May 16th, 2013

ANNABELLE IN MICROWAVEABLE PACKAGING

W. P. Griffin Inc. has been growing potatoes for 60 years and would like Canada to become acquainted with the best possible potatoes. In co-operation with HZPC Americas Corp., the P.E.I.-based company has tested the Annabelle variety, which is famous in Europe, on the Canadian market.

“We have signed an exclusive agreement with HZPC for cultivation and distribution in Canada,” says John Griffin, chairman of W. P. Griffin.

For additional distinction on the shelf and convenience for the consumer, W. P. Griffin has developed microwave packaging for Annabelle potatoes. With this fully recyclable packaging, the potatoes are ready to eat in about six to eight minutes.

The microwaveable Annabelle Potato Steamers can be found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. This new packaging fits well with the customer who is looking for convenience and also allows the potatoes to stay fresh much longer. Read more.

J.R. SIMPLOT PETITIONS FOR GM POTATO DEREGULATION

J.R. Simplot Company has submitted a petition to United States authorities to deregulate biotech potatoes known as Innate.·

This potato variety has been genetically engineered to decrease production of acrylamide, a potential carcinogen under certain cooking conditions, and reduce black spot bruising.

The petition claims that the potatoes are unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and thus should not be a regulated article under U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulations.

APHIS published the petition on May 3 to the Federal Register, the official journal of the U.S. government, and will consider all comments received from the public within 60 days of the publication date. Read more.

U.S. SEED PRODUCERS HARMONIZE FOR EXPORT 

 The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has launched a State National Harmonization Program for seed potatoes. The program is a collaborative effort between APHIS, the National Potato Council, the United States Potato Board, the National Plant Board and state seed certification agencies.

“The harmonization program launched by APHIS and its partners is an important tool that will benefit U.S. agricultural trade and the economy,” says Rebecca Bech, deputy administrator of APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine. “By working together to harmonize seed certification programs, this country’s potato industry is better positioned to take advantage of trade opportunities.”

Each participating state agrees to follow baseline standards regarding both quarantine and non-quarantine potato pests, creating a framework in which interstate and international commerce can be facilitated.

Currently, 12 states participate in the program, covering 98.5 per cent of all U.S. seed potato acreage: Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming are the participating states, while New York, California, and Alaska are in the process of completing the requirements for entry into the program. Three non-seed potato producing states – Alabama, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia – have also signed onto the program in an effort to demonstrate to trading partners that their potato industries are following best practices by using seed potatoes that are produced through this program. Read more.

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April 18th, 2013

NEW WEED CONTROL AVAILABLE FOR WESTERN CANADA

Western Canadian potato farmers have a new tool for powerful, flexible weed control and more convenient resistance management. Titus PRO is a new post-emergent herbicide solution from DuPont that combines DuPont Prism SG (rimsulfuron) and a 75 per cent DF metribuzin into one convenient co-pack.

“Titus PRO provides exceptional post-emergent control of a broad spectrum of grassy and broadleaf weeds, and its multiple modes of action make it an excellent resistance management tool,” says Ray Janssen, market segment manager of horticulture at DuPont Crop Protection.

Packaged in a convenient, easy-to-use case, DuPont Titus PRO delivers multiple modes of action―Group 2 and Group 5―in one co-pack for up to 40-acres of coverage, providing the industry with a proactive resistance management tool.

“Growers have always appreciated the superior control of annual grasses they’ve achieved using Prism SG. Now with the additional power of metribuzin, they’ll see enhanced residual control of a far wider range of broadleaf weeds as well,” says Janssen. “We’re pleased to be able to deliver this co-pack of powerful performance and convenience to the largest horticultural market in Canada.”

Titus PRO controls grassy weeds such as barnyard grass, quackgrass and lamb’s-quarters, as well as, broadleaf weeds such as cocklebur, common chickweed and post-emergent stinkweed.·Read more.

KEITH KUHL ELECTED AS CHC PRESIDENT

Keith Kuhl, a Winkler, Man., potato farmer, is the new president of the Canadian Horticultural Council. Kuhl was elected during the CHC’s annual general meeting held March 13 to 15 in Ottawa.

Kuhl owns and operates Southern Manitoba Potato with his two sons and is also chair of the board of directors for Manitoba’s Peak of the Market. He has served as chair of the Potato Committee and Potato Council for nearly nine years and is currently vice-chair of the Horticultural Value Chain Roundtable.

Keith’s father, John, was actively involved with the CHC for many years and served as president in 1987.·Read more.

A GREENER APPROACH TO MANAGING POTATO SPOILAGE

A leading British potato business has adopted an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemicals for tackling rots in pre-packed potatoes. Earlier this year, the Branston potato company and biocontrol firm Advanced Pest Solutions won a Scottish Life Science Enterprise Award for their collaborative work in developing this greener alternative.

The innovative, eco-friendly product is called Biolyse and works by using naturally-occurring bacteriophage―a virus which is parasitic in a bacterium―to destroy the bacteria which cause rots.

Alison Blackwell, chief executive with APS, says that the product is proven to work on a large scale in potatoes, with the potential for it to be rolled out to other areas within the food processing industry.

APS has been developing bacteriophage since 2004. “They are naturally-occurring viruses which target specific bacteria, but are totally safe to non-target organisms. Biolyse is the world’s first bacteriophage-based food processing aid,” says Blackwell.

Potato processors in the past have had to apply a chlorine-based chemical spray to prevent rots and improve shelf life of pre-packed potatoes. Branston, with an eye on reducing its carbon footprint, worked with APS to address the potato spoilage issue without the use of chemicals.·Read more.

MESH COVERS COULD BEAT PSYLLID

A simple mesh cover could be the answer to halting one of New Zealand’s most devastating tomato and potato pests. The covers are being trialed at the Lincoln University Future Farming Centre to see if they can stop the tomato potato psyllid from invading the plants.·

According to centre head Charles Merfield the results so far look extremely promising, despite this being just the first season of trials. “We’re really short of a non-chemical organic solution to psyllid on field crops, so I thought we should give these mesh covers a go,” says Merfield.

They are similar to the covers used in the horticulture and viticulture industries to protect crops from frost. The covers are essentially woven fishing line designed to act as a physical barrier between pests and the crop.

Unlike frost cloth, these mesh covers are designed to have a minimum effect on the temperature under the cloth. Merfield sourced a range of different meshes from suppliers and used them for a simple test in a lab using a capsicum leaf and psyllid. The results were very positive. The psyllid was unable to pass through the mesh to eat the leaf and died after seven days.·Read more.

In Memory of Phil Somerville

Mana Canada is deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of their colleague, mentor and friend, Philip Somerville. Phil was a long-standing member of the MANA Canada team, filling the roles of Quali-Pro business manager, eastern business manager and new product development manager.·

The company says that, with Phil’s passing, the industry has lost a talented advocate, benevolent colleague and dear friend whose sincerity and warmth will be deeply missed. In honour of Phil’s memory, MANA Canada will be making a donation to the Canadian Agri-Business Educational Foundation, which provides scholarships to deserving students who wish to pursue post-secondary education in agriculture.·Read more.

 

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April 4th 2013

 

DuPont·Cyazypyr Insecticide·Receives PMRA Registration

The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency has granted approval for registration of DuPont’s Cyazypyr insecticide, for Canadian potato farmers.

