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.
