In the May 2012 Badger Common’Tater
A Touching Tribute to Suzy Favor Hamilton
Walk Wisconsin organizers shared the following comments from one of last year’s participants:
“My wife and I walk several half-marathons every year throughout the Midwest. We are from Iowa, so Walk Wisconsin is about a four hour drive for us. But it is well worth the drive, as Walk Wisconsin is our favorite. The natural beauty of the trails is unparalleled (so much better than walking the concrete pavement between downtown buildings), and the snacks and refreshments are superb (so much better than the packets of energy syrups supplied by other half-marathons). The volunteer staff are pleasant and accommodating.
Perhaps the spirit of Walk Wisconsin was epitomized in this year’s finish line, however. There was Suzy Favor Hamilton, perhaps the Big Ten’s greatest athlete, high-fiving the finishers as they walked upon the stage. But the most touching moment was when I saw a marathon finisher hobble up to the stairs to walk onto the stage, and she was only able to make it half way up the steps. Suzy went to this woman, bent down, and massaged the woman’s leg and foot for what seemed minutes. The graciousness and humbleness that Suzy displayed in this one simple act endeared Walk Wisconsin into my heart and soul forever. This one act, I think, best summarizes the spirit of Walk Wisconsin.”
Pecks of Pickles to Be!
Ingenuity reigns at Paradise Farms in Almond,Wisconsin, where 16 years ago the Warzynski clan, headed by brothers Michael and David Warzynski, and their father and company founder, Ray Warzynski, transformed a large dairy operation into a 2,500-acre farm growing several varieties of cucumbers for four major vendors. Read the May issue of The Badger Common’Tater for the full story.
Economics of Managing Nitrogen for Sweet Corn
By Matt Ruark, UW Dept. of Soil Science; and Paul Mitchell, UW Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics
Nitrogen (N) management for processing sweet corn in Wisconsin has proven to be a complex issue. Sweet corn has a relatively large N demand and, to ensure complete kernel development, requires maintaining plant available N in the soil profile throughout the growing season, which can be a challenge on sandy soils. For more information, check out the May issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
In the April 2012 Badger Common’Tater
Using Water Wisely
WPVGA highlights growers’ water conservation practices and partnership with the Central Wisconsin Water Initiative
Most of us didn’t realize that March 11–17 was National Groundwater Awareness Week. And, frankly, we paid it little notice. The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) would like to change that.
“People tend to take groundwater for granted. We turn on the tap — water comes out,” notes Duane Maatz, Executive Director, WPVGA. “As growers, we’re very aware of water conservation because it’s critical to the environment, our livelihoods, our ability to provide fresh vegetables to the nation and to helping us build a strong agribusiness sector in Wisconsin. We have to be proactive on water conservation issues and we’ll continue to work with communities on this issue.” For the complete story, read the April Irrigation issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
Wisconsin potato growers make extensive use of low pressure irrigation systems along with drop nozzles which reduce evaporation.
Wisconsin Potato Industry Steps Up to the Plate:
WPVGA and Auxiliary Support Feed My Starving Children
Making a commitment to alleviate world hunger, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association and the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary will once again sponsor a potato-meal packing event to help feed hungry children all over the globe.
At the WPVGA Board of Directors meeting held March 8 in Plover, the Board agreed to match the first $10,000 raised toward this year’s event. The same day, the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary board of directors approved a donation of $5,000. For more details, see the April edition of The Badger Common’Tater magazine.
Bushmans’, Inc. CEO Mike Carter (green shirt) works with a group from Bushmans’, Inc. at the 2011 Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing Event.
