When should you plant your spuds? When should you spray them? When should you harvest them? All of these are important things to consider when growing a potato crop. In this webinar experts explain what you need to remember in regard to timing for growing the best possible potato crop. We share results on a study looking at the effect of planting dates, and information on what to keep in mind when it comes to in-season crop protection.

Jed Grow grew up in Utah and left in 2013 to serve a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints in Peru for two years. There he learned Spanish and became involved in humanitarian work developing a passion for service and feeding the poor. He returned the United States and, in an effort, to further pursue these passions began working with a quinoa breeder in Utah trying to feed struggling minorities in Morocco.

He graduated with his undergraduate degree in biotechnology and genetics from Brigham Young University in Utah in 2018. He the received his master’s degree from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in plant sciences and is currently working on his PhD in plant sciences at NDSU and teaching degree slated to graduate with both the end of this year/start of 2024. His current research work involves potato planting date manipulation and if’s effect on yield, bulking rates, and V. dahliae colonization.

Grow’s a drone pilot and well versed in lots of emerging technologies. He’s married to Hannah Grow and they have three wonderful children aged 4, 3, and 1. He’s very involved in his church and passionate about serving God, others and feeding the hungry. He loves potatoes, and his favourite way to eat them is Lefse and his wife’s mashed potatoes. He also plays hockey in his free time. 

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A multitude of issues from spray drifting to soil carryover to sensitive varieties can cause herbicide injury on potatoes. And while it can sometimes cause only a little damage, it can also easily lead to huge losses for your crop. So, what can, and should you do to protect your spuds? In this roundtable webinar, experts share information about what herbicide injury in potatoes is, how it happens and what you can do for your spuds if they get hit.

Bisht obtained his PhD in plant pathology from the University of Illinois working on soybean diseases and his post-doctorate at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics in India working on phytophthora blight of pigeon pea crop. Prior to joining Manitoba Agriculture Bisht managed hydroponic seed potato production facilities in China and Maine.

In his current position, Bisht works on disease and pests affecting potato and vegetable crops in Manitoba. He is involved with insect pests and disease monitoring, disease diagnosis, surveillance and on-farm research and extension on diseases and herbicide drift. Bisht is a cooperator in Canadian Agricultural Partnership projects on potato late blight in Canada and Necrotic viruses, including PMTV in potato.

Robinson grew up farming in Parma, Idaho with his family. He received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his master and doctorate degrees from Purdue University.

Robinson’s research and extension goals are to develop science-based solutions to address real-world problems in potato production, enabling producers to increase economic and environmental sustainability through improved crop management. He contributes regularly to the Valley Potato Grower writing “Andy’s Advice.” His work has taken him around the globe speaking, conducting research, and providing education.

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Growing a potato crop is a 365-day process and fall means it’s time for the potato harvest, it also means time for field prep work. From cover cropping to tillage to fall bedding, there’s a lot you can do to get your field ready for spring potato planting.

In this webinar we were joined by experts who shared tips and tricks on what you can do in your fields this fall to prepare them for potato planting next spring. A representative from McCain’s Farm of the Future presented what they’ve learned so far about fall bedding.

Fageria was born and raised on a family farm business in India. He completed his undergraduate, masters, and PhD in sustainable crop production and has over 25 years of experience as an agronomist. Fageria is the manager of McCain’s Farm of the Future located in Florenceville-Bristol, N.B. At the farm regenerative agricultural practices and innovative technologies are tested to show their economic viability and regional scalability.

Miller was raised on a research farm in southern Idaho. He earned a bachelor of science degree in botany—biotechnology from Brigham Young University in 1994 and a master of science in 1996 and PhD in 1998 degrees in plant pathology at Washington State University working on potato late blight. Miller worked for two years at the University of Minnesota and six years at the University of Idaho in Aberdeen as a potato pathologist conducting research on pink rot, powdery scab, early blight, late blight, silver scurf, black dot, Rhizoctonia, and Verticillium wilt. He now operates his own business in southern Idaho, Miller Research, where he conducts research on crop production and pest management.

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With more potato processing companies pushing for regenerative agriculture and other sustainable growing practices you may be wondering how the fertilizer you use is affected? In this webinar experts from the fertilizer industry explain how you can use fertilizer sustainably on your farm.

Experts from the fertilizer and potato industries take you through the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program and share information on what you can do on your farm to use fertilizer in a more sustainable way.

Wagner is in charge of all things potato at Yara North America, and during this webinar she shares insights on how to use fertilizer more sustainably on your farm. Proper nutrient delivery is critical for maximized yield and quality in potatoes, which is done through applying fertilizer to your fields. Wagner explains how you can maximize production while applying fertilizer in a sustainable way.

