potato country 8405 ahtanum road, yakima, wa 98903...

Ed Schneider Elected

NPC President

Growers Urged to Trim

Back Potato Acres

February 2009

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February Potato Country �

4 Special Report: CombinedPotatoExpo/NPCAnnualMeetingLaudedasHugeSuccess

8 NewNPCPresidentSharesIndustryNewsandViews

12 IdahoSeedPotatoGrowers’AnnualSeminarHeld

20An Interview with United’s Lee Frankel... Limiting‘09PotatoAcreageIsImportanttoSurvival

23NPC Processor Sector Breakout... AcreageIncreaseExpected

Vol. 25 No. 2

TableofContents

February 2009

www.pota tocount ry .com

EDITORIAL INFORMATIONPotatoCountry is interested in newsworthy material related to potato production and marketing. Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: [email protected].

ADVERTISING SALESFor information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submis-sion, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call 1-800-900-2452 ext.106 or email [email protected].

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Potato Country magazine (ISSN 0886-4780), is published nine times per year, mailed under permit No. 410, paid at San Dimas, CA. It is produced by Columbia Publishing, 8405 Ahtanum Road, Yakima, WA 98903. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Publishing. For information on reprints call 1-800-900-2452.

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Columbia Publishing8405 Ahtanum RoadYakima, Washington 98903Phone: (800) 900-2452 Fax: (509) 248-4056

OregonPotatoCommission

(503)731-3300

WashingtonStatePotatoCommission

(509)765-8845

Editorial Board

D. Brent Clement [email protected] / Managing Editor

J. Mike Stoker [email protected] / Advertising Manager

Jeraleh Kastner ................. [email protected] / Circulation Manager

Potato Country Contacts

On The CoverNewly elected National Potato Council President Ed Schneider checks the Ranger crop on his Pasco, Wash. farm a week before the 2008 harvest. Photo by Denise Keller.

Departments

11 Market Report

16 Know Your Insects

17 PGW

19 Calendar 20 Equipment Update

21 Chemical Update

22 Know Your Diseases

Chris VoigtExecutive Director

Karen BonaudiAssistant Executive Director

Dr. Andy JensenDirector of Research

Bill BrewerExecutive Director

Ed Schneider checking the quality of the 2008 Ranger Russet crop. Photo by Denise Keller. See story, page 8.

� Potato Country February 2009

Ed Schneider, Pasco, Wash., has been elected president of the National

Potato Council (NPC). He replaces Richard Polatis, Blackfoot, Idaho, who completed the customary one-year term.

The leadership change took place during the 2009 NPC Meeting, held Jan. 9-10 at the Westin Riverwalk in San

Antonio, Texas. Schneider had been serving as first

vice president as well as vice president of Legislative & Government Affairs.

This year’s annual meeting, under a new format, attracted 870 attendees,

300 over the number expected based on attendance at previous meetings, accord-ing to John Keeling, executive VP and CEO of the NPC. Attendance was up; exhibitors in the Expo reported doing business and the event was considered a huge success.

Potato Expo 2009 was held Jan. 7-9 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, while the 2009 NPC Annual Meeting took place Jan. 9-10 at the Westin Riverwalk, both places in San Antonio.

‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ Charlie Wilson, former Texas U.S.

Congressman and the inspiration behind the book and movie, Charlie Wilson’s War, was the keynote speaker of the Potato Expo portion of the meeting. He conspired with CIA operative Gust

Avrakotos to launch an operation that initi-ated and organized the Afghan Mujahideen in their resistance to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

The colorful Wilson admitted that many of the stories circulating about his past life of

partying, womanizing and hard living were “all true,” but joked that that was before he was married.

Charlie Wilson’s War ends with Wilson receiving a major commenda-tion for the support of U.S. clandestine services in Afghanistan. However, he admits that his pride was tempered by his fears of what unintended conse-quences his secret efforts could yield

Combined Potato Expo/NPC

Annual Meeting Lauded as

‘Huge Success’

Special report:

Klaren Koopin, left, Steve Crane, Randy Mullen, Ed Schneider, Roger Mix, Justin Dagen and Richard Polatis make up the 2009 NPC Executive Committee.

Richard Polatis, Blackfoot, Idaho, presided over the meeting.

Charlie WilsonFormer U.S. Congressman


in the future and the implications of U.S. disengagement from the war-torn country.

The keynote speaker kept his audi-ence in laughter while drawing attention to what can be done to help others when there is a willing and determined heart.

Other General Session speak-ers were: Gene Kahn, vice president and global sustainability officer for General Mills Inc.; Mike Boehlje, dis-tinguished professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Center for Food and Agricultural Business, Purdue University; Sharon Bomer, executive vice president, Food and Agriculture Section, Biotechnology Industry Organization; Bill Whitacre, president, AgriBusiness Group, J.R. Simplot Company; Garth Blanchard, U.S. National “Brands Operations Product Management Team Head, Monsanto; and Jolene Brown, a independent professional speaker honored by the National Speakers Association.

Former Organic GrowerA former organic

grower in Washington’s Cascade Mountain area, General Mills’ Gene Kahn said he once believed that everything commercial growers were doing was wrong and that it was important to go back to farming prac-

tices of an earlier time in order to turn things around.

That outlook has since mellowed, but the speaker remains a firm advocate of sustainable farming practices.

“By definition, sustainability is a commitment by an organization to assess, evaluate and acknowledge its environmental and social impacts,” Kahn said. “Sustainability is a broad cultural trend and is not going to go away.”

Growers should consider the move-ment as a “mainstream opportunity, not another niche,” he lectured. More and more “sustainable” products should be broadly accessible and affordable. Consumers expect sustainable attri-

butes to be an inherent part of products, and farmers need to take the lead in accessing the environmental input of agriculture.”

Importance of Economic and Management Planning

Speaking on the topic, “Economics and Management Planning,” was Purdue University’s Mike Boehlje. His message was one of trying to help farm and agri-business managers as well as other policy makers understand the

economic and financial consequences of their decisions. The fundamental focus of his work is to integrate concepts

of economics, finance and strategy to solve problems on the farm – applying modern management concepts to the food production, processing and distri-bution system.

The cause of the current financial crisis and business trend is rooted in the housing slowdown, subprime debt/secu-ritization, overleveraged business prac-tices, the liquidity crisis/freezing of the market, loss of public confidence and other factors, he said.

On the more positive side, production agriculture is not facing the same kind of restraints in terms of funds availabil-ity, Boehlje said. The freezing of capital markets for agriculture at this time is “very unlikely.” In fact, opportunities still exist for business expansion in a consolidating industry.

Growers, as all citizens, now live

Ed Schneider, Pasco, Wash., receives the president’s gavel from Richard Polatis, Blackfoot, Idaho. Schneider will serve as president of the National Potato Council this year, while Polatis will continue on as a member of the 2009 Executive Committee as past president.

