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.

Brian Hrudka serves as Food Chain Manager, Marketing – Horticultural Crops for Bayer CropScience in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. A native of Canada, Hrudka has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Western Onatrio and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario Ivey School. At the 2012 Potato Expo, Hrudka provided the introduction to a general session panel discussion titled, “Sustainability in Action-Value  Chain Partners Discuss Current Activities.”

In the interview, Hrudka describes Good Growing Link and how it can be an excellent tool to help measure and improve sustainability.

Read the complete February 2012 interview with Brian Hrudka.

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.

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