Mesko runs the PSA and in this webinar he shares information on how they work with the potato industry to keep sustainability in mind when it comes to fertilizer application. The PSA is an organization focused on defining, measuring, and advancing potato sustainability. It includes members from the grower level all the way up to international companies, including fertilizer companies. Mesko explains how fertilizer companies work with the PSA to reach their sustainability goals.

Smith is in charge of programs at the Fertilizer Canada including running the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program. In this webinar she takes a deep dive into what the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program is. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program is a sustainable farming program that teaches growers to use fertilizer at the right source, at the right rate, at the right time, in the right place. Growers can earn a 4R Designation by completing and applying 4R Nutrient Stewardship grower plans. In this webinar McKenzie will explain all that the program all includes and help you to understand if it’s a right fit for your farm.

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AIR Program uses a proprietary system combining spore trapping and weather monitoring to protect potato crops.

Spud Smart (SS): What is AIR Program? And why should potato growers be interested in it?

Daniel Mondor (DM): AIR Program is a fungus diseases detection program — we like to call it preventive. Because as we know, for a spore to develop as a disease, it takes between four to seven days for the potato pathogens. And then it takes another five to seven days to see foliar traces in the field. So based on that, we usually provide a two-week window to be able to act accordingly…We provide a real time spore trapping data in the field. And we also have a weather risk indicator…This way, it’s a complete tool that you can use in order to know the real portrayal of the situation in the field.

SS: How do your spore traps and weather monitoring systems work?

DM: We use active mobile pumps, and we have a sampler going in the field three days a week, in order to get a report delivered in between 24 to 48 hours, but in most cases we can deliver the report the same day…The pump we use is brought by the sampler in the field. The reason we have decided to go with that kind of equipment is because it’s allowed us to position the sampling pump as per the direction of the wind. This way, the sample is more accurate. And we process the sampling in the sporulation period of the plant pathogen of interest, which is between the dew until around noon.

SS: If I was a potato grower and I was to work with you, what would I have to do?

DM: It’s a turnkey program. You get registered and then we take care of everything. Based on that we schedule the number of days we need for trapping, because it depends on the type of variety and a couple of other aspects. We also install a weather station on the side in order to provide the weather risk indicator…We have a platform where you can have access of all of your data through your phone or your computer…It’s a report, it’s super visual, you can see the reds, the green, the yellow for the weather risk indicator, as well as the number of spores that we have collected earlier in the day or the prior day.

SS: What potato diseases are you able to detect?

DM: We do late blight as well. And something that makes us unique and original is the fact that we can cover, for potatoes for example we cover five pathogens and déclinaisons, which are Phytophthora infestans, the two types of alternaria, which is early blight and brown spot, so alternaria solani, and alternaria alternata. We also do Fusarium and Botrytis, and we also monitor the Oomycetes, which are a category, it’s not the same kind of pathogen, but it definitely has an impact on the development of late blight.

SS: What area does AIR Program cover?

DM: We cover all of Eastern Canada, but we also we are in the States, in Maine, Colorado and Florida — we offer the only probably patented spore testing in North America. And we are developing more and more territory. The next step for Canada will be Alberta and Manitoba. We are super excited, because everywhere we go, we have to adapt because there’s different weather patterns and some other parameters, which is really exciting for scientists like us. We are super enthusiastic to come and start to operate in Western Canada. We will also be present in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as in California.

Make sure to enter to win one of two AIR Program tryout sessions for 2022 growing season.

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Climate change is in the headlines with parts of Canada receiving record heat, cold, drought and moisture over the past few years. While we are firsthand seeing climate change on potato farms across Canada, there is still questions about how it’s going to affect potato production long term. In this webinar we take a closer look at the effect climate change is having on potato production and what can be done to adapt and continue to grow spuds.

During this webinar, you will learn: 

Arnold works to help the agricultural sector navigate a changing climate; develop precision irrigation workflows for farms; address inequities through climate action; and increase climate adaptation capacity on PEI. She was named a Top 25 “Emerging Thought Leader” by Women in International Security Canada for her research last year.

Barrett coordinates local and national research projects with a number of different partners as well as conducting on-farm research trials with a number of P.E.I. potato growers in his role with the board. Recent areas of research focus have included cover crops, use of soil building and disease suppressive crops in potato rotations, managing potato early dying complex, and management of physiological age of seed. Barrett graduated with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the Dalhousie University and a master of science degree from the University of Guelph. He has worked with the P.E.I. Potato Board since 2012 after previously working in the purebred dairy cattle industry. Barrett continues to be involved in his family’s dairy farm. He is a professional agrologist and serves as the vice president of the P.E.I. Institute of Agrologists. He is also a certified crop advisor for the Atlantic provinces.

Proudly Sponsored by 

BASF 

McCain

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Colorado potato beetles (CPBs) are highly adaptive to new control methods, which makes them hard to get rid of in potato fields. A national research project led by AAFC and funded by the Canadian Horticulture Cluster has been working to quantify regional patterns of insecticide resistance and develop regional control methods. This webinar will take a closer look at their research findings which could help control CPBs on your potato crops.

