INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
September 30, 2014
Insecticide
Keith Ridler, Associated Press

Eradicating Nematode Tough Going in Idaho

A team of scientists at the University of Idaho is trying to find a way to stop a microscopic parasite that damages potato crops and has now infested 2,400 acres in southeastern Idaho.
— Read More
September 29, 2014
Potato Harvesting
Erica Stapleton

Harvest Under Way in Northern Maine

Aroostook County, Maine, is one of the last areas in the country to close schools for the potato harvest.
— Read More
September 27, 2014
Potato Harvesting

Oregon Crop Looking Good: Above average harvest expected after long, warm season

Watching potatoes tumble down the conveyor belt into storage at Royale Columbia Farms is enough to make Greg Juul a little dizzy.
— Read More
September 26, 2014

Halt in Exports to Mexico Manageable

Though the stop to U.S. potato exports to Mexico has been unfortunate, not being able to ship potatoes deep into Mexico is not likely to significantly affect export programs this year.
— Read More
September 26, 2014
Fertilizer

Fertilizer Industry Organizations Join Global Alliance

The Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture was formed to help governments, farmers, scientists, business and civil society to improve agricultural practices, food systems and food policies.
— Read More
September 25, 2014
Irrigation

T-L Introduces Precision Mobile Drip Irrigation

T-L Irrigation’s stated has always been “The Choice is Simple.” T-L has gone one step farther in combining the simplicity of hydraulics and irrigation. This new application is called PMDI (Precision Mobile Drip Irrigation).
— Read More
September 25, 2014
Danielle Venton

Variety Stages Comeback from near Extinction

The Bodega Red potato was once a mainstay of life in northern California’s North Bay.
— Read More
September 24, 2014

PNW Potato Crop $1.98 Billion for 2013

The final value of Idaho's 2013 potato crop was $1.02 billion, up 2 percent from 2012. The marketing year average price for potatoes in Idaho was $7.75 per cwt., up $0.70 from last year.
— Read More
September 23, 2014
Fungicide
Vicky Boyd

Web Seminar Focuses on Fungicide Resistance

Although herbicide-resistant weeds have captured headlines in many trade publications the past few years, another type of resistance is becoming increasingly important—fungicide resistance.
— Read More
September 22, 2014
Jacob Heller

Transgenic Potatoes Grown in Iowa

There is nothing typical about the "No Trespassing" signs, the electric fence or the potatoes you'll find at Bill and Joe Horan's farm near Rockwell City, Iowa.
— Read More
September 21, 2014
Alvin Tran

Good Potato, Bad Potato : Health war over starchy spud rages on

Potatoes, it turns out, are political.
— Read More
September 20, 2014

2013 Wisc. Potato Production Figures

Wisconsin potato production in 2013 totaled 26.0 million cwt., down 3.4 million cwt. from the year before, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
— Read More
September 19, 2014
Fertilizer

P.E.I. Touts Virtues of “4R” Fertilizing: Method is better economically and environmentally, proponents say.

Farmers and environmental groups learned the advantages of more precise fertilizer application Thursday in Prince Edward Island.
— Read More
September 19, 2014
Fertilizer
Colin MacLean

4R Method Showing Promise in P.E.I.

In a North Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, potato field on Thursday, Scott Howatt of the P.E.I. Potato Board was asked to hold up two sets of Russet Burbank potato vines.
— Read More
September 18, 2014
Zerihun Getachew

Ireland Sharing Potato Expertise with Ethiopia

The hills of Chencha in southern Ethiopia, over 12,000 feet above sea level, are not a place where you might expect the Irish potato to be thriving.
— Read More
September 18, 2014
Potato Harvesting
Dave Gallagher

Seed Potato Harvest Starts in NW Washington

This year’s seed potato harvest is off to a slow start in Whatcom County, Wash., but it has the potential for being a decent one this year.
— Read More
September 17, 2014

IPC Gets New Board Members

The Idaho Potato Commission has appointed two new leaders and reappointed another.
— Read More
September 16, 2014

Mich. St. Professor Leading the Quest for a Better Potato

David Douches heads up MSU's Potato Breeding and Genetics Program. He says young people nowadays are driving some of the changes in potato consumption habits.
— Read More
September 15, 2014
Potato Harvesting
Melissa Shipman