United States Potato Board Annual Meeting, March 14-16, 2012, Colorado Springs, CO
At the USPB Domestic Marketing Committee meeting (as part of the USPB Annual Meeting), Richard Pavelski of Heartland Farms, Hancock, reported on the National Fry Processing Trials (NFPT) which test acrylamide levels in new potato clones. The NFPT trials will be expanded to two more sites in 2012 as Wisconsin and Maine will be added to North Dakota, Idaho and Washington; this year, the list of potato varieties will include 31 new clones, 53 returning clones, and the two standards (Burbank and Ranger) for a total of 86 clones, five more than the total in 2011. Pavelski also reported on the Fast Track Program, including the 2nd Annual Processor/Producer Field Day held in March at Better Made Snack Foods in Detroit, where the new chipping varieties Lamoka and Nicolet performed as well or better than Snowden. Also, with help from Pavelski, the USPB Chip Steering Committee initiated a stem-end task force that is investigating what the chip industry can do to find a solution to stem-end defects. For a photo feature on the USPB Annual Meeting, check out the April 2012 issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
In the March 2012 Badger Common’Tater
Fred & Kathryne Meyer and Skip Tenpas Enter WPVGA Hall of Fame
Fred & Kathryne Meyer
Howard "Skip" Tenpas
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Hall of Fame honors lifetime achievement in the development of the state’s potato industry. It is the intention of the WPVGA to continue to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the potato industry in Wisconsin by making annual Hall of Fame inductions. The 2012 inductees include Fred and Kathryne Meyer, the founders of Red Dot Foods; and Howard “Skip” Tenpas, owner of Central Sands Buildings. Read the full story in the March 2012 issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
WPVGA Presents Annual Industry Awards
In addition to its annual Hall of Fame inductions, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association presented several other annual industry awards at a banquet held February 1, 2012 in Stevens Point. Among the industry award winners are: Larry Alsum, Paul Sowinski, Alex Crockford, Bill Zelinski, Brenda Bula, Louis Wysocki, Bob Coltman, Kevin Bula, Kirk Wille and Jeremie Pavelski. For all the details, please see the March 2012 edition of The Badger Common’Tater magazine.
Kirk Wille presents the President’s Award to Louis Wysocki.
The Badger Beat
Groundhog Day for the Colorado Potato Beetle: When Will They Emerge?
By Anders S. Huseth and Russell L. Groves, University of Wisconsin, Department of Entomology As I write this Badger Beat it is but a few days following Groundhog Day. And on this day, celebrated on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his darned old shadow and winter will now endure until the vernal equinox (specifically March 20, 2012, at 12:14 A.M. (CDT). This, of course, begs the question, “Do insects, and specifically the Colorado potato beetles in the Central Sands, watch to see what Phil prognosticates?” In many ways, this question has helped us to formulate one of our more recent research questions. Specifically, are populations of the Colorado potato beetle emerging from overwintering at very predictable times, or are emergence times becoming protracted over longer and longer intervals. To find out more, read The Badger Beat column in the March 2012 issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
Predicting the emergence phenology of adult Colorado potato beetles incorporates daily high and low temperatures instead of simply using calendar dates.
In the February 2012 Badger Common’Tater
Mach Wins National Seed Potato Honor
Ron Mach of Mach’s Sunny Acres, Antigo, Wisconsin, was named the National Potato Council Seed Potato Grower of the Year at the Potato Expo held January 4-6, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. The award was presented by National Potato Council President Justin Dagen, who said it is in recognition for significant contributions and dedicated service to the potato industry. Read the full story in the February 2012 edition of The Badger Common’Tater.
Ron Mach
Heartland Farms of Hancock, Wisconsin Wins National Environmental Stewardship Award
Heartland Farms, Inc. a 14,000-acre irrigated potato and vegetable farm is the winner of the National Potato Council Environmental Stewardship Award. The award was presented at the annual awards banquet of the NPC held January 7, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. Specializing in chipping potatoes, Heartland
Farms is headquartered in Hancock, Wisconsin. The fifth generation farm was settled in 1873 by August Pavelski, great-grandfather of current CEO Richard Pavelski. For all the details, see the February 2012 Badger Common’Tater.
Alicia, Jeremie and Richard Pavelski are pictured with the NPC Environmental Stewardship Award.
Techniques to Evaluate Changes in Groundwater Quality
By Matt Ruark and Nick Bero, Department of Soil Science, UW-Madison
Currently, fertilizer technologies are being evaluated at the small-plot scale to determine which products are best suited for potato and sweet corn production in Central Wisconsin. Preliminary research results indicate that polymer coated urea (PCU) products as well as enzyme inhibitors (urease and nitrification inhibitors) reduce the in-season leaching of nitrate. To find out more about this subject, see the February issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
Record-Breaking Attendance, Inspiring Speakers Drive Excitement at POTATO EXPO 2012
More than 1,500 potato growers and industry leaders from across the United States and a dozen countries turned out for POTATO EXPO 2012, held January 5-7, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The largest meeting of its kind in North American, POTATO EXPO 2012 featured 130 companies in its sold-out tradeshow, which showcased cutting-edge products representing the entire spectrum of industry innovations. Check out the February edition of The Badger Common’Tater for full coverage including dozens of photos.
