Potatoes use more potassium than any other nutrient, including nitrogen. Potassium is required for nutrient movement in the potato plant. It is essential for the makeup of over 40 different enzymes and is involved in more than 60 different enzyme systems in plants. Potassium is crucial in quality potato formation. Plants lacking in potassium often display various signs of deficiencies, the[Read More…]
North America
Canada: Tackling fungicide resistant pink rot
Ridomil has been the standard fungicide for managing pink rot for many years in Canada. However, a national survey shows Ridomil-resistant pink rot is becoming more common. A team of researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island conduced a three-year national pink rot survey and to evaluate other fungicides for managing resistant pink rot. According to research[Read More…]
US: ‘Potato Woman for All Seasons’ awarded
New York state’s Melanie Wickham has been awarded the 2017 Potato Woman for All Seasons by The Packer and Farm Journal publications. The Packer’s Tom Karst presented the award to Wickham on Jan. 12 at the National Potato Council annual awards banquet. Wickham, executive secretary of the Empire State Potato Growers and manager of Empire State Farm Days, was nominated by several state[Read More…]
Potato Expo brings crowd, talk of trucks, trade
Drawing 165 exhibitors and 1,700 attendees, the 2018 Potato Expo featured discussions of hot-button issues of trade, trucks, immigration and technology. Blair Richardson, CEO of Potatoes USA, said the Potato Expo gives the industry a sense of communal identity to discuss issues facing the industry in different sectors and different parts of the country. “At the end of the day, we are[Read More…]
Expert report: Potatoes optimal for improving performance among endurance athletes
A report about high-quality carbohydrates and physical performance was recently released in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition Today. The report focuses on commentary that took place during an expert panel. The results of the report suggest that balanced diets high in natural, carbohydrate-rich foods, including nutrient-dense potatoes, may be optimal for improving performance among elite endurance athletes. The report is aligned with[Read More…]
Canadian researchers develop Colorado potato beetle resistant plants
Research scientists with Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC) have developed two varieties of potato plants with built-in beetle resistance that could help lower pesticide use and reduce the number of potato plants destroyed by pests each year. Dr. Helen Tai, who works out of the Fredericton Research and Development Centre, said the development of the new varieties is timely with growing concern surrounding the[Read More…]
“Supermarket Guru” told Potato Expo attendees to keep up with consumer trends
Keeping up with consumer trends and the breakneck pace of technology may not be easy but it is necessary to thrive, Phil Lempert told 2018 Potato Expo attendees. Lempert, known as the Supermarket Guru, covered his list of top 10 food industry trends of 2018 in Jan. 10 fast-moving talk on the Potato Expo’s first day. “Consumers needs have changed and evolved[Read More…]
Governor’s proposed budget excludes funding for new Idaho seed potato facility
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed fiscal year 2019 budget does not include the $3 million in state funds for a new nuclear seed potato facility sought by the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. CALS officials had requested $3 million in state funding to help build a new $5.5 million nuclear seed potato facility, which maintains disease-free germplasm[Read More…]
US: Will Taco Bell’s new Nacho Fries affect the french fry supply?
When ordering tacos from a food service outlet, the last thing you might expect would be this phrase: “Would you like fries with that?” Yet, on Jan. 25, across the nation, diners at Taco Bell will be presented with that question when the chain launches Nacho Fries. However, at the Food Institute, another question is asked: how will this affect the prices[Read More…]
US: Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips launches ‘Its Good To Be Ugly’ campaign to reduce waste and fight hunger
Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips Inc. announced yesterday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show the “It’s Good to be Ugly” campaign aimed at Reducing Waste and Fighting Hunger. Dieffenbach’s introduced its newest brand, Uglies® in 2017 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Unlike any potato chip snack available, Uglies® are made with potatoes that have slight cosmetic imperfections and may otherwise be discarded. More than just a delicious snack, Uglies®[Read More…]
Potato industry’s biggest annual event kicks off this week in Orlando
This week more than 2,000 growers, suppliers, and experts will converge at the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry held in North America. Potato Expo 2018 kicks off tomorrow in Orlando, Florida. This will mark the 10th anniversary for the event which each year features educational programming covering the top issues facing the potato industry. It provides countless networking opportunities[Read More…]
Potatoes USA Seed Export Program underway for 2018
Efforts are underway to plant field trials of U.S. seed varieties in Myanmar, Morocco and Guatemala in early 2018. Potatoes USA purchases U.S. seed potatoes from U.S. growers in multiple states to provide up to a dozen different varieties to each target market which are suitable for their warm climates and have high resistance to common potato diseases. Funding for[Read More…]
New potato varieties named in celebration of Canada 150
Two Canadian potato companies are celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday by giving newly licensed yellow fleshed potato varieties developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) a link to Canada. The new potatoes – called AAC Confederation and AAC Canada Gold-Dorée – were recently named by Progest 2001 Inc. based out of Sainte-Croix, Quebec, and Canadian Eastern Seed Growers Inc. based out of New Brunswick, respectively. Both company[Read More…]
Bioinsecticide a sustainable solution for organic control of insects
BioCeres WP is an insect-pathogenic bioinsecticide that makes use of the Beauveria bassiana fungus. This fungus strain is naturally occurring in Canada. BioCeres WP is approved for organic production in North America and is said to be perfectly suited for use in IPM programs as a tank mix with other pesticides as well as in specific, stand-alone uses. The fungus used is found naturally[Read More…]
Smart panels and irrigation monitoring: A perfect pair
Why pair up smart panels and irrigation monitoring? Well, in short, it’s the same reason any pair is formed – to help consumers save resources by increasing product efficiency. If you want a better idea of how smart panels fit into the picture, maybe the best thing to do is to take a look at some other “smart” technologies on[Read More…]
Lamb Weston President expects growth in french fry demand ‘to continue in foreseeable future’
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. announced today its second quarter 2018 results and updated its outlook for fiscal 2018. “Our second quarter and first half results were solid,” said Tom Werner, President and CEO. “Our commercial teams have worked through customer contract negotiations, and now that those discussions are largely behind us, we’re focused on our ongoing commitment to deliver industry-leading[Read More…]
Canada: Grimme and Spudnik introduce new potato harvester
Big red Grimme potato harvesters are anything but a common sight here in Canada, but spud growers will likely recognize the name of one of Grimme’s brand subsidiaries, U.S.-based Spudnik, which it acquired in 2003. Spudnik has been a major potato equipment supplier in North America for a long time. The Grimme brand harvesters are generally smaller in capacity than their[Read More…]
New bio-fungicide shows strong performance against white molds and soil diseases
Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI), based in the US, recently announced the launch and availability of a high-performance and cost-effective biological fungicide, Amplitude™, in the 2018 growing season. Amplitude is based on a new strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, discovered by MBI, that has shown strong performance against white molds and soil diseases such as Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia (pink rot and black scurf of potatoes), and Fusarium, as shown in field[Read More…]
Researchers study potential of “nurse crops” to combat soil erosion
A spring cover crop planted at potato planting time – called a nurse crop – offers a way to reduce soil erosion during the weeks between potato planting and hilling. But what is the optimal way to grow a “nurse crop” to benefit the soil, the potato crop, and the grower’s bottom line? Researchers and growers in New Brunswick in Canada[Read More…]
Managing weight loss in potato storages
By now, potatoes in most of the U.S. and Canada have been in storage two months or longer. The crop is at holding temperatures specific to the cultivar and use. Storages are being monitored for disease development, desired temperature, ventilation and humidity. According to Nora Olsen and Mary Jo Frazier at the University of Idaho, what isn’t as easy to[Read More…]
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