Acreage Up, Size Down in San Luis Valley

Acreage is up for several growers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.
— Read More
September 13, 2014

Safe Electricity Cautions Farmers : Steer clear of overhead power lines

National Farm Safety and Health Week is coming up Sept. 20-27, and draws attention to the importance of safety in such a dangerous occupation as farming. In particular, power lines can pose a major hazard for growers.
— Read More
September 12, 2014
Tom Karst

Consumer Acceptance of Biotech Produce Growing

Fighting GMO labeling initiatives on a state-by-state basis is unsustainable, but Cathleen Enright believes consumer-facing, genetically engineered fruits and vegetables could help the technology find popular acceptance.
— Read More
September 11, 2014

Agribusiness Women Recognized

Three recipients will receive the Demeter Award of Excellence recognizing their outstanding efforts in support of women in agribusiness at this year’s third annual Women in Agribusiness Summit at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Oct. 6-8.
— Read More
September 10, 2014

Tomra Pleased with Growth: Investments at sites, new products and key appointments help performance from January to June

Tomra Sorting executive vice president and head of sorting Dr. Volker Rehrman saidthat Tomra’s sorting business achieved order intake in the first half of this year well above that in the initial six months of 2013.
— Read More
September 09, 2014
Potato Harvesting

Wisconsin Enjoying Strong Start to Season

The weather has been kind, providing Wisconsin potato growers with a very good summer production season. Weather permitting, growers expect a very good fall harvest.
— Read More
September 09, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Experience the Electricity: Potato Expo 2015 to be exciting as ever

Over the past six years, the annual Potato Expo conference and trade show has become the must-attend event for growers like us and all members of the North American potato supply chain.
— Read More
September 08, 2014

N.J. Growers Host EPA Tour

During the week of August 26, the National Potato Council led a delegation of 19 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff on a crop tour of New Jersey’s potato-growing region.
— Read More
September 08, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Frank Muir, IPC President

A Look Back: IPC’s FY2013-14

As we close the Idaho Potato Commission’s 2013-14 fiscal year, I’d like to highlight just a few of our most defining and successful programs from the last 12 months:
— Read More
September 08, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Biology 101: Biological plant activator submitted for review

After conducting two years of intensive field trials against diseases in key target crops, Certis USA has submitted BmJ WG biological plant activator for concurrent review by the EPA and California Department of Pesticide Registration (CDPR) and joint rev
— Read More
September 08, 2014
Event Calendar
Web Exclusive

Eagle Idaho to Set New World Record: for pounds of French fries served

On September 20th, 2014, the residents of Eagle Idaho intend to set a new Guinness World Record for pounds of French fries served. The present record is held by Essex, United Kingdoms, at 987 pounds, 10 ounces.
— Read More
September 08, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Nora Olsen, Sherilyn Peck and Phil Nolte

Potatoes’ Natural Band-Aid

Wounding is inevitable during harvest and handling of the potatoes.
— Read More
September 08, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Irrigation

Storage Chemicals & Equipment

BioSafe Systems’ Bin Piler Applicator is a simple-to-use injec­tion system that makes potato storage disease control trouble-free.
— Read More
September 08, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Jerry Wright, UPGA President/CEO

Turning the Corner...Perhaps: Stable production may finally mean stable prices

Since the mass introduction of com­mercial fertilizers following World War II, potato trend line yields have increased on average 1.7 percent per acre per year.
— Read More
September 08, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Diana LeDoux

USPB Compliance: Not just a neccessary evil

Let’s be honest.
— Read More
September 06, 2014

Bayer Opens California R&D Site : Nearly $1 billion earmarked for U.S. investments between 2013 and 2016

Bayer CropScience sees a positive long-term market development in North America and is committing significant resources to spur further growth.
— Read More
September 05, 2014

Idaho’s Congressional Delegation Requests USDA Aid

Idaho's congressional delegation is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quickly respond to the crop damage suffered by Gem State farmers due to massive rainstorms last month.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