Cyazypyr is the active ingredient in three new insect control products, each of which have been formulated to provide optimal performance based on their use pattern. According to DuPont, when applied early in the crop life, Cyazypyr can increase the opportunity for improved marketable yield by reducing feeding damage and the impact of insect-vectored diseases.

“Cyazypyr is our first active ingredient to control a cross-spectrum of chewing and sucking pests,” says Ray Janssen, market segment manager of specialty products at Dupont. “It is an excellent option for growers to use in an early application to boost plant establishment and vigour, especially in vegetables. Crops are responding really well and show exceptional plant health at the early stages of the crop life due to the reduction of crop stress.”

For 2013, growers can realize the benefits of Cyazypyr through use of the following three brands:

DuPont Benevia insecticide: a new cross-spectrum potato insect control product that reduces the stress from insect pest pressure by controlling key pests such as Colorado potato beetle (including Group 4 neonicotinoid-resistant CPB), European corn borer and aphids.

DuPont Verimark insecticide: a new in-furrow and seed treatment product for potatoes and a soil applied product for brassica vegetables allowing excellent early crop establishment by controlling CPB, diamondback moth and swede midge.

DuPont Exirel insecticide: a new product for fruit and vegetable growers that will help produce a stronger crop in the field for a more appealing crop at harvest because of its broad-spectrum control.·Exirel provides a new mode of action for thrips and sucking insects with no cross-resistance to other chemistries.

Studies to date have demonstrated that Cyazypyr has low toxicity to birds, fish, mammals, earthworms and microorganisms, and it breaks down rapidly in the environment. As·with·all·pest control products, users are urged to read·and·follow·label·instructions·carefully.·Read more.

Canadian Potato Museum Receives $49,500 Donation

The Canadian Potato Museum has received a donation in the amount of $49,500 from Sobeys and W.P. Griffin Inc. of Elmsdale, P.E.I., as a result of a successful potato sales promotion in February. During the promotion, 198,000 10-pound bags of heritage netted gems from W.P. Griffin were sold at Sobeys and Foodland locations in Atlantic Canada, with 25 cents from each bag going to the museum.

“The Canadian Potato Museum is ecstatic with both the exposure and monetary contribution realized through this promotion,” says museum director Bill MacKendrick. “Proceeds from the promotion will be used toward future projects at our non-profit museum. This promotion demonstrates how businesses can work together to achieve great results and the Canadian Potato Museum wants to issue a heart-felt thank you to all involved. Funds from this promotion will allow the museum to continue to enhance our programming and grow the facility into a must-see tourist attraction and educational experience in the province.”

“We are proud to support the Canadian Potato Museum,” says John Griffin, president of W.P. Griffin. “We strive to raise awareness of the museum to the public and hopefully increase attendance. The museum is an excellent facility which has made an excellent effort in preserving the history of the potato industry in Canada.”·Read more.

GF2 Increases Innovation, Market Opportunities and Competitiveness

April 1 marked the official launch of the·Growing Forward 2 policy framework for Canada’s agricultural and agri-food sector. GF2 is a $3-billion dollar investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments and the foundation for government agricultural programs and services over the next five years.·

“The Harper government remains focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. We are working with Canadian farmers to move the agriculture and agri-food industry forward to adapt, innovate and compete in markets at home and abroad,” says Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “Growing Forward 2 delivers what the sector needs to position Canadian farmers, producers and processors for growth and prosperity in the years ahead.”

The agriculture and agri-food sector is an important contributor to Canada’s economy. The Canadian agriculture and agri-food system accounts for eight per cent of total GDP (or $101.1 billion) and employs 2.1 million people.·

GF2 programs will focus on innovation, competitiveness and market development to ensure Canadian producers and processors have the tools and resources they need to continue to innovate and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

GF2 includes $2 billion cost-shared on a 60:40 basis for programs delivered by provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federally delivered strategic initiatives. Under·GF2, federal, provincial and territorial cost-shared investments will increase by 50 per cent and provincial and territorial governments will have greater flexibility to tailor programs to local needs.

Bilateral negotiations between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments to finalize details of the cost-shared programs are underway. Specific provincial and territorial programs will be announced as they become available.·Read more.

U.S. NASS Suspends Potato, Vegetable, Fruit Surveys

On March 12, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service decided to suspend a number of statistical surveys and reports for the remainder of the fiscal year, due to reduced funding caused by sequestration.

Before deciding upon the program suspensions, NASS reviewed its survey programs against mission and user-based criteria, as well as the amount of time remaining in the fiscal year to conduct the surveys, with the goal of finding available cost savings and maintaining the strongest data in service to agriculture. The decision to suspend these reports was not made lightly, but was necessary given the funding situation, according to NASS.

The program suspensions include: potato stocks reports; all non-citrus fruit, nut and vegetable forecasts and estimates; June on-farm and off-farm stocks for Austrian winter peas, chickpeas, dry peas and lentils; and July acreage forecasts for Austrian winter peas, dry edible peas and lentils.·Read more.

Neogen Launches Quick Test for Rhizoctonia

Neogen maintains it has developed the quickest and easiest method to detect·Rhizoctonia spp., a group of fungal pathogens which cause root and stem rots, damping off of young plants and plant loss.

According to the company, Neogen’s newly formatted·Rhizoctonia spp. ALERT-LF is the only commercially available lateral flow assay capable of detecting these pathogens. This simple test provides a presence/absence result within 10 minutes in a format that makes it a valuable tool for on-site testing. This completes the range of ALERT-LF kits, which also includes·Phytophthora spp.,·Pythium spp. and·Botrytis spp.

“Each of our ALERT-LF tests are suitable for use in a glasshouse, field and laboratory, as the devices can be used without the aid of special equipment or detailed technical knowledge,” says Steve Chambers Neogen Europe’s sales and marketing director. “These kits provide real-time, easy-to-interpret results and permit rapid disease identification in a variety of settings.”·

Dedicated sales and technical support for customers within North, Central and South America is available through Neogen’s office in Lexington, Ky.·Read more.

 

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March 21, 2013

Bayer Offering Titan Insecticide for In-furrow Application

Bayer CropScience potato insecticide Titan is now registered as an in-furrow application to complement its trusted performance as a seed-piece treatment. Titan, the broadest spectrum seed-piece insecticide for potatoes, now has the added benefit of application flexibility.·

“We work to provide growers with not only the best pest control, but also flexible application options,” says David Kikkert, portfolio manager of horticulture with Bayer. “With the new in-furrow registration of Titan, growers now have the option of applying this popular insecticide as either a seed-piece treatment or an in-furrow application.”

Early season control of insects helps plants get off to a healthy, vigorous start. Titan provides insect control that growers can count on to help maximize yields as well as reducing the risk of secondary diseases such as blackleg, which thrive on insect damage.

Titan is formulated as a convenient flowable liquid and is available in two litre jugs.·Read more.

Genetic Mechanism Allows Potato Cultivation in Northern Latitudes

An international team of scientists headed by Wageningen University in the Netherlands has discovered a genetic mechanism that allows potato plants to develop tubers during the long days of spring and summer in northern latitudes.

The scientists, headed by Wageningen UR Plant Breeding, have published their findings on the gene, allowing the potato to grow and flourish far from its Andean origins, in the scientific journal·Nature.

The authors describe a variety of mutations in the tuber formation regulator gene which occur in different combinations in modern potato cultivars, giving rise to early, medium and late varieties, depending on the combination of the gene variants present in the tetraploid crop.

Knowledge of the genes underlying the mechanism of early development will allow plant breeders to tailor new potato varieties to various geographic locations.·Read more.

