INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
April 30, 2014

Research Finds a Way to Protect Crops from Pests, Disease

A team of international researchers has uncovered a mechanism by which plants are able to better defend themselves against disease-causing pathogens.
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April 29, 2014
Irrigation

USDA Designates Three Idaho Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated three more counties in Idaho as primary natural disaster areas due to the recent drought.
— Read More
April 28, 2014
Vicky Boyd

Specialty Spud Growth Keeps Steaming Along

While traditional potato types, such as whites and russets, struggle to maintain consumer sales, specialty potatoes continue to enjoy double-digit growth at retail.
— Read More
April 25, 2014

GMO Battle Rages in Oregon County

Voters in Jackson County, Ore., will soon decide whether to ban genetically modified crops.
— Read More
April 24, 2014
Allan Dawson

Manitoba Growers Still Negotiating Volumes with McCain Foods: All three processors have cut producers, forcing some out of production entirely.

McCain Foods still hasn’t settled on the volume of potatoes it wants Manitoba processing potato growers to produce this year, even though planting is just weeks away.
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April 23, 2014
James McCarthy

Farm Credit East Merger Seen as Beneficial to Maine Agriculturists

Farm Credit of Maine—which merged with the much larger six-state Farm Credit East on Jan. 1 and assumed its name—is not well known outside of the agricultural, timber and logging, and commercial fishing industries it serves as a lender and provider of fin
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April 22, 2014
Potato Storage
Andy Nelson

USDA Releases Potato Stock Report

About 112 million cwt. of potatoes had yet to ship from the top 13 U.S. spud-producing states as of April 1, 3 percent fewer than two years ago.
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April 22, 2014
Irrigation

New Clean Water Act Rule Would Impact Homeowners, Professionals

The proposed expansion of the definition “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act would subject all waters to regulation, including man-made water bodies, rights-of-way, golf course ponds, ditches and flood plains. As written, the rule would impact
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April 21, 2014
John O'Connell, Capital Press

Idaho Potato Truck Starts Third Tour

The Idaho Potato Commission’s Great Big Idaho Potato Truck has left on another national tour.
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April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
Phillip Nolte, UI extension seed potato specialist

Aloha!: Idaho winter seed test report

Some of the most exciting news in the Idaho seed potato industry has to do with the “big move” of the winter test plots to Waialua, Hawaii this year.
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April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

BASF Crop Protection: Outlook, Prowl H2O

Outlook herbicide provides powerful, consistent control of grasses and small-seeded broadleaf weeds such as waterhemp, pigweed and eastern black nightshade and is labeled for use on multiple crops, including potatoes.
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April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Cover Up: Cover crops as a weed management tool

Cover crops are crops grown between harvest and planting of cash crops, usually not for harvest, but for the production of biomass and the various agroecological benefits this additional biomass can provide.
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April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
John Toaspern

Do You Know the Dehy Market?: The latest numbers

We all know what an important role dehy plays in the potato industry, but none of us fully understands what that role is.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Drexel Chemical Company: Quik-Quat, Me-Too-Lachlor, Imitator Plus

Quik-Quat is an effective and economical solution for pre-plant burndown of grass and broadleaf weeds.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

FMC Corporation: Aim EC

Aim EC from FMC Corporation is a standard for complete vine desiccation, providing excellent leaf and stem kill at optimal speed.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Natural Relief?: Salicylic acid’s potential for crop protection

Willow trees are well-known sources of salicylic acid, and for thousands of years, humans have extracted the compound from the tree’s bark to alleviate minor pain, fever and inflammation.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
John Keeling

No Rest for the Weary: With farm bill passed, growers turn to next challenges

Potato growers are not known to bask in their accomplishments: as soon as the fall crop is in storage, growers begin planning for next spring’s planting.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
Frank Muir, IPC President

Our Good Buddy: Spuddy Buddy’s importance to the Idaho brand

He’s big…he’s brown…he’s round and makes more people smile than anyone I’ve ever met.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Potato Grower's Herbicide Buyer's Guide: BioSafe Systems

BioSafe Systems’ AXXE herbicide is a broad-spectrum, non-selective weed control for grasses and broadleaf weeds that works well for potato growers.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

