rapidly growing restaurant chain
that buys a large volume of fresh potatoes.
View this presentation at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/potato/potatoeconomicissues.
Both presentations are open access through August 31. View other presentations in the Focus on Potato resource at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/fop.