Chemical Trickery Explored to Help Contain Potato Pest

The pale cyst nematode,·Globodera pallida, is a roundworm that if left unchecked burrows into potato roots to feed, obstructing nutrients and causing stunted growth, wilted leaves and other symptoms that can eventually kill the plant. Severe infestations can cause tuber yield losses of up to 80 per cent. Now, however, the United States Department of Agriculture and co-operating scientists are evaluating new ways to control·G. pallida using naturally occurring chemicals called egg-hatching factors.

According to Roy Navarre, a leading scientist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, the egg-hatching factors are actually chemicals exuded from the roots of the potato and certain other solanaceous plants into surrounding soil. There, the chemicals stimulate·G. pallida eggs to hatch.

Normally, this helps ensure the survival of emerging juvenile nematodes. But Navarre’s approach calls for using the chemicals to “trick” the eggs into hatching when no potato plants are present, leaving juveniles without food or a host on which to reproduce.·

Navarre, who works at the ARS Vegetable and Forage Crops Research Laboratory in Prosser, Wash., is exploring two approaches to force the eggs to hatch in the absence of a host: amending the soil with purified forms of egg-hatching factors and planting sticky nightshade as a “trap crop” whose roots exude the chemicals but don’t support the nematode’s reproduction.

Fumigation is a key defense. However, the·G. pallida eggs are encased in cysts that can resist fumigation, according to Navarre, whose investigation is part of a broader, multi-pronged control effort involving researchers from state universities, other ARS labs, and federal and state agriculture departments.·Read more.

The Southern Ladybird to be let Loose on Potato Pests

·In seven years, a tiny sap-sucking insect called the tomato-potato psyllid has caused major damage in the potato industry in New Zealand. Research conducted by the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University in N.Z., using the southern ladybird as a biological control agent, has shown the predator to be voracious and effective at reducing TPP numbers on glasshouse potatoes.

This month, the first batch of these potent predators will be released on an organic potato crop in Hororata, N.Z., as research moves from the lab to the field.

The TPP, native to Central America, is a tiny sap-sucking insect that causes damage to plants through feeding on leaves and transmitting a harmful bacterium. It is not known how the TPP arrived in New Zealand. The current control method for this pest requires frequent applications of insecticides, and there is potential that the TPP may become pesticide-resistant.

The ladybird is found throughout southern and central Australia and was introduced in New Zealand during the 1970s as a biological control agent of eggs of the eucalypt tortoise beetle.

This biological control program is called a new species association approach, meaning a natural enemy ( in this case the ladybird), has not co-evolved with the pest (the TPP). Research indicates that such new associations have a 75 per cent greater success rate than if the natural enemy co-evolves with the pest.

“With funding from Potatoes New Zealand to carry out this research, laboratory testing has shown that the ladybird can consume up to 100 TPP during at 24-hour period” says Steve Wratten, an ecology professor at Lincoln University. “The next stage of the research project is to release the ladybird in an organic potato field to assess its potential to manage the TPP.”·Read more.

Potato Association of America Annual Meeting

·The Potato Association of America is holding its annual meeting July 28 to 31 in Quebec City, Que. The PAA membership is made up of university research and extension staff, industry personnel and growers primarily from the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America, but another 50 countries are represented as well. The objective of the association is the collection and dissemination of the best available technical and practical information relating to all aspects of potato production, biology and utilization.

The annual meeting sessions will include a symposium on bacterial diseases as well as thematic technical sessions and scientific poster exhibitions. Technical and sightseeing tours will also be held, enabling participants to visit a major production and marketing operation in Portneuf, Que., and local agritourism businesses.·Read more.

 

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March 7, 2013

 

Closer Registered For Use on Potatoes

Dow AgroSciences has announced that potato growers in Canada now have access to Closer, a new insecticide with a unique mode of action for the control of aphids. Aphids transmit viruses and can reduce marketable yield. Aphid control is particularly critical in potato seed production where the tolerance for total virus levels is extremely low. Canada’s regulatory authorities have approved Closer for the control of several important species of aphids in potato crops.

The active ingredient in Closer is Sulfoxaflor, the first insecticidal molecule to be commercialized from a new class of insecticides called sulfoximines. Effective at low use rates, Closer is very fast acting and provides extended residual control. According to Dow AgroSciences, Closer provides excellent systemic and translaminar activity, ensuring control of hidden pests in the plant canopy and on the undersides of leaves. The company says Sulfoxaflor is effective on insect populations resistant to other insecticide classes such as neonicotinoids, organophosphates and pyrethroids, and will be a valuable rotational partner with other chemistries.

“Seed potato growers have to be absolutely diligent about controlling aphid populations,” says Jerry Olechowski, marketing manager with Dow AgroSciences. “This novel mode of action provides super-fast knockdown of insect pests. Closer exhibits complex and unique interactions with important receptors in the insect’s central nervous system different from those observed with neonicotinoids. It exhibits no cross-resistance in insects that are resistant to neonicotinoids—a tremendous advantage for managing resistant populations.”·Read more.

Key Technology and Visys Merge

“This partnership with Visys creates a value proposition that is unmatched in the industry. Through a single supplier, customers will have access to the highest performing chute-fed and belt-fed sorters available, along with our industry-leading processing systems and unparalleled support to satisfy needs in all steps of the processing line,” says Jack Ehren, president and CEO of Key Technology. “Given this unprecedented mix of product solutions and services, we’re well positioned to improve customers’ operational efficiencies and maximize their competitive advantages. Furthermore, by consolidating our intellectual property and innovations, we expect to accelerate the development of next-generation sorting technology.”

The strengths of Key and Visys are complementary on multiple levels. Visys adds field-proven chute-fed in-air sorters to Key’s family of belt-fed sorters. Plus, Visys has developed advanced laser technology and hyperspectral-based BioPrint sorting, while Key excels with camera/laser sorting and the integration of conveying and other processing systems.·Read more.

First Study of Small Regulatory Molecules in Potato Using Full Genome

Researchers at the James Hutton Institute based in the United Kingdom have used the potato genome to conduct the first genome-wide study utilizing a high-throughput method to describe potato micro-RNAs . The study by the institute, which led efforts to decode the potato genome as part of an international consortium, shows how the genome can be put to use by researchers.·

Micro-RNAs are important as they form the code which makes genes active or not at the RNA level and they can also control traits in the potato like resistance to disease or tuberization. By using a high-throughput method, the researchers were able to identify 150 families of miRNAs in potato, 28 of which were conserved, meaning they can also be found in other species. The findings will not only support future studies of the role of miRNAs in potato but also have the potential of being used in the study of otherSolanaceae species, like tomato, aubergine and peppers.

Csaba Hornyik, lead author of the study, said it was the first step for future studies working on small non-coding RNAs and miRNAs in the potato. “It is really important to understand the molecular events playing a role in the development of potato or their responses to stress, which are still relatively poorly understood,” he said. “This was an exploratory study to find as many miRNAs as we could in potato. We can now build on this knowledge to find out the role of miRNAs in tuber development and also investigate their roles upon biotic or abiotic stresses in potato.”·Read more.

CHC Holding AGM in Early 2013

The 2013 Canadian Horticultural Council’s Annual General Meeting is being held in Ottawa from March 12 to 15, 2013, at the Westin Ottawa. This year’s theme is Canadians Growing Healthy. The business sessions will address high-priority issues for CHC members and include presentations and panel discussions on the many issues horticulture is facing. Government officials and allied sector representatives will be on hand to hear any concerns and participate in the discussions.·Read more.