Supermarket “Guru” Phil Lempert addresses Potato Expo attendees on a wide range of issues related to potatoes in the marketplace. Lempert says “One major trend among consumers is to buy local and buy fresh. People want to know where their food is coming from.” Lempert also facilitated a consumer panel discussion on issues ranging from potato shopping to recipes to nutrition information.
In the January 2012 Badger Common’Tater
Show Me The Spuds:
Annual Industry Show and Grower Conference Set for January 31-February 2
Scab management, storage management, seed management; tractors, planters, harvesters: it’s a spud lover’s smorgasbord.
The biggest event in the Wisconsin potato industry is set for January 31 to February 2, 2012 at the Holiday Inn, Stevens Point. The WPVGA/UW Extension Grower Education Conference and 63rd Annual Industry Show allow the entire industry to converge and network under one roof. For complete details on the Annual Conference, Show and Banquet, check out the January 2012 issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
WPVGA Executive Director Duane Maatz visits the booth of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary at the 2011 WPVGA Industry Show. Working the booth are Auxiliary President Lynn Isherwood (left) and Secretary-Treasurer Kathy Bartsch.
Update on the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Storage Research Facility
By Mary LeMere, Interim Superintendent, UW-Hancock Agricultural Research Station
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Storage Research Facility has entered its fifth year with the start of this storage season. The facility is as busy as ever with seven bulk pile research bins and over 100 pallets of research potatoes associated with nine different programs in climate-controlled lockers. Read the full story in The Badger Beat column in the January 2012 edition of The Badger Common’Tater.
Amber Gotch and Mary LeMere are shown conducting sugar analyses in the lab at the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Storage Research Facility.
Introducing Lelah and Accumulator
SpudPro Committee Names New Wisconsin Potato Varieties
Two new potato lines developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Potato Breeding Program now have names. The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association SpudPro Committee conducted a contest to come up with the best names for these two outstanding new short and long storage Wisconsin chipping potatoes. After reviewing a list of over 100 suggested names, the Committee voted on two winners: Lelah (for W2717-5) and Accumulator (for W2324-1). Read the January issue of The Badger Common’Tater for more details.
Lelah Tubers
- Accumulator Tubers
In the December 2011 Badger Common’Tater
2011 Wisconsin Potato Crop Report: Low Yields but Good Quality
The WPVGA has estimated 2011 harvested acres at 62,000. This estimation is a result of conversations with growers and DATCP Agricultural Statistics. Total planted acres are very similar to 2010 crop acres. There was another slight reduction in process frozen acres and slight increases in chip potato and seed acres. The growing season was warm and we received more rainfall than in recent years prior to 2010. Light frost was experienced, but no hard freezing temperatures until into October. An area of production concern was the risk of late blight. Conditions for late blight became favorable during June and growers responded with appropriate plant treatments, preventing development of the disease in commercial fields. At this time, no evidence of late blight problems have been reported as the crop went into storage. For more details on Wisconsin’s 2011 potato crop, check out the December, 2011 edition of The Badger Common’Tater.
A Lenco harvester digs spuds at Plover River Farms, Stevens Point. Wet conditions pushed the harvest season a week or two later than normal in Wisconsin in 2011.
The Badger Beat
By Dr. A.J. Bussan, UW-Madison Dept. of Horticulture
2011 Year End Review
The 2011 growing season presented many challenges to potato and vegetable producers throughout Wisconsin. Crop yield and quality reflected these challenges as yields were lower than in recent years. Quality varied by market type and variety. Dry matter was slightly lower in some varieties while sugar content and fry color has been decent. Get the full story in The Badger Beat column of the December, 2011 Badger Common’Tater magazine.
Nick Somers was happy with the quality and size of the Russet Norkotahs in this field just north of Stevens Point.
Granted: Wisconsin Potato Industry Receives Over $200,000
DATCP Announces Recipients of Specialty Crop Block Grants
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced the 21 recipients of the specialty crop block grant. This grant is possible through funding by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Wisconsin received $977,022.39 of specialty crop block grant funding. Combined, the WPVGA and the WPIB will receive $217,200 for the following four grants:
- Wisconsin Potato and & Vegetable Growers Association: To increase awareness and sales of Wisconsin grown potatoes through marketing strategies in grocery stores. Grant of $31,000.
- Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: To continue a study to improve processed potato quality by minimizing the negative effects of sugar end defect. Grant of $85,000.
- Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: To continue a study to assess soil fumigation and fumigation alternatives in Wisconsin potato production. Grant of $21,200.
- Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: To continue to develop potato production systems with drip irrigation and bed configuration to improve efficiency of water and resource use. Grant of $80,000.
Read the complete article in the December, 2011 issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
In the November 2011 Badger Common’Tater
UW-Madison to Lead National Potato Research Effort
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have been selected to lead a national, multi-institution effort to improve the quality and safety of processed potatoes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced in October. The $3.7 million Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant will support an effort to reduce the amount of acrylamide in French fries and potato chips, without sacrificing the taste and texture that make these products so popular with consumers. See the full story in the November 2011 edition of The Badger Common’Tater magazine.
The Keys to Potato Storage:
WPVGA hands over keys to Storage Research Facility to UW
On September 26, 2011, representatives from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) ceremoniously “handed over the keys” to the Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility (SRF) to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW). The ceremony gave the WPVGA a chance to recognize and thank everyone who was instrumental in making the vision of the SRF become a reality. The SRF is a great example of how Wisconsin growers continue to work with industry partners to invest in the future of agriculture. Read the feature story in the November 2011 issue of The Badger Common’Tater for more details.
Dr. A.J. Bussan of the UW Dept. of Horticulture oversees potatoes entering the Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility at Hancock.
Spud, Berry, and Dairy Tour Provides Insight into Wisconsin Potato Industry
The WPVGA along with the Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureaus held the Spud, Berry, and Dairy Tour September 26-28, 2011. The tour was designed to give those interested in Wisconsin agriculture an inside view of some of the industry’s most important operations. The “Spud” portion of the tour was held on Monday, September 26th and included stops at Heartland Farms, Inc. and the UW-Hancock Agriculture Research Station both in Hancock, Wisconsin; Paragon Potato Farms packing facility in Bancroft; and the McCain Foods potato processing plant in Plover. Day two of the tour focused on the cranberry industry and day three offered tours of Wisconsin’s dairy industry. Check out the November 2011 issue of The Badger Common’Tater for full coverage.
Spud, Berry, and Dairy Tour attendees are pictured at the McCain Foods potato processing facility in Plover. The group was given a tour of the factory, getting a chance to see how French fries and other potato products are made from start fo finish.
In the October 2011 Badger Common’Tater
Premium Potato Packaging: Bushmans’, Inc. Offers Market Fresh Produce Brand Potatoes
Bushmans’, Inc. of Rosholt, Wisconsin is pleased to announce that it is now offering a full line of potatoes under the Market Fresh Produce brand. Market Fresh Produce has long been a category leader in tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and sweet onions as well as avocados and peppers.
“We are now offering premium red, white, russet and yellow potatoes in Market Fresh Produce bags,” said Mike Carter, CEO of Bushmans’, Inc. “The bags feature high color graphics that are attractive and very consumer-friendly. We’re offering primarily five- and ten-pound bags for retail and 50-pound boxes for foodservice, but our intention is to expand to all sizes of packs. At Bushmans’, we offer packaging technologies that allow us to meet almost any labeling, sizing, packing or mixed order request.” For more details, see the October Bagging/Packaging issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
The Badger Beat: Late Blight In Review, by Dr. Amanda Gevens, UW Dept. of Plant Pathology
With the recent presence of the late blight pathogen in Wisconsin potato production areas it is critical that all growers remain on alert and prepared for late blight control. Late-season potato late blight disease management practices should include the following: Continue to scout fields regularly. Scouting should be concentrated in low-lying areas, field edges along creeks or ponds, near the center of center-pivot irrigation structures, and in areas that are shaded and protected from wind. Any areas where it is difficult to apply fungicides should be carefully scouted. For more disease management recommendations, read the Badger Beat column in the October issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
McCain Foods Presents Grower Awards
McCain Foods presented Leadership awards to four potato growing operations that now have on-farm quality assurance labs. Pictured are (L-R) Laurie Jecha-Beard of McCain Foods USA, Chad Kraft (RDO – Menomonie), Jon Jacobs (Cedar River Potato), Kirk Wille (Wysocki Produce Farm), Jim Mortenson (Mortenson Bros. Farms) and Kerry Larson of McCain Foods – Plover factory. McCain Foods of Plover presented its annual top grower awards at a banquet held in Stevens Point in August. For more photos of the award winners, check out the October issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
In the September 2011 Badger Common’Tater
Preparing for Potato Storage
By Dr. A.J. Bussan, UW-Madison Dept. of Horticulture
The 2010-2011 storage season presented a number of substantial challenges. Many storage managers were chasing one storage issue or the other. Heavy rains during the season and just prior to harvest led to open lenticels last summer and increased tuber infections with soft rot, pink eye, leak, late blight, and other diseases. Warm growing conditions led to low specific gravity and challenges with fry color – especially stem end defect in chipping potato. As we prepare for the 2011-2012 storage season we need to first review the production season. For the full story, read The Badger Beat column in the September 2011 edition of The Badger Common’Tater.
