Potato Bytes

08.27.2024

News from Northland Potato Growers Association

Serving the potato industry in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.

Field Day Attracts 220+ Attendees

Maybe the overnight rain showers kept growers out of the fields, but whatever the reason, 220 breakfasts were served at the Hoverson Farm last Thursday morning, the largest number since this tradition began. The Hoverson Farm sponsored and hosted the breakfast.

A similar crowd turned out for a delicious lunch served by the Forest River Colony that was sponsored by the J.R. Simplot Co. The lunch preceded the research presentations at the nearby irrigated research plots that are expertly maintained by the Colony.

Photo: A promising new, but yet to be named, fresh market variety bred by Dr. Susie Thompson. The red potato is now undergoing field trials.

The NDSU Potato Pathology Team presented the majority of the research plot presentations. That group is headed by Dr. Julie Paschke. Recognition also needs to be given to Potato Extension Agronomist Dr. Andy Robinson who organized the program and Dean Peterson who is in charge of all field

operations.

The presenters said that this year's potato crop is mostly in remarkably good condition despite growing conditions that have in the past caused issues like late blight and other diseases. Growers were commended for their disease prevention practices and should expect to see a very good potato crop this fall. That said, Dr. Julie Paschke warned of pathogens going into storage.

The day wrapped up with another nice crowd gathered at the Oberg Farm near Hoople for for an evening BBQ and social. That event was sponsored by the Potato Associates.

NDSU President David Cook attended NPGA Field Day events in Larimore and at the Irrigated Research Site at the Forest River Colony.

NDSU plant pathologist Gary Secor visits with Sandy Aarestad from Valley Tissue Culture after the morning breakfast at the Hoverson Farm.

A huge crowd enjoyed noon lunch at the Forest River Colony. A similar crowd counted at 220 people were served breakfast at the Hoverson Farm earlier in the day.

Part of the crowd watching research presentations at the irrigated research plots at the Forest River Colony.

NDSU potato breeder Susie Thompson updated attendees on the progress of some of her promising new varieties.

"Retired" plant pathologist John Nordgaard (left) visits with the new NPGA Executive Director Gary Shields.

A long line of yellow potato varieties undergoing field trials in the area.

NPGA staffers Ted Kreis, Mike Brue and Jacey Kuersteiner. Mike is the new magazine editor.

"Team Potato" posed for their traditional group photo at the conclusion of the plot presentations.

Potato Associate Dan Johnson grilled up brats and burgers for the evening BBQ and social at the Oberg Farm near Hoople.

Potato Associates Clark Piepkorn (left) and Kylen Kostrzewski served the food at the Oberg Farm stop.

Related Field Day Article: Red River Farm Network - Increased Disease Pressure in Potatoes

USDA Releases August Land Values Report

Access the National publication for this release here.

(Includes North Dakota an Minnesota data)

Potato Harvest Progresses Slowly

USDA Potato Progress & Condition Report

Week Ending: 8-25-2024

NORTH DAKOTA - Potato condition was 12% excellent, 68% good, 14% fair, 3% poor and 3% very poor. Potatoes rows closed was 96%, near 94% last year and 95% average. Vines dry was 25%, behind 36% last year, but near 23% average. Harvested was 2%.

MINNESOTA - Potato harvest has reached 9%, behind 13% last year and 15% average. Potato condition was 27% excellent, 66% good, 5% fair and 1% poor and 1% very poor.

USDA Crop Progress & Condition Report for ALL crops: ND - MN

Its Halloween Chip Order Time!

Single serve bags of crunchy kettle chips make the perfect treat to give your trick-or-treaters on Halloween! 54-count cases will be available for pick up at the NPGA office in East Grand Forks about October 9th. Deadline to order is September 16th.

Email Jacey with your order today!

DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATIONAL FLYER

Last Spud Scoop for the Season

Blightline and other current crop news and recommendations from Andy Robinson, along with Aphid Alert from Ian MacRae.

Welcome to the last Spud Scoop for the 2024 growing season. No late blight has been found in ND, MN, or MB in 2024. This is a job well done in scouting and applying timely fungicides. The aphid numbers slightly down from last week’s numbers. Vector numbers remain at a similar level.

Thank you for everyone for coming out to Field Day. There were record turnouts! Thank to Hoverson Farms for providing breakfast, the Forest River Colony for providing lunch and J.R. Simplot Food Group for sponsoring the meal, Oberg Farms and the NPGA Potato Associates for providing the BBQ. Thanks goes to Jayce and Gary from the NPGA office for their coordination of the events and to all the NDSU, UMN, and USDA-ARS researchers and staff who provided the research talks. Good luck with harvest and stay safe. May it be a bountiful harvest.

CLICK HERE for the latest report.

News from the National Potato Council

Issued August 23, 2024

Potato Bytes TV & Movie Trivia

Last Week's Photo

Last week's Trivia photo was Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny from the TV series The X-Files. The original series aired on Fox from 1993 - 2002. Later versions followed in various forms.

It was answered correctly by Don Hollarn, Matt Jahnke, Vicky Boyd, John Bergman and Clark Camilli.