Current Issue - Summaries of stories appearing in this issue.

April 2006

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Too Many May Be Hiding in the Deep
A sizable percentage of wireworms are deep enough in the soil in the spring time to escape chemical controls applied just before
planting.

Dave Horton, a researcher with the USDA-ARS, Wapato, Wash., made that observation after monitoring wireworm distribution
in the soil profile in both 2004 and 2005. His motivation was based on complaints coming in from growers who had treated for wireworms but were seeing too much damage in their crops.

In March-May of 2004, Horton conducted a baiting trial in a wireworm-infested field destined to be planted to potatoes. The studies showed that counts of Pacific coast wireworms in baits increased steadily between early April and mid-May, with the peak count occurring well after potatoes had been planted, and as soil temperatures at the one-foot depth approached 60ºF.

Commissioners Appoint First Woman to Washington Potato Commission
The newest Commissioner on the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) is breaking new ground. At its quarterly meeting March 8 in Moses Lake, Commissioners appointed the first female member, Angela Pixton of Warden, to fill the new at-large position created with the passage of the grower referendum earlier this year.

Angela joins 14 other Commissioners, made up of nine elected by growers, four at-large appointed by other Commissioners and one representative, Janet Leister, appointed by the director of the Department of Agriculture. Leister had been the only woman member, and as of the referendum passage, is now a voting member instead of ex officio.

“I guess this means we have a women’s caucus now,” Leister quipped.

Dealing with Black Dot Disease
The lack of specific symptoms for black dot disease make it difficult to detect as well as come up with suitable control practices.
That was the conclusion of Dennis Johnson speaking Feb. 8 during the Washington Potato Conference in Moses Lake. Johnson is a
plant pathologist with Washington State University, Pullman.

Black dot is caused by the fungus Collectotrichum coccodes, the speaker explained, noting that because symptoms of the disease are
not readily evident on foliage, other methods of disease and pathogen detection are needed.

May Need to Examine
To identify the presence of the black dot fungus, growers may need to examine plant roots for cortical rot, isolate and quantify the fungus from stems and roots on semi-selective media or Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques, he said.

The Importance of Proper Cultural Management Practices
With a zero tolerance for tuber moth for any tubers headed to processors, what kind of cultural management practices can be utilized to reduce potential damage?

Mark Pavek, with the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, Pullman,
focused on answering that question during his presentation at the Washington State Potato Feb. 7 in Moses Lake. His topic was “Reducing Tuber Moth Damage with Proper Cultural Management Practices.”

Research for the report was conducted in 2000-02 as a component of Dr. Pavek’s Ph.D. program. Robert Thornton, a co-author on the presentation, was his graduate advisor and has since retired from WSU.

Distinguishing Illusion from Reality in Achieving Compliance with Federal Law and State Rules
Tom Hoffmann, Technical Assistance Specialist
WSDA Chemigation and Fertigation Technical Assistance Program
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) – Pesticide Management Division

As with most departments of agriculture in their respective states, the Washington State Department of Agriculture has primacy, as granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to enforce the provisions of federal pesticide legislation (pesticide label provisions and the Worker Protection Standard) in Washington state. That federal pesticide legislation is the Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act, commonly known as FIFRA.

WSDA also regulates the sale, distribution and use of pesticides, as well as fertilizer and feed, in Washington State. Exercising its statutory authority as granted by the Washington State Legislature, WSDA administers the transportation, sale, distribution, mixing, handling, loading, application, worker notification, posting, storage and disposal of pesticides.

Fundamentally, WSDA’s mandate is to ensure that pesticides are used properly and effectively, thereby preventing pesticiderelated
injury to people, damage to property or harm to the environment. Assurance of proper pesticide use is achieved by conducting
random use inspections, by investigating claims of misuse and by providing technical assistance. The later approach is the essence
of the Chemigation and Fertigation Technical Assistance Program (CFTAP).

Growers Participate in Potato Leadership Institute
Three Washington potato growers were among those who participated in the 2006 Potato Industry Leadership Institute. Andy Pickel of Lind, Kees Weyns of Othello and Tony Wisdom of Mount Vernon joined 17 other potato growers and industry representatives from across the United States in forming the 2006 Institute class, held February 15-23.

The goal of the Institute is to identify, develop and cultivate new leaders within the potato industry. The Institute focuses on leadership development, public policy, marketing, trade, team building, public communication and presentation skills and more. Participants are selected through state organization nominations and a committee facilitated by the National Potato Council and the U.S. Potato Board, who jointly coordinate the program. The Institute receives a major sponsorship from Syngenta, who has long been committed to leadership development in agriculture.

The 2006 Institute began in Grand Forks, N.D., where participants met with local potato industry leadership and toured the USDA/
ARS potato research facility, Ryan Potato Company’s wash plant, Associated Potato Grower’s wash plant, Barrel o’ Fun Snack
Foods Company, JR Simplot’s potato processing plant and met with representatives from RDO Food Group.