 

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February 21, 2013

 

American Vanguard Announces Registration of SmartBlock

American Vanguard Corp. has received registration from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for SmartBlock, a novel potato sprout inhibitor. Additionally, Canadian and European registrations have been filed and these approvals are progressing on schedule.

SmartBlock represents a patented, new class of potato sprout inhibitors which offer a breakthrough approach for eliminating sprouting in storage and restoring dormancy to potato tubers.

The product is a naturally-occurring molecule, which is classified as an approved direct food additive and by the EPA as a biopesticide. It provides a safe, rapid sprout burn-off on all varieties of potatoes without affecting potato quality and is easily applied through existing fogging equipment. It is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance.

“The registration of SmartBlock significantly expands AMVAC’s potato product portfolio, which includes offerings from pre-planting through post-harvest storage. It enables potato storage managers to utilize a novel, efficacious and green approach for sprout control. We believe SmartBlock offers a preferred alternative to the widely-used carbamate, chlorpropham, and based on the excellent results observed in our European trials, we expect there are significant additional opportunities for SmartBlock in other international markets,” explains Eric Wintemute, chairman and chief executive officer of AMVAC.·Read more.

CanadaGAP Food Safety Manuals Updated for 2013
Updated versions of the CanadaGAP Food Safety Manuals have been released and include:·Fruit and Vegetable Manual, Version 6.1, which covers field/orchard/vineyard-grown crops (i.e.: combined vegetable, leafy vegetable and cruciferae, potato, small fruit, tree and vine fruit), and the·Greenhouse Manual, Version 6.1, which covers greenhouse-grown vegetables.·

The revised CanadaGAP manuals have been reviewed and the changes approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. For certification purposes, the new manuals take effect on April 1, 2013. A corresponding update to the CanadaGAP audit checklist will be issued prior to that date.

CanadaGAP continues to maintain six separate generic HACCP models, which are available upon request. This approach ensures that any issues or scientific developments affecting only certain crop groupings or commodities will continue to be addressed with the appropriate technical rigour.

In general, requirements for all crop groupings remain largely unchanged for 2013, except where additions were needed to meet requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative, to which the CanadaGAP program is benchmarked. Otherwise the majority of revisions to the manuals are editorial in nature, to clarify or further explain existing requirements.·Read more.

BASF Fungicide Approved for use on Specialty Crops

BASF’s fungicide for specialty crops, Initium, has been approved in the European Union for use in crop protection products. This follows Initium’s initial launches in select countries in Europe, North and South America, and will help BASF to obtain registrations for products containing Initium in all EU-member countries.

“We have a long track record as an innovative food chain partner in specialty crops and are thrilled that Initium’s approval in the EU marks another important milestone in this regard,” says Jürgen Oldeweme, senior vice-president, global product safety and registration at BASF’s Crop Protection division. “Proper timing is a major challenge for specialty crop farmers. With Initium, they can expect greater flexibility when dealing with plant diseases.”

Initium is a highly selective fungicide that provides reliable and flexible control against a range of downy mildews and late blights in grapes, vegetables, potatoes and other specialty crops. Initium’s high efficacy and unique properties, including affinity to waxy surfaces, redistribution on growing leaves and rainfastness, keep crops protected and healthy for longer, allowing them to develop their full potential.

Initium-containing products will support farmers worldwide in many different crops and segments. BASF is focused on attaining further registrations around the globe.Read more.

Bayer CropScience Expands Product Labels

Labels for some leading products from Bayer CropScience, including Admire, Reason and Flint, have been expanded to provide Canadian fruit and vegetable growers with access to more diversified crop protection options. These changes are thanks to advancements in the regulatory environment in Canada, which now offers regulatory synchronization, allowing Bayer to review its U.S. fruit and vegetable use patterns and identify opportunities to support Canadian fruit and vegetable growers.

“Canada’s historical regulatory approach to satisfying registration requirements often meant Canadian growers were sometimes restricted from using the same products available to their U.S. counterparts,” says David Kikkert, portfolio manager of horticulture with Bayer CropScience. “The expansion of the Admire, Reason and Flint labels demonstrates our commitment to Canadian growers and how we’re striving to close the technology gap between the U.S. and Canada.”

For 17 years, growers in Canada have used Admire as a trusted product in potatoes, and over these years the label has expanded into crops including ginseng, brassica leafy vegetables (Crop Group 5) and highbush blueberries (Crop Group 13).·

Work by Bayer CropScience to reduce the technology gap also means Canadian growers can now use Reason as a foliar fungicide on tomatoes and turnip greens for control of tough diseases such as late and early blight and downy mildew. Regulatory advancements have also led to the expansion of the Flint label, which controls several important diseases in Canada including powdery mildew, scab and rust. Previously registered for management of disease on pome fruit, grapes, cherries and hazelnuts, Canadian growers can now use Flint on a number of new crops, including strawberries for powdery mildew and on asparagus for stemphyllium purple spot and rust.

Over the past five years, while maintaining its regulatory rigour, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency has modified how registrants can satisfy the data requirements. Today, a zonal approach can be used, allowing U.S. data to be submitted in a Canadian registration. This gives the industry a greater opportunity to address the technology gap between the United States and Canada. The gap is closing as a result of coordinated efforts by all stakeholders including the PMRA, Pest Management Advisory Council, Canadian Horticulture Council, global regulatory bodies, grower groups and crop protection companies such as Bayer CropScience.

Several new processes, including Project 914, technology gap and joint review registrations, have allowed the Bayer CropScience fruit and vegetable team members to share registration data with their colleagues in the United States for a quicker, more comprehensive review, which has increased the opportunity to obtain many of the same use patterns for both U.S. and Canadian growers.·

“Closing the technology gap between the U.S. and Canada is an important aspect of the registration process,” says Kikkert. “We are committed to capturing regulatory opportunities to further enable Canadian growers to participate in a strong and competitive fruit and vegetable market.”·Read more.

CHC Holding AGM in Early 2013

The 2013 Canadian Horticultural Council’s Annual General Meeting is being held in Ottawa from March 12 to 15, 2013, at the Westin Ottawa. The facility is located in the heart of Canada’s capital city just steps away from Ottawa’s beautiful scenery and attractions.·

This year’s theme is Canadians Growing Healthy. The business sessions will address issues of top priority for CHC members and include presentations and panel discussions on the many issues facing horticulture. Government officials and allied sector representatives will be on hand to hear any concerns and participate in the debate.

Delegates are urged to complete the registration forms and return them to the CHC National Office as soon as possible. A separate registration is required for the Companion Program.·Read more.

 

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February 7, 2013

 

CanadaGAP Completes Re-Benchmarking by the GFSI

·CanadaGAP, the Canadian food safety program for fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, has been successfully re-benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative and has achieved recognition against the GFSI guidance document sixth edition.

·“GFSI recognition will allow CanadaGAP-certified companies to remain competitive and maintain access to customers who increasingly demand certification to a GFSI-recognized food safety program,” says Tom Byttynen, chair of CanadaGAP.

GFSI benchmarking determines equivalency against an internationally recognized set of food safety requirements, based on industry best practice and sound science. These requirements are developed through a consensus-building process by key stakeholders in the food supply chain and are published in the GFSI guidance document sixth edition.

CanadaGAP joins a handful of other food safety programs that have undergone GFSI’s thorough and comprehensive review process.