Gene Kahn, General Mills

Mike Boehlje, Ph.D., Purdue University

(continued on next page)


during a period of high risks, the speaker cautioned, urging those pres-ent to come up with innovative ways to mitigate and share risk.

Biotechnology Acceptance

An advocate for the biotech industry, Sharon Bomer noted that acceptance of bio-engineered foods in the U.S. remains good, but there continues to be challenges in other areas of the world.

That said, biotech-nology is one of the

fastest growing technologies in history, she declared. There are 300 million acres of various GMO crops in the U.S. today, with soybeans, corn and cotton the big three.

Biotechnology supports sustain-ability, Bomer said. It helps satisfy the human need for food, fiber and fuel.

Picking up on a quote from Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, “There is only one technology likely to deliver (the yield increases needed), and that is (agricul-tural biotechnology),” Bomer said.

Work with Your Fertilizer DealersJ.R. Simplot AgriBusiness Group

NPC Environmental Award Winner: Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D. From left, Gregg Halverson, CEO; John Nordgaard, executive vice president, and Chris Hopkin, manager of the company’s Columbia, N.C. operations.

NPC Environmental Award Winner: Staunton Farms, Tulelake, Calif. From left, Tom Brooks, DuPont, who made the presentation; Ed and Sid Staunton of Staunton Farms.

President Bill Whitacre told attendees that global demand is driving the fertilizer market. Forty-five to 50 percent of the nitro-gen produced in North America, for example, is now sold overseas. That figure used to be 10 percent; 90 percent

went to local U.S. markets.Despite the current world economic

downturn – “current demand is way down” – over the long run, demand for fertilizer is expected to continue grow-ing at a 2.5 to 3.5 percent rate per year, Whitacre said.

Even with demand down, growers will not be paying the bottom price in the immediate future for their fertilizer needs, he warned. The reason is many dealers got caught with high priced product that remains in their inventories.

The question for many may be whether they should be lining up their fertilizer supplies now and making sure they have what they need or wait and take a chance that prices will come down? he said. Prices will adjust, but probably not as soon as some would like.

“We believe that the relationship growers have with their dealers is very, very important,” Whitacre emphasized. Hundreds of thousands of tons of fertil-izer are being taken out of production in the U.S. because there is no demand for it. Growers may not want to take a chance on waiting for lower prices and get caught short.

Before J.R. Simplot passed away last year, Whitacre said he told him that the next 10 years will be “the most spec-tacular in the history of agriculture.” By the year 2045, the world population is expected to exceed 9 billion. Arable land per capita is dropping significantly.

“Further boosting yields per acre is going to become even more critical,” Whitacre warned.

More Food, Less Water Usage Garth Blanchard, a Monsanto rep-

resentative, noted that agriculture now uses 70 to 80 percent of the country’s

Bill Whitacre,J.R. Simplot Company

Sharon Bomer, Biotechnology Industry Organization


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fresh water supply. Consequently, ways must be found, and found soon, to produce more food while using less water, he said.

Speaking on “New Technology Supporting Sustainable Outcomes for Agriculture,”

Blanchard said Monsanto is spending around $1 billion a year on research because it believes in the future of agriculture.

As more and more beneficial biotech products surface, consumer acceptance will improve, he declared. One project Monsanto researchers are currently working on is adding Omega 3 to soy-beans. Consumers could then become less dependent upon fish for this valu-able dietary need.

The advances coming forward will benefit all crops, he assured the group, adding that he believes that the next 10 years “will be the best decade ever” for agriculture.

Garth Blanchard,Monsanto

Funeral Home Blues“Stop the Fighting

on the Way to the Funeral Home!” was the subject of a fun-fill presentation by Jolene Brown. Her eye-opening presenta-tion highlighted the stupid things families do that break up their business. Her discus-sion included in-laws and out-laws, off-site

family and estates, daily communica-tions and important meetings.

Brown cited what she calls “The Top 10 Mistakes in Family Business:”

1. Assuming all genetic relationships equal good working relationships

2. Believing the business can financially support any and all family members who want to work together

3. Assuming others will/should/must change and not me

Jolene Brown,National Speakers Association honoree

4. Presuming a conversation is a contract

5. Believing mind reading is an acceptable form of communication

6. Failing to build communication skills and meeting tools when the items are good so they’ll be in place to use when the times get tough

7. Ignoring the in-laws, off-farm family and employees

8. Forgetting to use common courtesy9. Having no legal and discussed estate,

management transfer plan or buy/sell agreement

10. Neglecting vital facts of fair and equal, believing money solves relationship problems, and failing to celebrate.

New Meeting TimeThe next Potato Expo and NPC Annual

Meeting will be held at a new time of the year, Dec. 2-5, at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla. Traditionally, the NPC Annual Meeting has been held in early January.


While newly elected National Potato Council President Ed Schneider farms land just a mile

down the road from his childhood home, the nature of farming known to generations before him is worlds apart from his typical day on the farm.

Born in California, Schneider moved with his family to Pasco, Wash. at the age of 12. There, his family grew hay. They planted potatoes in the mid 1970s while Schneider was away at college studying agricultural econom-ics at Washington State University (WSU). He graduated in 1977 and returned to Pasco to raise potatoes.

Today, Schneider Farms consists of 1,400 acres of potatoes with an additional 500 acres planted in sweet corn and wheat. Schneider grows Rangers for the processing market; most are sold to Simplot. For the last two years, he’s also grown Bintje and Piccolo, small yellow varieties to be roasted and seasoned as baby

New NPC President Shares Industry News and Views

By Denise Keller

Ed Schneider, Pasco, Wash., in a field of Ranger Russets a week before the 2008 harvest. Photo by Denise Keller.


bakers.His wife, Liz, does the books for the farm.

The couple has two grown daughters. Alissa works for WSU Extension. Kelsey is a hair-dresser and also helps Liz with the books. Through the years, Schneider has seen his own job description change dramatically.

“Farming has become more like a regular business rather than working the ground. I don’t drive a tractor. I don’t have time. Most of my counterparts don’t either. You just work on a lot of paperwork,” Schneider says, referring to agriculture sustainability requirements.

Contribution to Washington State Potato Commission

To take an active role in the issues affect-ing potato growers, Schneider took a seat in the board room of the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) in 1993. He served as Chairman in 2001-2002 and held his seat as a Commissioner until 2005.

“We transformed from a commission that did heavy advertising to a commission with more legislative activities,” Schneider recalls of the 12 years he served on the Commission. “I’d say that’s the most active part of the com-

mission now. Before, it was always advertising. Now it’s switched.”

The Commission also increased its research efforts and added an in-house staff member to improve the research portion of the commission during Schneider’s tenure, the grower points out.