During this webinar, you will learn:

Chandra Moffat, research scientist in entomology with AAFC in Summerland, B.C.

Moffat’s research program centres on the agro-ecology of insect pests and the cropping systems they impact. Her work strives to develop knowledge of the ecology and evolution of both insects and plants across a variety of agricultural systems to develop sustainable pest management strategies. Her research group integrates approaches from natural history, ecology, taxonomy, and molecular genetics to develop new integrated pest management tools. She focuses on development of biological control-based methods for invasive insects, the biological control of invasive weeds, as well as characterizing and delaying the development of insecticide resistance.

Ian Scott, research scientist in entomology and insecticide toxicology with AAFC at the London Research and Development Centre

Scott studies the effects of insecticides and plant-derived metabolites on pest insects with a focus on vegetable crops. His expertise includes insecticide resistance, biopesticide discovery, plant-insect interactions, and chemical ecology. His current projects focus on wireworm, Colorado potato beetle, two-spotted spider mites, and the effects of cover crops on soil invertebrate biodiversity. Scott is the lead author on a recent publication “Proteomic analyses detect higher expression of C-type lectins in imidacloprid-resistant Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say”.

Sheldon Hann, land resource support biologist with AAFC in Fredericton, N.B.

Hann graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 2005 with a bachelor of science in forestry with a specialization in geomatics. He started his career with AAFC in 2005 as a soil and land resource technician where he provided field, lab and geomatics support to the soil, air and water quality research teams at the FRDC. From 2016 to 2019, he acted in the integrated cropping systems scientist role as a biologist and was the principle investigator for two research projects (J-00046, J-001026). In 2019, he began his current position as the lead for the land resource support unit located at the FRDC. In his current role, Hann provides GIS and geomatics support for various research teams across the Atlantic provinces on a wide variety of research projects. He provides research project data compilation, management, analysis and visualization through the use of a variety of software and analysis techniques including artificial intelligence. Hann has successfully developed mapping applications and map products through various GIS platforms that are integral in decision making, fulfilling project requirements, engaging with stakeholders and knowledge transfer activities.

Brought to you by the Canadian Potato Council

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Cover crops are becoming more and more popular as producers of all types are looking at how to preserve and help their soil. Potato growers have been using cover crops for years but with more varieties available, how worth it is it to put the extra work in to plant, maintain and harvest or till up a cover crop?

​​​​​​​During this webinar, you will learn:​​​​​​​

Judith Nyiraneza, research scientist in nutrient management and soil health with AAFC Living Lab – Atlantic

Judith Nyiraneza holds a bachelor of science in agronomy, a master of science in crop and soil sciences from Michigan State University, and a PhD in soil and environment from Laval University. Her research has contributed to increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing environmental performance. Nyiraneza has focused on better understanding nitrogen and carbon cycling in diversified cropping systems and identifying strategies to enhance phosphorus use efficiency in acidic soils. She tests different agricultural practices to enhance soil organic matter in low residue cropping systems.

Scott Gillespie, regenerative ag consultant with Plants Dig Soil Consulting Ltd.


Scott Gillespie helps individuals and companies transition from conventional to regenerative agriculture through consulting, podcasting, and a monthly newsletter. He has his bachelor of science in agriculture with a focus in agronomy from the University of Guelph and his master of science with a focus in plant science from the University of Manitoba. Along with certified crop advisor status Gillespie is also registered with the Alberta Institute of Agrologists as a professional agrologist.

Proudly sponsored by BASF and McCain

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There’s a lot that happens before seed potatoes end up planted in your fields. In order for you to be able to grow the best potato crop you can, seed growers work hard to get that seed ready for you. In this webinar the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will give you an overview of the process they require Canadian seed potato growers to follow to certify their seed for sale. We’ll also have a potato seed grower explain what happens on the ground for growing seed and getting it ready for planting in your fields.

Christopher Dunbar, potato program specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Jake Hoogland, seed potato grower with Hoogland Farms in Millet, Alta.

Hoogland Farms is a family farm with Jake and his father working together. They grow 380 acres of seed potatoes and a small amount of grain. The Hoogland’s grow approximately 30 varieties and 90 lots of potatoes, from the mini tuber stage to shipping E1, E2 or E3. The Hoogland’s have been growing potatoes near Millet since 1998, before that they grew seed potatoes in the Netherlands for over 40 years. Jake moved to Canada in 1996 where he first worked on a seed potato farm near Edmonton, Alta. Jake is the chairman of Edmonton Potato Growers and a long-time board member of the seed potato committee for the Potato Growers of Alberta. He is married with one child and enjoys farming and kart racing.

Proudly sponsored by BASF and McCain

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