“CanadaGAP appreciates the rigour of the GFSI benchmarking process and is pleased to receive recognition. GFSI recognition of CanadaGAP gives Canada’s fruit and vegetable industry the option to implement a made-in-Canada program that meets GFSI’s high standard and satisfies the food safety requirements of customers in domestic and international markets,” says Heather Gale, executive director for CanadaGAP.·Read more.

P.E.I. Potato Growers Commit $500,000 Over Five Years to Research

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board recently held a series of district meetings with Island potato growers to discuss making research a greater priority for the producer-controlled organization.·

When growers were asked whether they supported making research funding a bigger priority for the board, the response was overwhelmingly positive at every meeting, with an approval rate close to 100 per cent. As a result, the P.E.I. Potato Board will include research coordination and funding as a more significant part of its mandate. Board funds will be combined with other industry funding in order to leverage provincial and federal government research funding, primarily under the upcoming Growing Forward 2 program that begins in April of this year.

Potato growers will have a hand in determining which proposed national and provincial research projects will receive funding from the board based on the merits of the research plan and the research priorities of the Island potato industry. Prince Edward Island will work in partnership with other potato-producing provinces and research partners as part of a national potato research strategy.

As well, the board is working with industry partners, the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Agriculture, and Agri-Food Canada to develop a provincial research strategy for research to be conducted on Prince Edward Island. At the end of this time period, growers will then evaluate the return on their investment in research.·Read more.

Cruiser Maxx D Potato Seed Piece Treatment Registered for Use in Canada

Syngenta Canada Inc. has received registration for Cruiser Maxx D Potato, a new, liquid potato seed piece treatment for use in Canada. Cruiser Maxx D Potato helps growers get their crop off to a strong start by protecting vulnerable seed pieces against yield- and quality-robbing diseases and insects.·

“Syngenta continues to advance its seed care technology for potato growers. With Cruiser Maxx D Potato, growers benefit from an enhanced liquid seed care formulation, offering excellent coverage for disease and insect control,” says Mitch Reid, seed care asset lead with Syngenta Canada. “Additionally, because this seed treatment incorporates multiple modes of action, managing fusarium resistance is made easier and more effective.”

Cruiser Maxx D Potato combines the active ingredients fludioxonil (Group 12), difenoconazole (Group 3), as well as thiamethoxam (Group 4) in a liquid formulation that provides one complete package for controlling several diseases and insects devastating to potato plants. The combination of the active ingredients, difenoconazole and fludioxonil, provides two modes of action against silver scurf and fusarium, controlling known resistant strains of these diseases. Cruiser Maxx D Potato is also effective against seed-borne rhizoctonia (black scurf and stem and stolon canker). With the inclusion of the active ingredient thiamethoxam, Cruiser Maxx D Potato also provides effective, long-lasting control of Colorado potato beetles, aphids (including green peach, buckthorn and foxglove aphids) and potato leafhoppers.

Cruiser Maxx D Potato is a colourless seed treatment. This ensures that there is no risk of colourant transferring from the mother to the daughter tubers, as well as making the cleaning of equipment and sheds even easier. Syngenta recommends using an enclosed treater, such as the Milestone liquid seed treater, to apply Syngenta-brand liquid seed treatments. This application equipment provides a contained environment for treating seed pieces while delivering excellent coverage.

Cruiser Maxx D Potato will be widely available for the 2013 season.·Read more.

 

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January 24, 2013

Rampart Fungicide Approved in Canada

UAP Canada Inc. has announced that the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency has approved Rampart fungicide for the control of late blight and pink rot on stored potatoes. Rampart is a systemic fungicide that contains 53 per cent monopotassium and dipotassium salts of phosphorous acid, which makes it effective in controlling blights and rots.

“Many potato growers in eastern Canada are already familiar with Rampart, having benefited from it when we received Emergency Use Registration a few years ago,” says Janet Porchak, director of marketing with UAP. “Warm, wet conditions at the end of the 2008 growing season made late blight and other diseases, such as pink rot, a serious threat to the crop.”

Late blight and pink rot are two of the most devastating diseases for potato growers. Both are caused by a fungus and can infect tubers before or at harvest. Diseased tubers can then infect healthy tubers, causing serious losses in storage or in future crops.

“Rampart should be applied as soon as possible after harvest,” says Jeff Crampton, general manager for Loveland Products Canada, manufacturer of the product. “It can be used as a single spray or rinse for harvested potato tubers prior to storage, or as a single application through the humidification system to potatoes in storage.”

In addition to post-harvest potatoes, Rampart is now fully registered for the suppression of downy mildew in grapes and in brassica leafy vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.·Read more.

Tests Confirm the Potential of GM Potatoes for Sustainable Cultivation

After a two-year scientific field trial with genetically modified potatoes, researchers in Belgium have concluded that potatoes with multiple resistances to potato diseases can make potato growing much more sustainable. Both in 2011 and 2012, GM potatoes showed greatly decreased susceptibility to·Phytophthora infestans. Read more.

Potato cultivation in Belgium has been threatened for decades by a potato disease caused by the fungal blight·Phytophthora infestans. In the wet summer of 2012, Belgian potato growers had to spray more than 20 times in order to keep blight under control.

Cultivation of sustainable, resistant potatoes is expected to be able to reduce fungicide usage in this crop sector by 80 per cent. Potato growers can also benefit financially, even though the resistant plant stocks will be more expensive. In addition, farmers will not have to be ready with their spraying equipment at a moment’s notice, which should reduce stress levels.

The researchers also predict a positive effect for those potato growers who choose not to plant sustainable, resistant potatoes: the greater the acreage of sustainable and resistant potatoes planted, the less chance·Phytophthora will get to reproduce.·Read more.

Custom Assay for Genotyping Available

The James Hutton Institute in the United Kingdom and United States-based Eureka Genomics has launched a custom assay for the genotyping of barley. SNP genotyping is a fundamental technology in both genetic studies and contemporary crop improvement programs worldwide. The assay will offer a low-cost opportunity for researchers to identify and optimize traits such as yield, quality and environmental resilience for commercial crop production.

·The assay has the ability to identify more than 400 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in a single test. It also opens the door for the development of new assays for other crops such as potato, blackcurrant and raspberry.

·“The collaboration has resulted in a very cost-effective, medium-throughput approach to SNP genotyping,” says Robbie Waugh, head of genetics at the James Hutton Institute. “As the Eureka technology offers the flexibility to increase both the number of SNPs and samples per assay at low additional cost, we are already focused on improving SNP representation and multiplex capability, further reducing the cost per datapoint, a key requirement for widespread adoption in commercial plant breeding.”·Read more.

 

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January 10, 2013

 

Manitoba Potato Production Days

This year’s upcoming Manitoba Potato Production Days conference and trade show is being held January 22 to 24, 2013 in Brandon, Man. MPPD each year combines current information and technology into a premier conference and trade show. The Keystone Centre and Canad Inns Brandon work in partnership to ensure a successful event. For MPPD, the trade show is located in the Manitoba Room with presentations held in the adjoining UCT Pavilion.

The conference’s main objective is to communicate current and pertinent potato production information to producers. As well, it provides a venue for retailers to promote the latest in potato production products and equipment. Attracting more than 500 attendees and 70 exhibitors yearly, MPPD has been held annually since 1973.·Read more.