Involvement with National Potato Council

With many of the WSPC’s activities closely tied to those of the National Potato Council (NPC), involvement with the NPC was an easy transition for Schneider. He was appointed to the NPC Board of Directors in January 2005, and elected NPC Vice President of Legislative and Government Affairs in 2006.

In this role, Schneider dealt with issues relat-ing to the farm bill, appropriations for research and breeding programs, and any other happen-ings in Congress relevant to the potato industry. The potato cyst nematode find in Canada kept him and his committee busy last year. Between January and June 2008, Schneider made four trips to Washington D.C. to attend solution seeking meetings.

Schneider was able to mark off one major

goal from his to-do-list when Congress passed the 2008 Farm Bill.

“Our goal was to get specialty crops in the farm bill. And we did for the first time ever. Before, the five big commodities took 90 percent of the monies from the government,” Schneider explains, pointing out the injus-tice, considering specialty crops account for approximately 50 percent of the crop value in the country.

“We didn’t want subsidies. We wanted help with research, export enhancement, conserva-tion activities, and things like this,” he adds.

Priorities of the new NPC PresidentDuring the 2009 NPC Annual Meeting,

held Jan. 9-10 in San Antonio, Texas, delegates elected Schneider as the 2009 NPC president. He will oversee the Council’s five committees and continue to address ongoing issues impor-tant to the NPC.

“The thing in the future we are going to have to deal with that is going to be hard is the sustainability issues. We are going to have to change the way we do business. We’re going to have to be more conscious of what’s going on,” Schneider observes.


10 Potato Country February 2009

Gathering the data required for the various audits and inspections is time consuming, and can be unfeasible for smaller farming operations. The NPC is working to address this problem.

“The goal of the Potato Council was to get a standard sustainability type audit and see if we couldn’t sell that back to our buyers. We started into it, and it’s gotten really complicated,” Schneider admits.

An organic group is working on something similar; other groups have come up with drafts that were too lax, Schneider said. The NPC has been working on its version for a year and will continue to fine tune it.

“We’re trying to find middle ground. If we can get a good handle on that, that would be a good accomplishment,” Schneider says.

Another ongoing issue ranking high in importance with the NPC is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) pesticide reregistra-tion program and its effects on the potato indus-try. A handful of chemicals important to potato growers are currently on the block; others may follow.

“We want to try to keep the chemicals we need that are up for reregistration, because we’re losing them as we go,” Schneider sighs.

The EPA recently announced a package of safety measures for metam sodium/potassium products with new labels expected to begin appearing in the field by 2011.

“[EPA] put some real restrictions on it almost to the point that we can’t use it. So, there’s a lot of work being done on that,” Schneider notes.

Restrictive changes are also being proposed for products containing EBDC, a fungicide often used to prevent late blight, Schneider says. The NPC is keeping a close eye on that chemical as well as the insecticide Temik and others.

“We’re trying to make sure our voice is heard. We work closely with EPA,” the grower says.

Evaluation of 2008 cropDespite a slow start to the 2008 growing

season, in the end Mother Nature was kind to Schneider and colleagues in his neck of the woods.

“The yields started out low, but they’ve come on. The yields look about average. The quality is just super,” Schneider smiles, describing the 2008 Ranger crop.

“I think it was a good July. We started out super slow. As the year started out, it looked like we were going to be in trouble. It was cold coming into June. It was a late start; there was

some late frost,” the grower recalls. “And then June was good. The processors pushed back the start dates because they were worried the crop wasn’t ready, and it really wasn’t. But by the first of August, we were close to normal.”

With a minimal number of days topping the 100-degree mark and nights that stayed fairly cool, the crop shaped up well.

“I wish we could duplicate it,” Schneider laughs.

Profitability of potatoes Potatoes weren’t the only crop to experience

a banner year. Other commodities, includ-ing alfalfa, corn and wheat, are faring well, too, Schneider noted. The effect on the potato industry has been twofold. Competition for land increased, bids went high and land costs skyrocketed. At the same time, french-fry prices also increased as farmers have multiple options when choosing a profitable crop to grow.

“We’re seeing huge increases, bigger increases than we’ve ever seen in potato prices in the fresh market. It’s unbelievable how high it’s gone. They’re talking 35-40 percent increase in the price we receive for potatoes,” Schneider marvels.

The grower hopes the increase in price will cover the increasing cost of doing business.

“Fertilizer prices are a big wild card. It’s going to be for some time. That’s driving our cost up,” Schneider says, explaining that fertil-

izer prices have more than doubled in the last couple of years.

“The scary part is, what are fertilizer prices going to do when we use the fertilizer? We’re hoping [next season’s purchase prices for pota-toes] covers what the future holds for fertilizer prices,” he adds.

Projections for the futurePotato growers are having to learn a new

definition of farming, one that involves good agricultural practices requirements and other issues that at one time were not associated with farming. Office work is replacing time once spent in the field.

“I’d rather be on the tractor,” the grower laughs. “It’s peaceful. The phone doesn’t ring.” The changes are inevitable, though, and adapta-tion is necessary, Schneider concedes.

Even with the changes that have com-plicated the business of farming, the potato industry looks better now than it did five years ago, the grower reflects. As for the future, he is cautiously optimistic.

“Always before, whenever potato prices went high the next year there was overproduc-tion. Potato prices were pretty good in 2007, and it doesn’t look like there’s overproduction in 2008 because there are options,” Schneider observes. “People aren’t desperate to make a profit. They can grow these other crops instead of trying to plant more and more potatoes.”

Schneider surveys Piccolo potatoes as they make their way into the storage facility. This is the second year he has grown the small yellow variety, which will be roasted at a Pasco, Wash. plant and sold as baby bakers.

February Potato Country 11

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Market Report

Rebuilding Markets for Potatoes and Potato Products By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher

North American Potato Market News

Almost 90 percent of french-fries and other frozen potato products are sold through

Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs). For the last two years, processors have limited the volume of sales to QSRs due to limited supplies of raw product. Now the industry is expressing concern about menu diversification on the part of QSRs, who are offering consumers a number of non-potato side dishes. Perhaps the industry should be asking itself what it should have expected. As

QSR business expanded, the restaurants had to find ways to satisfy customer demand without running out of french-fries. It should have come as no surprise that substitute side dishes as varied as apple slices and fried macaroni and cheese have shown up on QSR menus.

The entire potato industry needs to examine how it has handled the tight supply situation of the past two years. Reducing supplies always drive prices up, as markets work to hold consump-tion in line with the available supplies.

However, non-market actions used during times when supplies are tight can be particularly destructive of long-term demand. Actions taken by processors to restrict consumption of frozen potato products have been particularly destruc-tive, though other sectors of the potato industry also have experienced their share of problems.

