INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
December 31, 2020
Between the Rows
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Below the Surface: Seeing the Light

Showing gratitude to the people who touch our lives for good
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December 30, 2020
Between the Rows
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Between the Rows: No Regrets

Another year, another list of mistakes to be grateful for
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December 30, 2020
Articles, New Products, Potato Equipment

Tractor Buyers' Guide

Given the opportunity, no one in this world would turn down an offer to get behind the wheel of a roaring, tires-taller-than-me, zillion-horsepower tractor. Enjoy this buyers’ guide, and find the new tractor that works best for your operation.
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December 30, 2020
Articles, Irrigation

2021 AgTech Predictions

Irrigation, experimentation top many growers' lists
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December 30, 2020
Articles
Carlos A. Lazcano

Looking Back on a Tumultuous Year for Potato Growers

Even more than the rest of us, potato growers could be forgiven for wanting to put 2020 in the rearview mirror.
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December 30, 2020
Articles

Potato Sales & Utilization in U.S.

The Sales and Utilization report shows the share of total utilization by product including frozen, fresh, chips, dehydrated, refrigerated, and others.
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December 30, 2020
Articles
Jerry Hagstrom

Trump Signs COVID Relief Bill

New round of crop, livestock aid included in appropriations, COVID-19 relief package
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December 28, 2020
Articles
Scott Elliott

ARS Doubles Down on Soil Erosion Understanding

The U.S. loses about $44 billion each year from soil erosion. The challenge is to keep that dirt where it is needed.
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December 28, 2020
Articles, Fungicide, Seed Potatoes

CIP Helps Farmers in Developing Countries Fight Late Blight

Developing late-blight resistant potatoes has long been a priority for potato breeders, and hundreds of resistant varieties have been released in the past century. However, because of the pathogen’s ability to evolve ways to overcome the resistance of wid
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December 28, 2020
Articles

New Maine Potato Varieties Offer Lower Acrylamide Levels

Fries made with the new potato varieties AF4296-3 and Easton have much lower levels of a probable carcinogen than those made with the popular Russet Burbank variety.
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December 23, 2020
Articles

Idaho Potato Drop to Ring in New Year

The Idaho Potato Drop has become an annual tradition for tens of thousands of revelers in downtown Boise, but this year you will have to watch it from the comfort of your home.
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December 22, 2020
Articles

NPC Applauds Industry Support in COVID Relief Bill

The National Potato Council welcomed last night’s actions by the House and Senate to support agriculture workers, family farms and local communities struggling to survive ongoing foodservice disruptions ordered by state and local governments in response t
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December 22, 2020
Articles

Wild Relative Gives Hint to How Potatoes Can Fight Pathogen

Even though resistance to Pectobacterium species is limited within cultivated potato varieties, it is known that a potato wild relative is resistant to them.
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December 22, 2020
Articles

Wisconsin Specialty Crop Block Grants Awarded to 19 Projects

Nearly $1.2 million will be split among 19 specialty crop projects, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
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December 22, 2020
Articles

USDA Stats for N.D. Potato Crop

North Dakota growers, dealers and processors held 16.1 million hundredweight of potatoes in storage on Dec. 1. Current stocks represent 70 percent of the 2020 production.
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December 22, 2020
Articles
Hal Bernton

COVID-19 Added New Risk Element for Growers

This year, the virus sickened some workers and caused upheaval in key potato markets.
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December 20, 2020
Articles, Insecticide
Joshua E. Brown

How Colorado Potato Beetles Beat Pesticides

Study shows epigenetic changes, passed to new generations, may solve paradox of rapid resistance
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December 20, 2020
Articles, Between the Rows
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Between the Rows: Star of Wonder

There’s something special about seeing the neighbors’ tractor, a hundred or so yards off the highway, on the icy tundra their spud field has become, all lit up to offer a point of reference against the white expanse.
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December 18, 2020
New Products

New Product: Challenger MT800 Series Track Tractors

These machines boast new engine and transmission combinations, an enhanced track and chassis system, more hydraulic and hitch options, and a redesigned operator-friendly cab.
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December 18, 2020
Articles
J. McHenry

Maine Potato Growers Rise to Challenge of Weather, Pandemic

This past year has thrown several challenges at Maine potato farmers, leading to decreased production amidst the chaos of a pandemic.
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December 17, 2020
Articles, Between the Rows
Tyrell Marchant, Editor

Between the Rows: Out of Place: Happiness has never been about fitting in.