State Spud Spokesperson: Suzy Favor Hamilton
Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton was busy promoting Wisconsin potatoes in August. The WPVGA’s new spud spokesperson, Favor Hamilton made appearances at the Wisconsin State Fair and the 31st Annual Antigo Tater Trot. See the Marketplace column in the September 2011 issue of The Badger Common’Tater for more details.
Packers Meet Goal!
Volunteers, many from the Wisconsin potato industry, pack over 200,000 meals for starving children
The packers met their goal, and there were many happy receivers. No, we’re not talking about the Green Bay Packers (although they certainly met their goal as well). In this case, it was over 500 volunteers, many with ties to the Wisconsin potato industry, packing over 200,000 potato-based meals for the charitable organization, Feed My Starving Children. The WPVGA was a key sponsor of the mobile packing event which took place over three days, July 22-24, 2011 at the Noel Hangar in Stevens Point. Check out the September issue of The Badger Common’Tater magazine for the full story as well as numerous photos from this amazing event.
- WPVGA Board President Kirk Wille and his daughter, Nikki, work in tandem to seal a filled meal pack at the Feed My Starving Children event held in Stevens Point.
In the August 2011 Badger Common’Tater
Potato Chip Pioneer: Fred Meyer, Founder of Red Dot Foods
Fred Meyer was in the chips—potato chips, that is. Back in 1931, he began selling potato chips out of the back seat of his car to put himself through college. By the early 1950s, he was piloting one of his four Cessna airplanes to his potato farms in Alabama, Missouri and Wisconsin, and to sales meetings, conferences and conventions throughout the nation. With plants in Madison, Rhinelander, Minneapolis and Indianapolis, Meyer’s Red Dot Foods, Inc., had sales of over $10 million a year by 1957. For the full story on this potato chip pioneer, see the August issue of The Badger Common’Tater.
Have Your Chip and Eat it Too!
Wisconsin researchers develop low sugar, low acrylamide potatoes
Some of the transgenic lines of low invertase potatoes are pictured in the greenhouse at the University of Wisconsin in January of 2011.
Recent research findings from the potato labs of UW researchers Jiming Jiang and Paul Bethke have demonstrated that low sugar contents can be maintained in tubers stored at temperatures as low as 39?F by simply turning off a single potato gene. Because the same sugars that contribute to dark color formation in chips and fries also contribute to acrylamide formation, this single approach can be used to simultaneously address the cold-induced sweetening and acrylamide problems. See the August issue of The Badger Common’Tater for more on this exciting potato research development.
Late Blight – Is resistance futile?
By Dennis Halterman
USDA/ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit, Madison, WI
Every potato and tomato grower has probably lost sleep at some point worrying about the possibility of a late blight epidemic in their state, their county, or (in the worst case scenario) their own fields. The worries stem from the fact that, unless they are one of the few people growing resistant cultivars, the crop they have in the field looks like an all-you-can-eat buffet to a few hungry late blight spores. Unfortunately, the vast majority of potato varieties are late blight susceptible. This is likely due to a breeding “bottleneck” when potato was first introduced to Europe in the second half of the 16th century. The lack of genetic diversity among potatoes became apparent in the mid-1800′s during the Great Irish Potato Famine. Since then, breeders have been actively pursuing the development of late blight resistant varieties. Wild potato species have provided natural rich resistance sources against late blight. For more on this intriguing topic, check out the August Research Issue of The Badger Common’Tater.