Different Strategy Needed Telling customers that supplies are

not available at any price is much more (continued on next page)


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damaging to long-term demand than raising prices and letting buyers deter-mine how best to allocate the available resources. Though it would have been painful, processors could have competed with table potato interests for the avail-able raw product supplies. Buyers could have been given the choice of paying higher prices for incremental volume. The industry chose not to follow that route. Perhaps fryers chose to use allo-cation in an effort to convince their cus-tomers of the need for higher prices and a more flexible price structure. Recent price negotiations certainly have given the industry higher margins than it has lived with for the past 20 years. On the other hand, it ruptured the trust which convinced QSRs that the industry never would run out of french-fries. Allocating product for two consecutive years has much more to do with the recent prolif-eration of alternative side dishes than either nutritional concerns or the current economic downturn.

Though markets have played a much larger roll in allocating fresh potato sup-plies, erratic marketing patterns also may be damaging long term demand for potatoes. Through much of the 2007 storage season, packers marketed potatoes as if there were no shortage of supplies. It was May 2008 before several large marketing organizations

realized that the shipping pace was not sustainable. Many of them had to restrict sales to their customers for the remainder of the season, to stretch stor-age supplies into August. The 2008/09 marketing season got off to a slow start due to the combination of high prices and the economic downturn. However, beginning in December, a number of Idaho shippers reversed that pattern. . If they continue shipping potatoes at the December-January pace, we could experience a repeat of last summer’s tight potato supply situation. Retailers and food service buyers would be much more comfortable with steady supplies of potatoes at relatively high prices, than with erratic price behavior and periodic supply shortages. At least in the food service sector, shortages result in menu reformulations with fewer pota-toes. Once potatoes come off the menu, it takes at least six months to get them back on.

Will demand for potatoes and potato products recover? Potatoes are still a good nutritional value and a consumer favorite. Nevertheless, current economic conditions are causing problems for all consumer goods. In addition, con-venience issues are creating long-term pressure on sales of traditional potato offerings. The strong appeal that pota-toes and potato products offer consum-

ers may help the demand situation, but it may not be enough, alone, to bring consumers back to potatoes.

Need to Be ProactiveThe potato industry needs to be pro-

active in promoting potatoes and potato products. Marketing efforts could take several forms, but whatever is done needs to be robust, focused and consis-tent. Demand for potatoes appears to have contracted by about 1.5 percent per year since peaking in 2001. At the same time, potato yields have been climbing at a 1.1 percent annual rate. As long as that disparity persists, U.S. potato acre-age will need to decline, on average, by 2.6 percent per year. The need to shift that much land out of potato production each year makes it difficult to maintain potato prices at levels that would be profitable for the average potato grower.

There are several steps that the indus-try needs to take in order to rebuild demand for potatoes and to assure the long-term health of the potato industry. Among them are: 1) rebuilding trust with potato customers; 2) promoting export growth for both fresh and pro-cessed potato products; 3) investing in the future of the industry; and 4) devel-oping products that consumers want.

QSRs may never again put as much emphasis on one side dish as they

February Potato Country 1�

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Planters2005 Harriston cup planter 6 row2002 Harriston pick planter 8 row2002 Spudnik 8600 cup 6row2001 Lockwood Air cup 6 row2002 Lockwood Pick 6 row2003 Lockwood Pick 4 row2000 Kverneland cup 8 row1998 Kverneland cup 6 row1998 Harriston pick 6 row1997 Double L cup 6 row

Pilers2001 Spudnik 560, 36” Belt Chain, 3ph1998 Double L 42” piler 480volt 3ph, 36mm BC1994 Spudnik 550 30” x 36mm bc, radio

remote1991 Double L 831, 36” x 49’ belt chain1986 Double L 831, 36” x 49’ belt chain remote1984 Spudnik 700 30” x 45’ all belt, 3ph1982 Milestone 30” all belt, 1 phSpudnik Tube Piler 24” x 40” 3ph

Evenflows2002 Spudnik 1800, 600cwt1997 Spudnik 1800, 550 cwt1998 Agritech 90cwt1996 Double L 24’ bed/evenflows, on chassis

w/ scales w/ tilt belt 1993 Milestone 125cwt 1ph1992 STI 600cwt, 3ph

Clod hopper/Sand machine2003 Harriston 240 w/ellis table, 3ph2002 Harriston 160 w/ellis table, 1998 Harriston 200 w/finger table, 3ph1992 Harriston 160, 3phSTI Sand Machine, 30” Reconditioned, Ready

Dirt Eliminator / Collectors/ Sizers2004 Milestone 84” Dirt Elim/Sizer/ Clod

hopper 2004 Double L 72” Dirt Eliminator2000 Spudnik 995 Dirt/sizer elim. 72” 3phase2003 Spudnik 905 Dirt Elim. 48”, rolling table 2002 Spudnik 925 Sizer 72” 1999 Spudnik 925, 60” sizerMilestone 72” dirt/ Elim/Sizer/ Sorter1995 Milestone 60” dirt elim./ sizer, 230

volt 3phase 1995 Doube L 806, 44 Collector/Dirt elim.

w/sizerDouble L model 807 62” collector, 3phase

Planter Fillers/Tare piler2002 Spudnik 1115, 30” hydr Mayo telescopic, 180degree swing, piler 18”

conveyorsLockwood 24” x 20’ 1phSpudnik tube piler 24” x 36’ 1phSpudnik tube 16” x 20’ 1ph

Telescopic Conveyors 1998 Double 836 36”x60’ w stingersSpudnik 30”/36” x 65’ 3phSpudnik 30” /30” x 65’ 3phSpudnik 1250, 30”/36” x 85’ 3ph

Portable Conveyors2002 Spudnik 1250 36/42, 65’ 3ph2000 Doube L 876, 36”x25’ 3ph1994 Double L 809, 30” x 38’ 3ph (2)1979 Spudnik 1200, 24”x 25’ 1ph (4)1982 Spudnik 1200, 30” x 25’ 3ph1982 Doubel L 808, 30” x 25’

Scoopers1998 Double L 837 24” 3ph1994 Double L 837, 24” Recond.1997 Spudnik 30” 3ph Recond. Spudnik 24” 3phSpudnik 24” 1ph

Trailers 2000 Trinity 48’, 3 axle, 36” chain2000 Spudnik 42’, 2axle, 42” belt1996 Trinity 50’x 3axle elec, 30” 1986 Star 42’, 2 axle Board1978 Star 42’, 2 axle Board

Self unloading beds2007 Ag Bulk Bed 22’2004 Spudnik 24’, PTO1996 Double L 24’ Elec. 1997 Spudnik 22’, PTO1986 Logan 20’ electric1984 Logan 20’ electric1988 Double L 22’ electric, Dual drive 1992 Logan 18’ electric

