April 2005
Fighting Tuber Moth with Proper Planting
Depth or Hill Drag-off
Processors have put the squeeze on tuber moth-infested
potatoes. The latest word is zero tolerance in tubers headed to the processor.
Let’s face it—consumers would make noise if they found worms
in their fries. Although some may view the worms as added protein, the
majority of french fry consumers would fail to see the nutritional benefit.
How can growers reduce tuber moth infestation? That question has researchers
scrambling to find solutions for growers. At this point, one of the most
effective methods may be to alter your seed piece planting depth or hill
shape. Research conducted in the Columbia Basin during 2000-2002 demonstrated
how proper planting depth or hill drag-off can reduce the number of green
and surface-exposed tubers prior to harvest. Reducing the amount of tubers
near the top and side surfaces of the hill will likely reduce the ability
tuber moths and tuber moth larvae have to invade tubers.
Liquid Seed Treatments Continue To
Gain Ground
Driven by equal parts convenience
and precision, liquid seed treatments keep gaining popularity among potato
growers.
“I think you get a better application from a liquid product,”
says Troy Betz, agronomist for Bud Rich Potato in Pasco, Wash. “When
we were using dry seed treatments, we used to see changes with the dust
applicator with each seed lot. The size of the seed pieces really
varied the amount of material you could get on each piece, so it took
a person continually watching that and changing the application setup.
“When we switched to Maxim® 4FS, Paul Tresham from Wilbur-Ellis
set the applicator up in less than an hour, and we were up and going—we
didn’t have to re-calibrate it for the rest of the season,”
Betz adds.
Research Opportunities for Washington
State Potatoes
Industry
representatives and researchers collaborated at the USDA-ARS Annual Advisory
Committee Meeting, held Feb. 23 at the WSU Tri-Cities campus in Richland,
Wash., discussing research opportunities for Washington state potatoes.
Research leader Ashok Alva, USDA-ARS, Prosser, Wash., directed the meeting,
asking attendees to bring issues of concern to the attention of researchers,
who could then develop research projects geared toward answering those
issues.
Pat Boss, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission,
presented information on where Washington is in the global potato spectrum,
and he gave suggestions as to what researchers should pay attention to
in the years ahead.
“Washington state is by far the number one producer of potatoes by
yield in the world—30 tons per acre,” said Boss. “China,
for example, only yields two tons per acre. We have a pretty big yield
advantage.
New Registrations and How They Will
Change the Potato Industry
It
seems like we’ve had a new, significant pest every year for the last
several years. It’s depressing to hear about, but I have really good
news. There are many new, effective products hitting the market that will
help growers control these pests.
With the help of the Washington State Potato Commission, there are products
we have that that other potato growing regions do not have. The WSPC has
worked aggressively to get these products researched and registered for
growers to use.
Today, the potato industry is obtaining pesticides at a higher rate than
at any time in history. We are at a renaissance for access to new products
and we will are likely to not lose any insecticides that we care about
in the next two years.
Processing Potatoes with Consistency
Separating
newly harvested root vegetables can pose a problem for large-scale processors.
With harvesting always comes excess material—dirt, rocks, weeds and
other substances. Hand sorting and other separating methods so often fail
to give consistent and predictable results.
Working with carrots, a large cannery in Belgium asked Dr. Paul A. Olivier,
owner of Engineering, Separation & Recycling LLC in Washington, La,
to design something new. The machine was a hit. Eventually 16 of the separators
were sold in Europe. Later, the food giant, Nestle, bought two 6-ton-per-hour
potato separators, which were installed at its dehydrating facility in
Rosiere, France.
“This technology has completely changed the economics of processing
root vegetables,” Olivier said. “By removing all extraneous
material and bad vegetables, the root vegetable industry in Belguim and
France is now in perfect control over what enters a processing facility.”
Growers Vote to Increase the U.S. Potato
Board Assessment Rates
After
reviewing results of the U.S. Potato Board’s domestic and international
marketing programs and discussing the future of those programs on budgets
that have been static for over 20 years, board members voted to increase
the assessment rate on March 19 during their annual meeting in Denver.
An overwhelming majority—88 percent—supported the funding increase
from 2 cents per cwt to 2.5 cents per cwt., with a delayed start date
of March 1, 2006.
“This level of support speaks clearly of the industry’s
commitment to our strategy and programs,” said Ray Meiggs, newly
elected chairman of the board and North Carolina potato grower. “We
have invested grower dollars in highly successful programs during the
past five years, and the recent action of the membership will allow us
to respond more quickly and effectively to opportunities and unforeseen
challenges.”
Formulation Extends Fresh-cut Potato
Shelf-life
For thousands of years, potatoes have been
a staple for civilizations throughout the world. But like any other fresh
produce, its uses have been limited by the process of rapid browning or
oxidation. Today, the potato is exploding in a veritable renaissance in
the North American processor markets, thanks to two new formulations developed
by Westport-based Mantrose-Haeuser Co. Inc., the makers of the NatureSeal®
family of products for fresh-cut produce.
To delay enzymatic browning, many food processors apply sulfites derived
from mined sulfur dioxide to their produce. But asthmatic reactions among
many consumers led to a 1986 FDA ban on sulfite use on raw fruits and
vegetables to maintain color and crispness; other foods and beverages
must be labeled if they contain even low levels of the preservative. Canada
has joined in, segregating sulfites from any food products in manufacturing,
and there is talk in both Canada and Mexico of banning sulfite use altogether.
Consumers Benefit from Organic Potato
Breakthrough
Shoppers throughout Europe are enjoying
a greater variety of organic potatoes at more affordable prices, thanks
to researchers who have completed a major international study.
Several varieties of organic potato, suitable for a range of national
palates and cuisine, are adorning supermarket shelves across the continent
for the first time.
A European study, led by Nafferton Ecological Farming Group at the University
of Newcastle upon Tyne, found up to ten varieties of potatoes, which can
be grown without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides while being
particularly resistant to the deadly fungal disease, blight. Most of these
are newly available on supermarket shelves throughout the continent.
‘Designer composts’ were created as part of the project, and
were shown to increase organic potato crop yields by up to 40 per cent.
New and effective organic crop management strategies have also been tried
and tested.