VBC to Acquire Pace International

Valent BioSciences Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pace International LLC, a global leader in the post-harvest segment of commercial agriculture with operations in the United States, Mexico, and South America. The acquisition adds another platform to VBC’s rapidly expanding global biorational business. Based in Seattle, Wash., Pace specializes in the development and commercialization of coatings, sanitizers and post-harvest disease management products for use in many crops, including citrus, stone fruit, pome fruit, potatoes and others.

Post-harvest products improve fruit quality and maintain nutritional value while allowing for longer storage, providing global reach to many types of high-value crops. Post-harvest losses can range up to 40-50 per cent of all produce that is grown, depending on the crop and country. “The Pace assets bring VBC the unique opportunity to leverage our extensive product portfolio and pipeline further downstream into new and exciting areas that will redefine the post-harvest business segment,” said VBC president and chief executive officer, Michael Donaldson. “VBC’s acquisition of Pace will help us to meet the growing demand for high quality produce and further expands our global footprint as the undisputed leader in this sector.”·

Biorationals are products typically derived from biological origins that are highly specific in their activity while providing economic, health, and/or environmental benefits. Biorational products include microbial insecticides, fungicides and nematicides, as well as plant growth regulators used in production agriculture and for managing plant growth, quality and stress in crops.

Donaldson, also an executive officer with VBC’s parent Sumitomo Chemical Company, said the acquisition supports SCC’s strategic vision to diversify its participation in the total food production value chain using both novel and conventional technologies while leveraging Sumitomo’s global market access.·Read more.

Potato Blight Still a Threat to Global Food Security

·According to United Kingdom-based James Hutton Institute, potato blight is still a major threat to global food security. Responsible for sporadic outbreaks of tragedy throughout history, the disease is a particular problem today for emerging countries in Africa and Asia.·

Through DNA-based forensic analysis, research leader David Cooke and partners describe the emergence and spread of highly aggressive lineages of Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen that causes potato late blight, that have rapidly displaced other genotypes in Europe, making the plant disease more difficult to manage.

“Pest and pathogen losses jeopardize global food security, as proven by the devastating spread of late blight across European crops back in 1845. The new lineage raises a worldwide food security issue as it has already spread beyond Europe―where it was first detected―to North Africa, India and China, threatening the livelihoods of communities relying on potatoes for food and income,” explained Cooke.

Cooke says the disease is more difficult to control as it is more aggressive, fungicide resistant and able to attack cultivars previously not considered susceptible to blight. He does allow though, that the disease is not likely to cause damage as extensive as it has done historically. “Total crop failure is, fortunately, a thing of the past as the potato industry is armed with knowledge on the pathogen activity, improvements in host resistance and, most importantly, a range of effective fungicides. Nonetheless, growers must remain alert; in a very wet summer such as 2012 any weakness in the control strategy is exploited by the pathogen resulting in severe crop losses.”·Read more.

Frito-Lay Files for Patent to Cut Potato Chip Oil Content

·Frito-Lay North America has filed an international patent for a method it has developed to reduce the oil content of potato chips by about one-third. The snack giant has established an oil temperature scheme that it says reduces oil pick-up during frying. Its method uses a continuous-frying process to produce kettle-style potato chips.·

Frito-Lay claims a final oil content of 20 to 23 per cent compared to 34 to 38 per cent in traditional potato chips made using the continuous-frying method and 30 per cent in batch fried kettle chips.

The patent filing reads as follows: A method is disclosed which reduces the oil content of a potato chip. The method teaches that a steeper, faster temperature drop upon initial introduction of the potato slice to the fryer, followed by a longer period of exposure to lower temperatures before increasing to standard frying temperatures, reduces oil content of a potato chip.·

The invention further discloses a pre-treatment method which involves submerging the potatoes in a hot water bath which results in decreased oil content. Additionally, the invention discloses a post-treatment method involving subjecting the potato chip to superheated steam that further reduces oil content. The two pre and post-treatment methods, combined with the primary temperature scheme method for reducing oil content, yield a potato chip with significantly reduced oil content.·Read more.

U.S. Frozen Potato Exports Increase

United States exports of frozen potato products to all markets grew 11 per cent by volume and 16 per cent by value for the first quarter (July-September) of marketing year 2012/2013. However, the volume of exports to the United States Potato Board target markets increased 18 per cent, while declining seven per cent to the rest of the world.·

Notable increases were seen in the Philippines 76 per cent, Indonesia 37 per cent, Japan 23 per cent, Mexico 43 per cent, South Korea 50 per cent and Malaysia 26 per cent. U.S. market share increased in the Philippines from 53 per cent to 79 per cent, in Japan from 75 per cent to 79 per cent and in Malaysia from 55 per cent to 57 per cent.·

It is important to note exports during this period were greatly impacted by prices established from the 2011 harvest when the EU and other suppliers had an abundance of product, but the U.S. was tight on product and high on price.·Read more.

CHC Holding AGM in Early 2013

The 2013 Canadian Horticultural Council’s Annual General Meeting is being held in Ottawa from March 12 to 15, 2013 at the Westin Ottawa. The facility is located in the heart of Canada’s capital city and steps away from Ottawa’s beautiful scenery and attractions.·

This year’s theme is Canadians Growing Healthy. The business sessions will address issues of top priority for CHC members and include presentations and panel discussions on the many issues facing horticulture. Government officials and allied sector representatives will be on hand to hear any concerns and participate in the debate.·

Delegates are urged to complete the registration forms and return them to the CHC National Office as soon as possible. A separate registration is required for the Companion Program.·Read more.

International Convention Planned for 2013

The International Potato Processing and Storage Convention 2013 is a unique annual event that rotates between North America and Europe. Philadelphia has been chosen to host the conference from June 4 to 6. Registration is now open.·

Topics that will be addressed at the convention include sprout suppression, storage specific presentations and a discussion forum on sustainability. Topical, informative and relevant presentations that reflect the latest research and technologies and topics of increasing importance to the industry, plus updates on important operational aspects, will all be presented. The presentations, delivered by top industry representatives, form the heart of the convention. A question and answer session will follow most presentations.

Attendees can also benefit from technical workshops, which will be available during breaks to update participants on new products and their potential benefits. The speaker program and technical workshop presentations will be released as information becomes available.·Read more.

 

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December 13, 2012

 

Cavendish Farms Expands to Western Canada

Cavendish Farms has concluded an agreement to buy the assets of Maple Leaf Potatoes, the frozen potato business of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., including a 142,000 sq. ft. processing facility in Lethbridge, Alta. The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2012.

“Cavendish Farms is focused on growth opportunities that are a good fit for our existing business. This announcement will result in a more competitive Cavendish with stronger capabilities to service our customers from coast to coast in North America. It enhances our national distribution network in the foodservice and retail sectors in Canada and builds on our strong position in the United States,” said Robert Irving, president of Cavendish Farms and co-chief executive officer of J.D. Irving Ltd.

The company expects to retain all employees currently working at the Lethbridge plant in addition to international employees. “We are pleased to be able to offer continued employment to those employees and look forward to their contributions as members of the Cavendish Farms team,” said Irving. “The Lethbridge plant is a well-maintained facility whose 135 employees produce quality frozen potato products for customers in Canada, in the United States and in key export markets.”

Cavendish Farms will continue to produce and market all products formerly offered by Maple Leaf Potatoes in the near-term and will seek to retain all existing customer relationships. The Lethbridge plant currently produces a variety of high-quality products, including frozen french fries and other specialty potato products.