Harvesters 4 row 2007 Spudnik 6400 w/bunker2003 Lockwood 474H2001 Lockwood 474H2002 Double L 8731999 Double L 8531998 Lenco 6 row Self Propelled1997 Lenco 4 row direct load, self propelled1996 Lenco 4 row wrap around, Self Propelled1999 Double L 8531997 Double L 853

Windrowers/ Crossovers 2007 Double L 8512006 Spudnik 61402004 Spudnik 61402004 Double L 8511996 Double L 8511991 Double L 851 RH 1990 Lockwood 4000, LH

Harvesters 2 row2000 Double L 859 wide noseLockwood 46201996 Double L 8501995 Lockwood 4600

Seed Cutters2003 Milestone 72” rotary cutter chip cross

conv. 3ph1996 Milestone 48”2003 Milestone 60”

Warehouse Equipment1996 Haines Washer 60”Mayo WasherEvenflow bins 400 cwt Hagan 5 lane sizer Roller TablesStainless Steel conveyorsCorrigan Tater Scan, X-RayWeigh A Matic 16 headMcClusky 12 head baggerMcClusky 4 head bagger

placed on french-fries over the past 30 years. Nevertheless, french-fries and other potato offerings remain among the most popular menu items sold by QSRs. Recreating the growth partnerships that dominated the industry in the past will go a long way toward assuring that potato products will continue to play a leading role in QSR industry development plans. That may require that processors and growers move from an adversarial relationship to one that is more focused on trust and mutual benefit. It also would require that processors be more willing to purchase supplies from the open market when contract supplies are not sufficient to cover the needs of their customers.

Exports can play a major role in building demand for U.S. potatoes. However, the influence of currency exchange rates on export demand should not be underestimated. Were it not for the decline of the value of the U.S. dollar in recent years, demand for U.S. potatoes would be much lower now than it currently is. The dollar has recovered a portion of its value during the current recession. That is a threat to export sales that cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, expanding exports is the most promising path to reverse the current consumption trend. Opening up all of Mexico to fresh potato sales would be the biggest thing to happen to the potato industry since the early expansion of the frozen processing industry.

Ongoing Promotion ImportantGrowers need to invest a significant portion of recent prof-

its in the long-term health of the potato industry. That should include promotional activity and new product development, as well as investments in new production capacity. Adding to production capacity makes no sense unless there is a market for the extra potatoes. Some growers are objecting to a pro-posed 0.5¢ increase in the U.S. Potato Board promotional fee. That may not be enough to make any difference to potato sales. Developing effective programs to promote potatoes and potato products is a challenge. However, it is short sighted to expect that the industry can overcome the challenge without using its own resources to do so.

As consumers have shifted toward more in-home meals during the current economic downturn, they have opted for convenience foods rather than meals prepared from scratch. The potato industry has lagged behind other produce and gro-cery categories in developing such products. Sales of refriger-ated mashed potatoes have grown rapidly in recent years, but still account for less than one percent of potato production. U.S. retail sales of frozen potato products are much more lim-ited than European sales, due to the limited number of accept-able products. Developing products that consumers want is challenging; trying to do so can be risky. The process requires consumer research and sophisticated marketing capabilities. However, the effort is crucial to the long-term health of the potato industry.

Editor’s Note: To contact Mr. Huffaker, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: P.O. Box 135, Shelley, ID 83274; telephone (208) 525-8397; fax (208) 525-8569; or e-mail [email protected].

1� Potato Country February 2009

With growing amounts of Potato Virus Y (PVY) showing up in some potato fields in recent

years, the Idaho seed potato industry has been trying to determine why? Some seed that has looked good in the winter tests has ended up a disaster when planted in commercial fields.

So noted Mike Telford, Shoshone seed grower, speaking during the 41st annual Idaho Seed Potato Grower’s Seminar, held Jan. 20 at the Red Lion Hotel in Pocatello, Idaho.

Serving as chairman of the Idaho Crop Improvement Association’s (ICIA) sub-com-mittee on winter testing, Telford was one of six speakers making presentations during the half-day meeting.

Along with the research community, his com-mittee has been looking into reasons why some winter-tested seed has had misleading readings.

“The problem is we were not planting what we thought we were planting,” Telford told the group. “Plant seed with a zero reading and you have a chance of keeping the PVY readings low, but plant something with even a minor contami-nation and the likelihood is you will have more.”

“Long-time Ashton seed grower Kurt Kandler once said that if you have one plant with PVY in the California test, you can probably deal with it. If you have two, you have a problem. If you have three, forget it!” Telford recalled.

The speaker noted that there are a number of factors that influence PVY levels in commercial fields. Included are PVY content of the seed to begin with; cultivars grown, field location; plant-ing and killing dates; fertility issues; potential for mechanical spread; insect pressure, rouging practices and more.

One fact that has become increasingly clear is that ELISA testing as part of the winter test can significantly improve the chances of an accurate PVY reading, Telford assured the group.

PVMI Making Financial HeadwayThe Plant Variety Management Institute

hopes to begin returning funds generated through its efforts to the Tri-State Breeding Program by 2011, according to its executive director.

In a presentation entitled “All You Ever Wanted to Know about PVMI or Is PVMI Here to Stay?” Jeanne Debons reported that the organization is well on its way to helping sustain ongoing potato breeding research in the Tri-State area.

Launched in 2005 as a joint effort of the Washington, Oregon and Idaho potato com-missions, PVMI was developed as a grower-controlled alternative to the universities’ efforts to manage varieties and interact with industry in royalty collection, Debons said.

PVMI is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors and an Executive Committee.

The organization’s responsibilities include everything from the administration of licenses and royalty fees, promotion and marketing to creating opportunities for increased variety utili-zation and commercialization, the speaker said. One of the goals is to add value by producing products that are recognizable, differentiated and protected.

To date, PVMI’s most popular varieties include Alturas, Blazer Russet, Premier, Ivory Crisp, Classic Russet and Alpine, Debons said. Right now, Alturas (one of the older varieties in the program) “is in limbo” in terms of patent protection. Hence, growers do not have to pay royalties at the moment, but that situation “could change at any time.”

Among new varieties from the Tri-State Breeding program mentioned were:

Alpine Russet (A9305-10): A high yield-ing, medium to late maturing cultivar with oblong tubers, light russet skin and good

processing quality following long-term storage. Alpine Russet has moderately high specific grav-ity, resistances to sugar ends, tuber malformations and most internal and external defects. It also has moderate resistance to scab and Verticillium wilt. It has a high early yield with a large percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Weaknesses include a light russet skin and susceptibility to PVY.

Classic Russet: This variety has had high fresh merit in Tri-State and Western Regional Potato Variety Trials. Classic Russet is an early maturing, russeted clone that produces a high percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Its attractive tubers make it very suitable for use by the fresh-pack industry and could also be used as an early processor. Classic Russet is resistant to external and internal tuber defects and is resistant to common scab. It also has moderate resistance to Verticillium wilt and dry rot. Weakness includes lower specific gravity and some shatter bruise.