A Flood of Awesome: Avoiding calamity amid misfortune

A FEW WEEKS AGO, an afternoon thunderstorm dumped almost 2 inches of rain and nickel-sized hail on Rexburg, Idaho, where I happen to live.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Agri-Inject Clean Key

As an integral part of every Agri-Inject fluid injection system, the company’s patented Mister Mist’r injection valve is already the most advanced check valve available to the irrigation industry.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Allen Retires from Bridgestone

Kenneth Allen, president of Bridgestone Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales, a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, retired at the end of June.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

BioSafe Welcomes New Food Safety Technical Representative

Systems welcomes Pamela Sweeten. Sweeten re­cently joined BioSafe Systems as food safety technical representa­tive.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Certis Rendition

Certis USA introduces Rendi­tion, a broad spectrum bactericide, fungicide and disinfectant, that contains a high concentration of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) with a proprietary surfactant for superior coverage. PAA is a proven control measure for treating Alt
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Exeter Sidewinder

For various industries, sorting oblong objects and irregularly shaped fruits and vegetables can pose a challenge to machinery by virtue of their unpredictable characteristics.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue
Grower of the Month

Growing at Home: Pieper Farms of Williams, Minn.

Pieper Farms of Williams, Minn.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Keeping it Clean: Cleaning and disinfecting potato equipment and storage facilities

Potato equipment and storages are exposed to a number of pests including fungi, bacteria, insects, nematodes and weed seeds.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Ocean Optics Spectrometer Kit

Ocean Optics has introduced a new set of spectral sensing tools for agricultural researchers and producers.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Olsen Finishes Term as PAA President

University of Idaho Extension potato specialist Nora Olsen wrapped up her year as president of the Potato Association of America (PAA) in July at the group’s annual meeting in Spokane, Wash
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Phytech PlantBeat Service

Plants expand, contract and experience stress in ways similar to the human heart.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Rugby Names New Inside Sales Manager

— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Sunrain Varieties Increases Capacity

Sunrain Varieties LLC, known for its innovation, expertise and dedication to fresh potato seed development, has just completed a series of capital improvements in its Idaho Falls, Idaho-based facilities.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

TBEI Names New Corporate Controller

Truck Bodies and Equipment International, Inc., (TBEI) recently announced the promotion of Kari Carrouth to the newly created position of corporate controller for TBEI and its family of brands.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

TOMRA Opens New Facility

TOMRA Sorting Solutions’ U.S. Food division held its official office opening June 18 in its new, larger state-of-the-art facility in West Sacramento, Calif.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Toro AquaFlow 4.0

Toro announces the latest upgrade to its popular AquaFlow drip irriga­tion design software, AquaFlow 4.0.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

USPB Partners with World Food Championships

The U.S. Potato Board has signed on as a partner to the World Food Championships for the 2014 competition in downtown Las Vegas Nov. 12-18.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Valley/Yaskawa Variable Frequency Drives

Valley Water Man­agement (VWM) and Yaskawa America are partnering to provide variable frequency drives for VWM pump stations.
— Read More
September 05, 2014| Published in the September 2014 issue

Willowood Products Receive EPA Registration

— Read More
September 04, 2014
Jeff Miller, Terry Miller, Trent Taysom

Fungicides for Managing Late Blight

For many growers the threat of late blight may be past. However, if late blight is present in your area and you still have green vines, then fungicide applications should continue.
— Read More
September 03, 2014
John Wiegand

Mich. Potato Industry Sows Seeds for Growth

The proximity to market, demand and a track record for producing quality produce has served as a catalyst for Michigan’s potato industry.
— Read More
September 02, 2014
Daniel Vanderhorst

Industry Prepares for GMOs

The biotech industry is working to shape a more balanced conversation on GMOs.
— Read More
September 02, 2014
Fungicide
Andrea Hill

Late Blight Found in Saskatchewan: Pervasive fungus found in tomatoes

Potato and tomato growers in Saskatchewan are on high alert after the fungal disease responsible for the Irish potato famine was reported in Saskatoon and Outlook last week.
— Read More
September 01, 2014
Daniel Vanderhorst

Sun Shines on IGSA Convention

The 86th annual convention of the Idaho Grower-Shipper Association had a good mix of business and fun lined up for attendees.
— Read More