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Some 60 years later, he’s still farming. Paul Miller Farms is Wisconsin’s second largest carrot producer, with 1,100 acres grown for processing (slicing and dicing), primarily at Birds Eye Foods and Del Monte Foods. All told, the farm raises over 2,500 acres of vegetables, including potatoes, sweet corn, snap beans and peas.

Read more of our May 2013 interview with Paul Miller.

Due to an increase in acres harvested and higher yields, Wisconsin moved into first place in the nation in the production of carrots for processing. Wisconsin maintained its number one ranking in the production of processing snap beans. Wisconsin remained in second place in the nation for total production and value of production for the major processing vegetables in 2012. For the complete story, check out the May Vegetable Issue of The Badger Common’Tater.

The Badger Beat

By Matt Ruark, Dept. of Soil Science, UW-Madison

The Economics of Nitrogen Fertilization on Potato: A Useful Tool to Guide N Applications

The nitrogen (N) to corn price ratio is currently used to guide N applications for corn production. Use of this method provides growers a starting point from which to base their N fertilizer application rates. As the price of N fertilizer fluctuates, growers can alter their N rates to achieve the greatest return on investment (i.e. the investment in N fertilizer). However, the rate where the investment in N fertilizer leads to the greatest economic gain is not necessarily the N rate that leads to the greatest yield; as the price of N fertilizer becomes more expensive relative to the price of corn, growers, in theory, will apply less N and optimize profits at lower yields. For more on this topic, including how it can apply to potato production, read The Badger Beat column in the May 2013 issue of The Badger Common’Tater.

Matt Ruark

Wisconsin Potato Industry Works to Feed Starving Children

Mobile Packing Event Set for June 22 in Stevens Point

Making a commitment to alleviate world hunger, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA) are once again sponsoring a potato-meal packing event to help feed hungry children all over the globe.

Following highly successful events in 2011 and 2012, members of the Wisconsin potato industry along with their families and friends, will gather at the Noel Hangar at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport on Saturday, June 22 to pack 100,000 servings of MannaPack™ Potato meals, developed by the non-profit Christian charitable organization, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). MannaPack Potato servings are formulated to prevent starvation in children using dehydrated potatoes, vitamins and minerals. Approximately $22,000 is needed to fund the 100,000 meal packs. Get the full story in the May 2013 edition of The Badger Common’Tater.

People of all ages can help pack meals to feed starving children. Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary board member Sheila Rine (second from left) has brought her daughters to the event each of the last two years.

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