Othello welcomes potato growers and scientists

Potato growers and scientists from Washington, Oregon and Idaho congregated at Washington State University’s Othello Research facility at Cox and Booker roads during Potato Field Day June 24 to exchange pertinent facts about pest control and water management.

One WSU researcher, Carrie Wohleb, who works in Grant and Adams counties said all the data gathering being done means little if it can’t be shared with people who actually implement it in the fields.

Prior to the field day, potato growers from the tri-state region sent in their seeds, which were planted and grown in the field. Workers checked the plants and flagged those with diseases, such as leafroll, blackleg and mosaic viruses.

This enables the growers to visit plots featuring their own plants.

Very little disease was detected this year, said Mark Pavek, a WSU professor who hosted the event.