Clearwater Russet (AOA95154-1): A medium-late maturing russet with oblong-long tubers that have medium-russet skin. Tubers exhibit excellent fry color out of storage, and their attractiveness make this variety suitable for both processing and fresh market usage. Clearwater Russet has high specific gravity and is resistant to sugar ends as well as most internal and external tuber defects. It also is notable for having a higher protein content than standard potato varieties, with 38 percent greater concentration than Russet Burbank. Clearwater Russet also has moderate resistance to Verticillium.

Killing Ahids Is Fine, but…Juan Alvarez, a research entomologist with

the University of Idaho, Aberdeen R& E Center, noted that many chemical companies have been trying to kill aphids. More important, however, may be preventing mouth parts from spreading the virus.

Idaho Seed Potato Growers’ Annual Seminar Held

Doug Boze, ICIA Jeanne Debons, PVMI

Juan Alvarez, U of I Mike Telford, seed grower

Phil Nolte, U of I Philip Wharton, U of I


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The two big concerns for potato growers in terms of aphid-vectored viruses are potato leaf roll virus and potato virus Y. Both are vectored by aphids, but the aphids behave in different ways, he informed. More than 75 percent of the viruses are transmitted in a nonpersistent way, while the remaining 25 percent are persistent transmitters, meaning that the aphids are infected for life.

Acquisition can be hours to day with persis-tent transmission, such as with aphids spreading PLRV, while acquisition can be within seconds with nonpersisetent transmission, such as aphids spreading PVY.

Despite the availability of Admire, Platinum, Belay, Fulfill, Asana and other chemicals that do a great job of wiping out aphid populations, the educator warned again that killing aphids is not the same as preventing the disease.

Alvarez also expressed concern about the

proportion of PVY necrotic strains and recom-binants showing up in European countries in recent years and the possible future spread to U.S. potato fields.

warned growers who may be relying upon winter test readings too much to pay more attention to what comes up in the spring. Plant seed with a zero reading and you have a chance of keeping your readings low, he said, but if you start out with contamination levels to any degree, you probably will end up with more.

Planting certified seed is no guarantee that growers will escape all problems in the field, warned Phil Nolte, a UI Extension seed potato specialist stationed in Idaho Falls. However, it does increase their chances of having fewer disease problems versus planting back part of last year’s crop. Important to remember is certi-fied seed is grown under strict guidelines and all

Idaho Seed Potato Growers’ Annual Seminar Heldfields have had multiple inspections and have gone through a winter grow-out.

Because of the high cost of seed this year, some growers will be tempted to skip the certification process and go their own way, he acknowledge, adding that those who do so would be both breaking the law as well as increasing the likelihood of disease problems in the field.

Considering the risks, “I believe the issue will take care of itself,” Nolte assured the group.

The ICIA’s Doug Boze announced that the California field day to inspect potatoes undergo-ing winter testing will be held Friday, Feb. 15. The location is 7-8 miles northwest of Brawley.

Overall, the results have looked good this year, Boze said. Interested parties want-ing to come and see for themselves are most welcome.


Know Your Insects

Insect Identification Quiz

ANSWERS PAGE, 19

The material here is provided courtesy of Dr. Andy Jensen, director of research for the Washington State Potato Commission.

All of these insects are in the family Cicadellidae, also known as leafhoppers. The most important leafhopper for Washington potatoes is beet leafhopper because it transmits the organism that causes purple top.

Which of the leafhoppers below are beet leafhopper?

Lots of Leafhoppers

D. E. F.

A. B. C.


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Potato Growers of Washington

By Dale LathimPotato Growers

of Washington

The Difficult Call to Renegotiate 2009 Contract Settlements

I wish I had some words of wisdom for everyone, but wisdom, right now, is running

very low in the potato industry. With the unprecedented economic

changes currently taking place in the world, the potato industry cannot help but be impacted. The troubling part is that we have no

historical precedents to look back at that can help us predict how long this downturn will last and how bad it will become. Therefore, anyone who speculates on what is going to happen this year in frozen potato product sales or how many potatoes will be needed is either a fool or a newcomer to the industry.

What we do know is that sales are starting out slow. Will this continue or are we only witnessing a dip on the graph with the final outcome still to be determined? What it does do, however, is put the fear of God into the people responsible for determining how many acres of potatoes to contract this year.



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Conventional wisdom would argue that there will have to be a cut in contract acreage for 2009. The big question, then, becomes how big?

A Changing Scenario This would be a difficult enough question if there were no commitments already in place. Last September, when Potato Growers of Washington’s contract settlements were completed, the processors were afraid that they would be unable to line up all of their 2009 acreage needs. Among the reasons was strong demand for other commodities – the promise of higher profit margins with significantly less risk. To be sure that they were going to have enough potatoes, the processors upped the aunty on contract prices and made significant commitments

with growers to ensure that the contracts would be honored. Now, it appears that the contract price is out of line. Returns on other commodities have dropped back to more historic levels. On top of that, waning sales numbers for po-tatoes make it appear that at least some companies are overcommit-ted for the coming year. So, where do we go from here? As difficult as it is to consider, we likely will be required to adjust this year’s contract prices, even though everything is documented and in writing. When the shoe is on the other foot, I know that the processors typically argue, “Sorry, a deal is a deal.” Unfortunately, we do have a different situation this year in that the entire indus-try is being squeezed. Being at the bottom of the ladder, growers must either make a concession or the entire ladder will be severely weakened. As discomforting as this appears on the surface, it is the cold hard fact of being at the bottom of the food chain. We can only survive and prosper if our customers remain profitable. If none of them is able to thrive in the current marketplace, the industry tumbles.

The Unfortunate Realities Unfortunately, when grow-ers face tightening margins, there are many out there still willing to grow potatoes at a reduced price, even if they eventually fail to survive. And if the needed acreage is still not there, the processors can opt to grow more potatoes

themselves. When the processors are squeezed, we suffer as much as they do every time. Therefore, the only way to survive this economic mess is to come to a new common ground that will work for both sides of the equation. Growers will have to give back some of the hard earned money they expected to be coming their way this year, and proces-sors will have to lower their profit expectations for the year. If either side “wins” in this deal, we all lose. If growers hold the processor’s feet to the fire on the 2009 contract settlements announced previously, some growers will have a great year. On the other hand, not all processors will survive, and there will be further consolidation on that front. Other growers who have capital investments in potato stor-ages and equipment will want to stay in the game, and there will be competition for contracts in 2010. Whenever that happens, our prices tumble significantly and the gains that the processors have made in finished product prices goes away as well. Historically, there is evidence that whenever the contract price for potatoes greatly exceeds the profitability of all other commodi-ties, the following year the price falls. Whenever that happens, it generally takes 6 to 8 years to work our way back to profitable returns. Let’s avoid that situation and work towards a common ground that will help ensure a healthy, stable potato industry for years to come.