Happiness has never been about fitting in.
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December 17, 2020
Articles, Herbicide, New Products

Helm Granted EPA Approval for Katagon Herbicide

HELM Agro US, Inc., a global manufacturer of high-quality crop protection and fertilizer products today announced that Katagon herbicide has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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December 16, 2020
Articles

Certification Program Creates Healthier Landscapes for Bees

The recently launched Bee Better Certification program funded through the NRCS Conservation Innovations Grant program has gained interest from big names in retail.
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December 16, 2020
Articles

Drexel Adds Sales Rep

Drexel Chemical Company announces the addition of Tanner Childers as its Southwest sales representative, responsible for sales in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
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December 15, 2020
Articles, Fungicide, Insecticide

Aspects for Pacific Northwest Growers to Consider in 2021

Here are some tips from local agronomists as potato growers in Idaho and Washington begin to plan for 2021.
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December 15, 2020
Articles

Ag Relief in COVID Proposal

Bipartisan group includes $13 billion for agriculture in latest COVID-19 relief proposal.
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December 15, 2020
Articles, Irrigation

Inspect Center Pivots Now

Now is a good time to winterize and perform preventative maintenance on center pivots.
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December 15, 2020
Articles, Herbicide

UPL Opens Herbicide Production Facility

State-of-the-art manufacturing facility in India will produce Clethodim herbicide
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December 14, 2020
Articles

Team Maps Late Blight Strains in Indonesia

A new study identifies for the first time the genotypes causing late blight in the main potato-growing regions on the island of Java in Indonesia. Secondly, the study examines the diversity in the genetic makeup in the P. infestans populations in those re
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December 14, 2020
Articles

NPPGA Ramps Up Digital to Keep Message Fresh

The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association is working with producers and designers to refresh NPPGA’s website and increase visibility on social media.
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December 14, 2020
Articles, Irrigation, New Products

Reinke's ESAC Wins Two National Awards

Patent-pending technology improves corner watering and yields
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December 14, 2020
Articles

USDA to Get New Chief Economist

Robert Johansson will be leaving USDA to become associate director of economics and policy analysis for the American Sugar Alliance. Seth Meyer will return to USDA to be the new chief economist.
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December 14, 2020
Articles

McCain Announces Construction of Second Processing Plant in China

The new plant will require an investment of $200 million and will be located in the Yangling Agriculture Hi-Tech Development Zone, Shaanxi Province.
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December 14, 2020
Articles

NPC Statement on Nomination of Vilsack as Ag Secretary

Potato industry looks forward to productive relationship with returning secretary
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December 11, 2020
Irrigation, New Products

New Product: Reinke Maintenance-Free Pivot Bearing

No maintenance, greater longevity, lower operating costs
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December 11, 2020
New Products
Megan Schilling

Soiltech Sensors Provide Actionable Crop Performance Data

The Soiltech sensor has evolved into a multifunctional device with features that provide value across the whole supply chain.
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December 10, 2020
Articles
John Notarianni

In It for the Long Haul

In a world increasingly obsessed with speed, could patient still win the race?
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December 10, 2020
Articles, Potato Harvesting, Potato Storage
Nora Olsen, Rabecka Hendricks & Mike Thornton

Taking a Beating

Fine-tuning your battle against tuber bruising
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December 10, 2020
Articles
Eric Zack

New Variety Could Be Game-Changer for East African Farmers

The 3R Victoria potato variety is almost identical to the variety farmers now plant in Uganda, but contains three genes from a potato relative that provide it with complete resistance to the late blight pathogen.
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December 10, 2020
Articles, Insecticide, New Products

Syngenta Releases New Insecticide Active Ingredient

Regulatory submission for spiropidion is planned for late 2022 in the U.S. and Canada. The innovative new technology protects a wide array of crops from some of the most damaging and difficult to control sucking pests. · Safe for pollinators and
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December 09, 2020
Articles, Seed Potatoes