The Lethbridge plant is strategically located in close proximity to southern Alberta’s prime agricultural region, renowned for its high yields of quality potatoes ideal for french fry production. The plant operates to the highest quality and safety standards and has been HACCP-certified since 2001.·Read more.

CHC Holding AGM in Early 2013

The 2013 Canadian Horticultural Council’s Annual General Meeting is being held in Ottawa from March 12 to 15, 2013 at the Westin Ottawa. The facility is located in the heart of Canada’s capital city and steps away from Ottawa’s beautiful scenery and attractions.

This year’s theme is Canadians Growing Healthy. The business sessions will address issues of top priority for CHC members and include presentations and panel discussions on the many issues facing horticulture. Government officials and allied sector representatives will be on hand to hear any concerns and participate in the debate.

Delegates are urged to complete the registration forms and return them to the CHC National Office as soon as possible. A separate registration is required for the Companion Program.·Read more.

Heather Moyse Continues as Brand Ambassador for Prince Edward Island Potatoes

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is proud to announce that Heather Moyse, an Olympic Gold Medalist hailing from Prince Edward Island, will be continuing in her role as Brand Ambassador for P.E.I Potatoes.

After a successful first year representing P.E.I Potatoes at consumer and trade events across Canada and via social media, Moyse will be active in promoting P.E.I Potatoes while competing for spots on both Canada’s women’s Rugby Sevens team as well as Canada’s women’s bobsled team. P.E.I Potatoes are proud to serve as primary sponsor for such a gifted and dedicated athlete as Moyse.

“We are very pleased to have Heather continue to represent us as part of a winning team. Heather will continue to promote the quality and value of P.E.I. Potatoes as well as the nutritional benefits of potatoes as part of a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet,” said Gary Linkletter, chairman of the P.E.I Potato Board.

The P.E.I. Potato Board will cheer Moyse on as she sets her sights on the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup in Moscow and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.·Read more.

Government of Canada Invests in High-Quality Jobs and Growth

New partnerships between colleges and businesses or universities will lead to innovation in the areas of information and communications technologies, environmental technologies, natural resources and energy and health sciences. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of Science and Technology, announced the government’s support for these new research projects while visiting Red River College in Winnipeg, Man.

“Collaboration among government, applied researchers and the private sector is vital to building an innovative economy,” said Goodyear. “The College and Community Innovation Program supports research collaborations between companies and colleges. It illustrates the importance our government places on creating for small businesses the conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

In total, 50 innovative partnerships between colleges, universities and business partners will receive over $17 million in support over a period of up to five years through the College and Community Innovation Program.

“These investments provide colleges with access to the people, resources and tools they need to be at the forefront of innovation,” said Suzanne Fortier, president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. “The ultimate goal is to create sustainable partnerships that will help sharpen our innovative edge and have a positive impact on the bottom line of our country and industry.”

The projects announced today were selected for funding following a peer-reviewed competition. This announcement builds on CCI investments announced in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, bringing the total program investments to date to over $175 million for 321 grants at 69 colleges and Cégeps.

The Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, located in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., will work with industrial partners with the aim to maximize the value of byproducts in four industry sectors including potatoes, peas and corn, vegetal shells and blueberries. Deriving value from the agri-food industry’s byproducts will allow producers and processors to maximize the value of their raw and residual materials, reducing the amount of final waste and decreasing environmental impacts.·Read more.

International Convention Planned for 2013

The International Potato Processing and Storage Convention 2013 is a unique annual event that rotates between North America and Europe. Philadelphia has been chosen to host the conference from June 4 to 6. Registration is now open.·

Topics that will be addressed at the convention include sprout suppression, storage specific presentations and a discussion forum on sustainability. Topical, informative and relevant presentations that reflect the latest research and technologies and topics of increasing importance to the industry, plus updates on important operational aspects, will all be presented. The presentations, delivered by top industry representatives, form the heart of the convention. A question and answer session will follow most presentations.

Attendees can also benefit from technical workshops, which will be available during breaks to update participants on new products and their potential benefits. The speaker program and technical workshop presentations will be released as information becomes available.·Read more.

 

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November 29, 2012

 

P.E.I. Potato Board Looking to the Future

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board recently held its annual general meeting, marking another successful year. Island potato growers and industry partners were informed by board chairman Gary Linkletter that the year ending June 30, 2012, was a positive one for the industry.·

Financial statements closely followed the budget for the year and a small net profit was realized at the end of the fiscal year. Coordinating research efforts between the board, government, and other industry partners will be a priority for the next year, with consultation meetings with producers on research priorities and funding planned for early in 2013.

In addition to the annual business meeting, potato growers and industry partners heard from a range of guest speakers. These speakers addressed a variety of topics, including the state of the potato industry in Prince Edward Island, Canada and the United States, food safety and traceability, regulatory changes affecting Island growers, the retail climate in Canada and the northeast United States, and defining a new brand identity for P.E.I. potatoes.·

A highlight of the day was a keynote address by Bob Treadway of San Diego, Calif., a futurist who advises a number of Fortune 500 companies and agricultural businesses in North America. Treadway provided a glimpse of the future through identifying a number of trends which will affect agriculture in the years to come. He highlighted the ongoing need to feed the world, discussed changing world demographics and economic realities, and outlined the opportunities that potato producers of all sizes have to adapt to a changing marketplace.

Another distinguished guest speaker in the afternoon session was Barbara Hunt, quality assurance manager with Wendy’s International of Dublin, Ohio, who spoke on the importance placed on food safety by Wendy’s restaurants and the position held by P.E.I. potatoes in their supply chain.

The potato industry is the single largest economic driver of the agriculture industry on the Island., worth over one billion dollars to its economy each year. The P.E.I. Potato Board represents Island potato growers and assists in growing the market for P.E.I. potatoes locally, nationally and internationally.·Read more

JR Simplot PVY Research Update

JR Simplot Company in the United States has sequenced the genes in wild potatoes that are associated with PVY resistance. Some wild potato species have resistance to PVY; however, varieties with transferred resistance from wild species are not yet commercially available.·

A new eIF4E-1 variant coded as·Eva1 was found in·Solanum chacoense, S. demissum and·S. etuberosum. The researchers found that the protein exhibits amino acid substitutions at 10 different locations when compared with the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) homolog.

The researchers overexpressed the associated cDNA which conferred PVY resistance in transgenic potato plants silenced for the native·eIF4E-1. Since the gene sources ofEva1 are sexually compatible with potato, molecular strategies can be employed to produce intragenic potato cultivars.·Read more.

International Convention Planned for 2013

The International Potato Processing and Storage Convention 2013 is a unique annual event that rotates between North America and Europe. Philadelphia has been chosen to host the conference from June 4 to 6. Registration is now open with a 25 per cent discount for very early bird registrations.

Topics that will be addressed at the convention include sprout suppression, storage specific presentations and a discussion forum on sustainability.

Topical, informative and relevant presentations that reflect the latest research and technologies and topics of increasing importance to the industry, plus updates on important operational aspects will all be presented. The presentations, delivered by top industry representatives, form the heart of the convention. A question and answer session will follow most presentations.

Attendees can also benefit from technical workshops, which will be available during breaks to update participants on new products and their potential benefits. The speaker program and technical workshop presentations will be released as information becomes available.·Read more.

National Potato Standard Released

A new biosecurity standard has been introduced that will help the Canadian potato industry protect its crops.

“Canadian potato producers have an opportunity to strengthen their defences against pests and disease on-farm,” says Canadian agriculture minister Gerry Ritz. “A healthy field means a healthy yield for the Canadian potato industry.”

