News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

July 05, 2012

New director of marketing and industry affairs for Washington State Potato Commission

The Washington State Potato Commission announced the recent addition of Ryan Holterhoff to their organization as the Director of Marketing and Industry Affairs.

Late blight (Phytophthora Infestans) on potato leaf

July 05, 2012

New York State growers warned of late blight

Home gardeners and commercial growers are alerted of the potential introduction of late blight this growing season, as it has been confirmed in Suffolk County.

July 04, 2012

Idaho potato growers concerned over zebra chip

Liberibacter, the bacterium responsible for zebra chip, has been found in an Idaho potato field.

July 03, 2012

Potato harvest begins in Washington State

Starting around July 6 potato growers in the Yakima Valley will begin harvesting reds and yellows, as long as the weather remains cooperative.

July 03, 2012

Idaho Potato Commission to look into premium paid for Idaho spuds

The Idaho Potato Commission plans to conduct a price audit of random stores to investigate concerns that the premium customers will pay for an Idaho spud may be eroding.

July 03, 2012

US potato growers ponder impact of big crop

Idaho potato farmer Dan Moss highlighted a common Catch-22 for his industry when he assessed the progress of the 2012 spud crop.

July 02, 2012

AgriLife Research zeroes in on potato disease insect

Do potato psyllids migrate from one location to the next, starting in northern Mexico and moving northward as the potato season progresses, or are psyllid populations local?

July 02, 2012

Certis USA's BmJ WG Receives Emergency Exemption For Use on Montana Seed Potatoes Susceptible to PVY

The reemergence of Potato Virus Y (PVY) in potato seed stock is of great concern to farmers because insecticides used to control the aphids that vector PVY do not effectively decrease transmission of the disease.

July 02, 2012

US Potato growers welcome agreement to include Mexico in Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations

US potato industry leaders applaud the Tuesday, June 19, announcement by US President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderón to include Mexico in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.

July 02, 2012

Idaho Potato Psyllids test positive for zebra chip disease

The University of Idaho extension today announced that the potato psyllids found last month in Idaho tentatively tested positive for Liberibacter, Zebra Chip disease.

June 28, 2012

Two potato psyllids found in Twin Falls spud field

Two adult potato psyllids were found on yellow sticky cards that were collected June 19 from a Twin Falls County potato field, according to an alert issued Tuesday by University of Idaho Extension staff.

June 28, 2012

Potatoes off to a good start in Canada#s Manitoba province

The disease risk in potatoes has increased with the wet weather over the last few weeks. Luckily, so far no late blight hasbeen found in Manitoba.

June 27, 2012

Henk Tepper says Ottawa did nothing to get him released from Lebanese jail

During the 373 days he spent in a Lebanese jail on allegations he tried to export rotten potatoes to Algeria, Henk Tepper says the day his daughter graduated from high school was among the most difficult. The farmer from New Brunswick spoke for the fi...

June 25, 2012

Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) launches website

The Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at www.apre.org

June 24, 2012

EPA approves a dry formulation of Marrone Bio Innovations' Grandevo biopesticide

Grandevo is approved for use on ornamental plants and edible crops in field and greenhouse applications, and allows flexibility in air and ground applications.

June 20, 2012

Pest outlook for Canada’s potato-growing regions

Potato pests can vary across Canada’s potato-growing regions. Whether they are new or notorious, their reach and severity depends upon Mother Nature’s whims.

June 19, 2012

NDSU Potato Blightline - Recommendations for June 18

Late blight has not been reported in North Dakota, Minnesota or Manitoba. With the fair weather, late blight severity values are unchanged since Friday.