Specialty Crop Grants Helping to Boost Wisconsin's Potato Industry

The nearly $1 million in specialty crop grants announced recently by the state is already producing results for Wisconsin's potato and vegetable industry. This week, State Agriculture Secretary Randy Romanski and DNR Secretary Matt Frank said the money has helped fund improved irrigation systems and other initiatives. It is also helping producers be better stewards of the land that they farm.

"One of Wisconsin's greatest agricultural strengths is its diversity, and specialty crop block grants are helping many parts of the state's $59 billion farm economy compete more effectively and use natural resources more efficiently,"Romanski said at a potato wash facility in central Wisconsin.

The grants being awarded to the potato and vegetable growers include $70,000 to develop potato production systems with drip irrigation and bed configuration to improve efficiency of water and resource use;$80,000 to improve processed potato quality by minimizing the negative effects of sugar end defect;$74,100 to assess soil fumigation and fumigation alternatives in Wisconsin potato production;and $44,300 to develop alternative sprout management systems in potatoes.