Potato Growers of Washington


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and Umatillas Know Your Insects Answers

B and F are beet leafhopper. For more information on leafhopper trapping, see: http://www.potatoes.com/Research.cfm

Know Your Potato Diseases Answers

1. This is the result of inadequate chlorine in the wash water where bacteria in the water infected potato lenticels. Compounding this problem was the packing in boxes or bags, without adequate drying of the tuber, and then wrapping the pallet with plastic shrink wrap that further prevented the tubers from drying. Storing at warmer temperatures further exacerbates this problem.

2. This tuber rot is caused by a Pectobacterium bacterium (formally called Erwinia). Even though the rot caused by bacteria can produce a very foul smell, often times tubers at this stage of rot do not smell badly. They don’t taste badly either.

3. Black dot can cause surface lesions on tubers but rarely results in much internal damage. While infection of the plant by this fungal pathogen can be reduced by use of newer Strobie-type fungicides, it is unclear how to prevent infections of the tuber surface.

4. This discoloration in the vascular tissue is caused by black leg (Pectobacterium sp). As the tissue is killed by the pathogen, the vascular tissue (where the water from the roots is moved upward toward the leaves), where the bacterium moves up the plant, darkens. Notice how the vascular bundles on the “corners” of the stem show the discoloration in cross section. Other pathogens that can cause the vascular tissue to be dark might be Verticillium wilt, black dot and possibly others.

5. This photo is courtesy of Joe Munyaneza, USDA-ARS. This plant is infected with BLTVA phytoplasma. Notice the pink-colored leaves, the beginning of formation of aerial tubers in the leaf axes, and leaf curling. You might even recognize additional symptoms.

6. This problem is caused by common scab. Several other issues can cause similar symptoms, i.e., powdery scab, elephant hide, insect issues and possibly others. This problem is best confirmed in the laboratory using a diagnostic test like PCR.

Feb. 9-103rd Annual North American

Potato Grower Summit, Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact: UPGA, (801) 517-9000; www.unitedpotatousa.com.

Feb. 10-12Sustainable Ag Conference,

Shilo Inn, Richland, Wash. Contact: Don Nelson, (509) 335-2922, [email protected] or Doug Warnock, (509) 525-3389, [email protected].

Feb. 10-13San Luis Valley Agricultural

Conference and Trade Fair. Potato Day on Wednesday, Feb. 11, Ski Hi Park, Monte Vista, Colo. Contact: Merlin Dillon or Rob Davidson, SLV Research Center, (719) 754-3494, Ext. 12 or 15.

March 22-257th World Potato Conference,

Christchurch, New Zealand. Contact: Ron Gall, [email protected] or [email protected].

April 21-24United Fresh 2009, Sands Expo Center,

Las Vegas, Nev. Contact: United Fresh Produce Association, (202) 303-3400, [email protected] or www.unitedfresh.org.

Sept. 8-10PotatoEurope 2009, Emmeloord, The

Netherlands. Contact: Paulien Hoftijzer,[email protected]; www.PotatoEurope2009.com.

Oct. 2-52009 Fresh Summit International

Convention & Exposition, Anaheim, Calif. Contact: Produce Marketing Association, (302) 738-7100 orwww.pma.com/freshsummit/2009.

Calendar


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Fresh potato growers are urged to plant no more acreage in 2009 than they did in 2008. Process potato growers are

urged to not plant any potatoes without a contract.The risks associated with an overplant are enor-

mous, according to Lee Frankel, president and CEO of United Potato Growers of America. Both United and other forecasting models are predicting an acre-age increase of up to 10 percent, and that could be disastrous to potato growers in terms of experienc-ing profitable returns.

“The biggest danger comes from growers mis-interpreting this year’s prices and understanding the root causes of why prices are where they are,” Frankel says. “Yes, the market can handle more potatoes than were produced or that will be sent to market this crop season, but the reason why was not because of insufficient acres; it was because of reduced yields due to weather conditions in the major production areas.”

Short Crops PlentifulShort crops were reported in Washington,

Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Wisconsin and Maine, as well as in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Frankel explains. Should yields return to past trend lines in 2009, the potato supply available should be more than adequate to meet demand.

“We have observed that even with the 2008 growing season challenges, the industry still has close to enough potatoes to mirror the long-term demand trend for this season,” Frankel notes. “It is remarkable considering this crop year’s shuffling of seed supplies causing growers to work with unfa-miliar strains, two weeks of northern region grow-ing time loss, growth-stunting hot summer winds in Washington, Idaho’s early snow and freeze, the Colorado hail storm and Wisconsin and Maine flooding.”

United members have been asked to reach out to members and non-members in their growing region to impress upon them the urgent necessity to freeze or even reduce fresh acreage in 2009, Frankel said. Process growers also are urged to avoid planting any opens above and beyond contracted acreage.

“Process growers should be congratulated on their strong contracts for 2009, but they should also beware that processors will be able to contract 100 percent of their needs,” the United president and CEO warns. “This means that growers should not expect prices for open potatoes to be anywhere near contract prices even if growers are able to find a home for their open potatoes.”

Is the likelihood of an overplant anymore seri-ous this spring than in past years?

“Yes,” according to Frankel, and for a couple of reasons: “First, nonmembers may be under the mistaken assumption that United growers will cut acres to compensate for any overplanting by non-members. The second danger is that many growers will mistakenly base planting decisions on ’08-’09 prices rather than strategically and wisely making a decision on what is expected for the ’09-’10 market.”

Potato Yields Expected to Return to Normal

Growers can expect returns to the farm (after handling and packing charges) of around $3 cwt based upon forecasts of historical grower acreage increases after a year of high potato prices. Growers have increased acreage nearly 10 percent histori-cally under similar circumstances which would produce nearly 13 million extra cwt for the fresh market

Do potato growers really want to go back to those kinds of returns? Frankel asked, responding that it only makes good financial sense to hold the line this spring.

New Clodhopper Dirt and Stone Separator Model Introduced

A new model of Clodhopper dirt and stone separator has been intro-duced by Harriston Industries, Minto, N.D.

The model 3240 is a three-stage machine featuring increased capacity of more than 50 percent over other models. The unique design features a sizer to split the incoming flow of potatoes to two primary rollers. This allows a greatly increased primary flow as well as better separation due to a more uniform size going to each roller. The sized product can be blended back together, or may be sep-arated, if desired. The new model will significantly speed up harvesting and cleaning operations and will greatly increase overall efficiency.

For more information, contact your Harriston dealer or Harriston Industries, (800) 437-8205.