U.S. Seed Potatoes Shipped to Cuba

The mixed load of 10 different varieties will be utilized in trials conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in Cuba.
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December 09, 2020
Articles
Kami Goodwin

Critical Issues Facing Farmers in 2021

“Even though we did see farm incomes increase ... there’s still an expectation that we will continue to see volatility and uncertainty in the agricultural economy into 2021.”
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December 09, 2020
Articles
Caroline Schneider, UW–Madison CALS Office of External Relations

Potato 2.0

Project to develop new potato varieties will benefit breeders, growers and consumers
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December 09, 2020
Articles
Shelley Olsen, LJ Olsen, Inc./Potato LEAF Chair

Staying Focused: Launching Potato LEAF during a year of turmoil

Launching Potato LEAF during a year of turmoil
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December 09, 2020
Articles, New Products, Potato Equipment, Potato Harvesting

Tong Equipment Transforms Throughput for UK Grower

Two of the newest machines in Tong Engineering’s wide range of vegetable handling equipment are proving invaluable in transforming post-harvest operations for UK potato grower Whitewater Potatoes.
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December 09, 2020
Articles
Emily Matzke

Microbes and Plants: A Dynamic Duo

The unique partnership between root-dwelling microbes and the plants they inhabit can reduce drought stress.
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December 08, 2020
Articles, Potato Storage

Curves in All the Right Places

Behlen, Steel Vision partner for improved potato storage
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December 08, 2020
Articles
Deana Knuteson, Outreach Specialist, Healthy Grown & Wisconsin Ag Sustainability Programs

Healthy Grown: Wisconsin program helps growers use research-based sustainability protocols

Wisconsin program helps growers use research-based sustainability protocols
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December 08, 2020
Articles
Andy Robinson & Eugenia Banks

Unwanted Growth Spurt : Potato tuber second growth

Potato tuber second growth
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December 07, 2020
Articles, Fertilizer

UPL Ranked No. 1 in Agrochemicals for Sustainability

UPL Ltd. was recently ranked No. 1 in the agrochemical sector for environmental, social and governance risk management by analytics firm Sustainalytics.
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December 07, 2020
Articles, Seed Potatoes

Working to Develop Genomic Tools for Potato Breeders

Two University of Maine researchers are part of a team of plant geneticists and breeders working to develop tools that will help Maine scientists and farmers become more efficient in breeding new cultivars and bringing novel, improved potato varieties to
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December 04, 2020
New Products

New Product: Can-Am Defender PRO

While some people love their days in the mud, others are out working land and getting the job done, needing a reliable and tough vehicle that delivers day in and day out. That’s where the Can-Am Defender PRO vehicle lineup rises above the competition.
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December 04, 2020
Articles
National Potato Council

NPC Welcomes New House Ag Committee Leadership

Potato growers look forward to advancing policies to ensure safe, affordable food supply
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December 04, 2020
Articles, Irrigation

USDA Engages Public for Input on Water Quantity in West

The USDA on Dec. 2 announced it is seeking public input about water quantity in the west related to existing Natural Resources Conservation Service programs.
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December 03, 2020
Articles, Irrigation, New Products

Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness Acquires Probe Schedule

Investment in irrigation water management platform enhances company offerings
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December 03, 2020
Articles
Lilian Diep

The Little Potato Company Launches New POS Strategy

Just in time for the big Christmas rush, The Little Potato Company is introducing its newest point-of-sale materials for its retail partners.
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December 03, 2020
Articles
Sean Knurek and Eric Karbowski

Kick Off Your Boots and Stay a While

Farming doesn’t stop at 5:00 p.m., but not being able to separate your work and personal life can increase stress and lead to physical and mental health issues. Taking time for yourself is crucial.
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December 01, 2020
Articles, Irrigation, New Products

New Product: Innoquest SpotOn Flow Meters

New digital flow meters provide increased flow capacities, allowing for broader uses in agriculture, irrigation, plumbing and water audit industries.
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