SipcamAdvan: Stalwart MTZ

Stalwart MTZ is a valuable herbicide generating powerful results when applied to potatoes during the critical early-season window.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Syngenta Crop Protection

Boundary herbicide is a soil-applied, early-season herbicide containing two active ingredients that optimizes weed control while offering excellent crop tolerance and rotation flexibility.
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
Jerry P. Wright

The Times They Are A-Changin’: The potato market’s new reality

Not that long ago singer-songwriter Bob Dylan wrote and performed the hit song “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”
— Read More
April 20, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

United Phosphorus, Inc.: Tricor

Tricor herbicide from UPI has been trusted by potato growers for years to deliver advanced protection against the most damaging weeds.
— Read More
April 18, 2014

National Geographic Investigates the Future of Food

By 2050, Earth will likely be home to more than nine billion people. That's a lot of mouths to feed. In a special eight-month series, “The Future of Food,” National Geographic investigates how to meet our growing need for nourishment without harming the p
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April 17, 2014
Irrigation

Record Snow in Northern Parts of West; Southwest Parched

March storms increased snowpack in the northern half of the West but didn’t provide much relief for the dry southern half, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) in its April 2014 water supply
— Read More
April 16, 2014
Potato Equipment, Potato Harvesting, Potato Storage, Seed Potatoes
John O'Connell, Capital Press

Grower Goes on Offensive Against Ring Rot

A southeast Idaho potato grower changes his farming practices after dealing with bacterial ring rot.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Bobcat 5600, 5610 Toolcat

Bobcat Company has released the Tier 4-compliant 5600 and 5610 Toolcat utility work machines that incorporate a non-diesel particulate filter (DPF) engine solution.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Celox-P XT Optical Grader

Ag-Pak introduces its Celox-P XT optical grader and sizer with modular outlets.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Farmland Sales Strong in 2013

Land sales finished strong in 2013, spurred by good farmer demand for additional land, according to Farmers National Company, the leading farm and ranch real estate company in the U.S. Farmers National is reporting record real estate sales of $750 million
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Fertilizer Institute Announces Policy Priorities for 2014

WASHINGTON — The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announces its policy advocacy priorities for 2014.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

GroupAg Adds Kauer to Workforce

GroupAg, a leader in potato storage, has added a new expert to its staff.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
Grower of the Month

Heads Up: Sackett Potatoes in Mecosta, Mich.

Sackett Potatoes in Mecosta, Mich.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Larson Electronics LED Drop Light

Larson Electronics has announced the release of a new 14-watt LED drop light.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Mahindra eMax Series Tractors

Mahindra USA, the No. 1 selling tractor brand in the world based on volume, is proud to announce the latest additions to its family of tractors, the new eMax series.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Ox Stampede

Ox Bodies, in partnership with Mack Trucks, Inc., introduces the Ox Stampede Export.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

Potato Marketing Association Discusses Contract Negotiations

The Potato Marketing Association of North America held a special spring meeting in early February in Las Vegas to discuss progress on the 2014 preseason potato contract negotiations.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
Fertilizer

To What Avail?: Potato response to phosphorous fertilizer using the Avail polymer

High yield and high-quality potato production in any cropping system depend on adequate soil levels of nutrients being available.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

WeighPack Adds Territory Management

WeighPack Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance packaging equipment, is pleased to announce the appointment of John Cloutier and Derek Chandler as territory managers.
— Read More
April 16, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue

WPVGA Releases Production, Distribution Findings

The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) has released findings that are making people take notice of Wisconsin’s massive vegetable production and distribution statistics.
— Read More
April 15, 2014
Sean Ellis, Capital Press

UI Gets $1.51 Million More for Ag Research

Some of the additional $1.51 million in state money appropriated to University of Idaho's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will be used to hire a barley agronomist and fund a potato pathologist position.
— Read More
April 14, 2014
Event Calendar
John O'Connell, Capital Press

IPC Continues RODS Racing Partnership

The Idaho Potato Commission is once again sponsoring RODS Racing, an organization that supports adoptions of foreign children with Down syndrome. RODS Racing will field a team to compete in IPC’s upcoming Famous Idaho Potato Marathon.
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Art’s Way Snow Blowers

With the recent acquisition of Agro Trend, Art’s Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. now offers a complete line of snow blowers.
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