An Interview with United’s Lee Frankel…

Limiting ’09 Potato Acreage Is Important to Survival

The Harriston Model 3240 Clodhopper features increased capicaty of more than 50%.

Equipment Update

The unique 3 roller design allows clean produce to be blended back or remain seperated.

February Potato Country 21

Alberta is known for more than just our great hockeyteams. The colder climate also gives us a competitiveedge in our quality of seed potatoes – something youdon’t want to take a pass on.

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Sysstem™-MN

Sysstem™-K

Sysstem™-Ready

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Formerly sold under the Vigor-Phos brand.

AGRO-K CORpORAtiON

Sysstemic Nutrition, Maximum Efficacy.

Correction on Voliam Xpress™ and Revus™ Fungi-cide Errors

Several mistakes were made in the January 2009 issue of Potato Country in the reporting of new products available from Syngenta Crop Protection.

Voliam Xpress™ (not Express) is not labeled on potatoes at this time. It is labeled on a vari-ety of other vegetables, but not potatoes.

Revus™ Fungicide, another Syngenta prod-uct, also is registered on many vegetables, but not potatoes. Revus Top™, correctly listed in the article, is the new fungicide labeled for use on potatoes. It received a federal label in March 2008.

Our apologies to Syngenta for any confusion created in the minds of our readers for the inac-curacies that were published in the Chemical Update section, page 24.

Agro-K Changes Name of Its Popular Phosphite Prod-uct Line

Agro-K Corporation originally introduced a comprehensive line of systemic phosphite-based foliar nutrients in 2001, under the “Vigor-Phos” brand (Vigor-Cal-Phos, Vigor-Zinc-Phos, etc.). To more accurately reflect the unique systemic benefits of these nutrient prod-ucts, Agro-K is changing the name of this line to the Sysstem™ brand. The following product labels (Sysstem-Cal, Sysstem-Zinc, Sysstem-Mag, Sysstem-Manganese and Sysstem-K) were introduced into eastern markets in 2008 and will be expanded to western markets in 2009.

By linking calcium, zinc, magnesium, man-ganese and potassium to the phosphite ion, nutrients are more rapidly taken up through plant tissue, actively translocated and highly systemic within the plant. Because these prod-ucts are true nutrient-based phosphites, growers can more effectively target application timing of each nutrient to its peak demand window in the crop and to the needs of each different cropping system. The Sysstem™ has and will continue to assist growers in maximizing crop quality and sustainable yields.

Chemical Update


Know Your Potato Diseases

Photo 1? This is a Russet Norkotah with small sunken spots surrounded by slightly raised areas. Raised areas show a slight darken-ing. This occurred after washing. What is responsible?

Disease Identification Quiz

Shown below are six photos of various problems/diseases related to potatoes, along with a brief description of the typical symptoms. Test your skills by iden-tifying each of the issues and then turn to page 19 for the correct answers. If you get four right, you are doing well. Five means you are an expert. All six, then you could be a plant pathologist (if you wanted to be one, that is!).

Editor’s note: This quiz was prepared by Phil Hamm, Extension plant pathologist and superintendent of the Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Oregon State University, Hermiston, Ore. He can be reached at [email protected].

Photo 2? What caused this problem? Nothing like

this is caused by any other problem. What kind of smell does a tuber like this have?

Photo 3? The small interior damage seen in the

tissue of this potato is caused by a pathogen that can substantially deface the tuber sur-face. What is the problem and how can it be controlled?

Photo 4? This is a photo of a potato stem with

discoloration in the vascular tissue. What disease caused this abnormal color in the vascular tissue? What other pathogen(s) might cause vascular discoloration?

Photo 5? This plant is from a greenhouse test.

Symptoms are quite remarkable. How many abnormal symptoms can you see in this pic-ture? What caused this problem?

Photo 6? Several things can produce symptoms

like this on the surface of this potato (rough skin). What caused this problem? How would one confirm this problem?

ANSWERS PAGE, 19


OPTIMAL LONG STORAGE

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147 DAYS OF DORMANCY

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Canela Russet

Reading between the lines, the prob-ability of an overplant this year is almost certain.

That was the underlying tone of a message given by Joe Guenthner, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Idaho, during the National Potato Expo, held Jan. 8 in San Antonio, Texas.

Speaking during one of the Processor Sector Breakout session, Guenther

left enough indicators of a coming acreage boost that the only question remaining in many minds was how big will the acreage boost be?

“Resources flow toward profits. People follow the money,” the speaker told the group. And because fresh market potato growers in the U.S. received record high prices for their 2008 crop, the temptation is there for more people to plant open acres.

That said, past history shows that commod-ity prices trend downward more times than up, he warned. Out of every 10 years, five will be breakeven, two very profitable and three losses. Generally, it takes three consecutive bad years to drive a grower out of business. Unfortunately, history also shows that whenever a grower leaves the business, someone else will plant potatoes in his field, Guenthner said.

The agricultural economist reported on a survey among Idaho growers on what they consider important in deciding what to plant. “Rotation” was the most common response, followed by “potato prices the previous year.” Other responses included market outlook, contract price, contract availability, other crop options, lenders (money availability) and costs.

Sharing information from his potato acre-age forecasting model, Guenthner noted that for each 10 percent increase in potato prices, plantings go up 0.05 percent.

“Those who have the opportunity to grow many crops have more opportunity to jump in and out of potatoes,” he said. United (United Potato Growers of America co-operative) will

be an influence on acreage this year. How much is difficult to tell, but historically potato plantings the previous year have been “the leading factor.”

Most growing potatoes consider themselves “potato growers” and with asset fixity involved – equipment, storage, human capital – most are not likely to cut back or quit growing the crop, unless forced out of business.

On the other hand, fertilizer costs were up 27 percent last year, seed costs are high this year and labor availability is becoming an issue with some crops, he said.

Looking at the last census, the composi-tion of the U.S. population also is changing, Guenthner noted. Out of the 10 most common names in the country, Nos. 7 and 8 are Garcia and Rodriguez. Labor availability is becoming more and more of a serious issue. As many of those who have worked in the fields become

NPC Processor Sector Breakout…

Acreage Increase Expectedsecond and third generation workers they will opt for less tedious work.

Land rental costs increased last year, Guenthner pointed out, quoting a report from Bruce Huffaker, editor of North American Potato Market News. Production risks, due to water and weather, continue. The returns on alternative crops also have been coming down. The biofuel industry is walking a tight-rope. It can best compete with petro prices are high, but there has been much volatility in the market over the past year. Prices have gone from over $5 per gallon to as low as $1.37.

Feedback from an informal survey con-ducted during the session indicated acreage will be up 5-10 percent; United’s model pre-dicts a 10 percent increase. Most forecasting models are indicating an acreage increase, the speaker cautioned, leaving his guests to make their own judgments.

Joe Guenthner, University of Idaho


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