Pennsylvania potato growers review lessons from 2017 season; updated on spud trials

More than 50 growers attended Eastern Pennsylvania Potato Day on March 6. The annual meeting featured variety trial reviews, extension information, presentations on various controls for disease management, and discussions on seed certification, pest control and plant health. Mike Peck, a research technologist for plant pathology and environmental microbiology with Penn State’s potato research program, reported on findings from the 2017 potato variety trials. Curtis Frederick, a senior agronomist at Sterman Masser Inc., discussed the importance of bolstering the production of russets, which make up 60 percent of potato sales in Pennsylvania. Doug Gergela of the TriEst Ag Group talked about his company’s chloropicrin-based soil fumigation products, which have increased yields, suppressed potato diseases and rapidly degraded with little residue. Bob Leiby, an agronomist for Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers Inc., discussed soil health for potatoes, seed certification, plant health and pest management. More