DDS 300 Back Brace

The World’s Best Back Brace, the DDS 300 Spinal-Air Decompression brace, uses patented Vertical Air Pressure (VAP) technology to decompress the lower spine which allows bulging or herniated discs to return to their natural habitats within the intervertebr
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Everything is Fine

When I first took the job as editor of Potato Grower and realized I’d need to write a column for the beginning of each issue, I put some serious thought into what I wanted this space to be.
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

GAP Certified

GAP certification isn’t easy.
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Neogen Tailgate Test

Neogen Corporation would like to introduce the Neogen Tailgate Test for plant disease detection.
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

Nufarm ChampION

Copper has been used to combat disease in high-value fruit and vegetable crops since the late 1880s, when the “Bordeaux mixture” of copper sulfate and lime was used in French vineyards to protect grapes from downy mildew.
— Read More
April 14, 2014| Published in the April 2014 issue
New Products

T.G. Schmeiser SGB Grader Blades

T. G. Schmeiser Co., Inc. introduces the Schmeiser Grader Blade (SGB) series now available in 20-, 30- and 40-foot working widths.
— Read More
April 13, 2014
Grower of the Month
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Heads Up: Sackett Potatoes in Mecosta, Mich.

Sackett Potatoes in Mecosta, Mich.
— Read More
April 13, 2014
Potato Storage, Seed Potatoes
John O'Connell, Capital Press

ISDA Enacts Temporary Ring Rot Rules

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has implemented temporary rules governing bacterial ring rot in potatoes.
— Read More
April 12, 2014

EFSA Calls for Experts to Join Scientific Panels

The European Food Safety Authority is urging scientists to make a difference to Europe’s food safety system by joining its teams of risk assessment experts.
— Read More
April 11, 2014

Wisconsin Spudmobile Nears Completion

ANTIGO, Wis. — The much-anticipated traveling billboard for Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable industry, also known as the Spudmobile, is now well on its way to completion as the growers announce their partnership with two Wisconsin-based companies to finis
— Read More
April 10, 2014
Sean Ellis, Capital Press

Ag Groups Seek Answer on Idaho Dust Rule

A disagreement between Idaho regulators and farm leaders over a 1972 fugitive dust law will be addressed through the state's negotiated rule-making process. Ag groups worry the law could be used to fine farmers for creating dust.
— Read More
April 09, 2014
Insecticide

Management of Beet Leafhopper and Purple Top in Potatoes

The latest installment of Potato Progress details how to deal with beet leafhoppers, which are known to carry “potato yellows” disease, also called purple top.
— Read More
April 08, 2014

Jensen Elected to Lead 2014-15 USPB

DENVER — Brett Jensen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was elected chairman of the United States Potato Board (USPB) March 13 at the organization’s 42nd annual meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo.
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April 08, 2014
Kevin Bouffard, The Ledger

USDA Funding Studies on Preventing Spread of Agricultural Pests

Florida entities got $5.4 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 36 research projects aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of invasive agricultural pests and diseases.
— Read More
April 07, 2014
Sean Ellis, Capital Press

Idaho Asks Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit

The state of Idaho has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that targets a new state law that makes it a crime to interfere with agricultural operations or secretly film them.
— Read More
April 07, 2014
Potato Equipment

Agritech Corporation Provides Used Equipment Finding Service

Agritech Corporation offers a unique service of finding used equipment for farmers. This valuable service guarantees a grower the ability to acquire the used farm equipment he or she needs.
— Read More
April 05, 2014

Alberta Update

Spring update from Potato Growers of Canada.
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April 03, 2014
Herbicide

Key to Weed Control Comes Early in Season

Early season weed control means a stronger foundation for a clean growing season.
— Read More
April 03, 2014

Elmore County Added as Primary Natural Disaster Area Due to Drought

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Idaho’s Elmore County as a primary natural disaster area due to the recent drought.
— Read More
April 02, 2014
John O'Connell, Capital Press

New USPB Chair Sees Opportunity in Millennials

Brett Jensen of Osgood, Idaho, has been chosen as the new chairman of U.S. Potato Board.
— Read More
April 01, 2014

Ag Design Contest Winner Pays it Forward: $500 prize to partially fund Habitat for Humanity trip

For many college students, summer is synonymous with laid-back fun and relaxation, but Emma Patterson isn’t like many college students.
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