“This excellent tool will allow producers better control of the destiny of their farms,” says Keith Kuhl, chairman of the Canadian Potato Council. “By identifying pathways, producers can implement measures which will protect against intrusion of pests.”

The national standard is a tool designed to minimize or prevent and control the introduction and spread of major plant pests and diseases in the potato industry. The National Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard for Potato Growers is a collaboration between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Potato Council of the Canadian Horticultural Council.

·The standard was developed over two years, in consultation with producers, industry associations, academia and provincial governments through funding provided by the Growing Forward policy initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It was designed specifically for the potato industry, and is applicable to farm-level operations of all types and sizes.·Read more.

Canadian Government Helps Potato Farmers Boost Exports

Potato farmers will be able to tap into new markets and increase their profitability with an investment from the Canadian government to help find export markets for Canadian varieties of seed potatoes.

The investment of $36,000 will allow the Prince Edward Island Potato Board to work with Canadian potato breeders to select newly registered varieties of seed potatoes that have commercial potential in export markets. Samples of each selected variety will be put through trials in order to determine which are best suited for countries in various climate zones. This will help create a stable supply of Canadian-bred varieties that growers can tap into to compete in the international marketplace.

“The P.E.I. and New Brunswick potato industries are working together on this project to increase our competitiveness in the area of variety development,” says Greg Donald, general manager of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board. “We want to increase our collaboration with public and private Canadian breeders so that our growers and dealers have high-quality, uniquely Canadian varieties that suit our customers’ market conditions in North America and abroad.”

“The future of seed exports from Canada will depend partially on variety development and opening new markets,” says Matt Hemphill, executive director of Potatoes New Brunswick. “These trials are key to remaining competitive and innovative in a global marketplace.”·Read more.

CanadaGAP Program under New Ownership

CanadaGAP, the national food safety program for fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, is now operated by CanAgPlus, a new Canadian not-for-profit corporation that will operate CanadaGAP independently of the program’s founding organization, the Canadian Horticultural Council. Over 2,000 fresh produce suppliers are currently enrolled for CanadaGAP certification.

Under the new corporation, CanadaGAP program requirements and the audit and certification process will remain the same for program participants and for certification bodies delivering third-party audits. However, the change in ownership has created new opportunities for those enrolled in CanadaGAP. Program participants will become members of CanAgPlus, and offered new rights and privileges to attend annual general meetings, submit resolutions and elect the board of directors.·

CanAgPlus was formed in a move to integrate CanadaGAP and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program. Integration of the two food safety programs will extend the stakeholder base and contribute to lower costs and greater efficiency for industry and for companies involved in growing, packing, storage, repacking and wholesale. The fully integrated program is not yet available, although work is actively progressing and will continue into 2013.

The first Annual General Meeting for CanAgPlus is planned for November 2013, at which time members will elect a full board of eight directors. The general operating by-law and articles of incorporation are available to members upon request.·Read more.

Researchers Create Potatoes with Higher Levels of Carotenoids

Potatoes with higher levels of beneficial carotenoids are the result of United States Department of Agriculture studies to improve one of America's most popular vegetables.

Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service bred yellow potatoes with carotenoid levels that are two to three times higher than those of the popular Yukon Gold yellow-fleshed potato variety.·

ARS plant geneticist Kathy Haynes and nutritionist Beverly Clevidence conducted the research and have published their findings in the·Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Haynes found wild potatoes with intense yellow flesh that have about 23 times more carotenoids than white-flesh potatoes. By crossing these wild potatoes with cultivated types, Haynes and her colleagues developed the high-carotenoid potatoes.

In 2007, Haynes and her colleagues introduced a new potato named Peter Wilcox. The potato, which has purple skin and yellow flesh, has become popular in niche roadside markets. The overall carotenoid levels in this potato are more than 15 per cent higher than those in Yukon Gold, according to Haynes.·Read more.

Brazil Develops Ideal Potato for French Fries
Brazilian company Empresa Brasileña de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (Embrapa) has introduced a genetically improved potato especially suited for the production of french fries. It concerns the BRSIPR Bel, a variety designed by the agricultural institute of Paraná, according to Embrapa.

“The Bel is engineered to stay crunchy during frying,” says Embrapa researcher Arione Pereira. “It will keep a healthy bright colour in hot oil.”

The crop is potato virus Y and potato leaf roll virus resistant and not sensitive to common physiological disorders. Embrapa plans to market the potato in February 2013.·Read more.

Invertase Key Enzyme in Cold-Induced Sweetening of Potatoes

Preventing activity of a key enzyme in potatoes could help boost potato quality by putting an end to cold-induced sweetening, according to United States Department of Agriculture scientists.·

Cold-induced sweetening, which occurs when potatoes are put in long-term cold storage, causes flavour changes and unwanted dark colours in fried and roasted potatoes. But long-term cold storage is necessary to maintain an adequate supply of potatoes throughout the year.

Agricultural Research Service scientists found that during cold storage, an enzyme called invertase causes changes in potato sugars—more accumulation of sucrose and a corresponding increase in the amount of glucose and fructose in tubers stored at very low temperatures.

At the ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit in Madison, Wis., plant physiologist Paul Bethke, geneticist Shelley Jansky, and technician Andy Hamernik used a recently-developed technology to show that decreasing the activity of invertase is sufficient to enable cold storage of potatoes without compromising the appearance of potato chips or the growth characteristics of the potato plants.

The scientists’ research paper, published in the journal·Plant Physiology, provides a proof of concept that the invertase enzyme is critically important in the process.·Read more.

 

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October 18, 2012

P.E.I. Analytical Laboratories Amalgamate

P.E.I. Analytical Laboratories has amalgamated its five labs into one facility located in Charlottetown.

The lab provides analytical services for drinking water, surface water, wastewater, soil, feed, dairy seed, plant tissue, manure and compost samples. It is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, to a recognized international standard.

PEIAL is operated jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Department of Environment, Labour and Justice. It provides testing services for the public, farmers, municipalities, tourism operators, the processing industry, extension specialists, corporations, other government departments and research scientists.·Read more.

Canadian Government Invests in New Technology for Plant Extracts

A new technology to extract valuable nutrients from plants, which has potential benefits for both producers and consumers, is getting a boost from the Canadian government with an investment for Mazza Innovation Ltd. to help scale up its novel environmentally-friendly process.·

Mazza will use the investment of $175,000 to develop a demonstration-scale processing system that uses pressurized water, rather than chemical solvents, to extract high-value natural products (phytochemicals) from fruits and vegetables for use in foods and pharmaceuticals. These phytochemicals, which have protective or disease preventive properties, such as antioxidants, can help boost the nutritional value of everyday foods for consumers.

This technology has the potential to fill a gap in the nutraceuticals market, as consumers are looking for food products with health and medical benefits that can protect against disease. This can open new markets for farmers by creating value-added opportunities for their crops.

“One of our interests is to extract high-value products from the waste streams of the fruit and vegetable processing industries,” said Joe Mazza, founder of Mazza Innovation. “We also want to provide extraction technology to companies that want to avoid the use of expensive and flammable chemical solvents. This investment by the Government of Canada will accelerate the commercialization of our technology and the job creation that will come about as a result of this.”·Read more.

Potato Quality Unaffected by Summer Drought

Canadian consumers can once again count on potatoes being one of the best nutritional sources in the produce department.

A hot, dry summer in many parts of Canada, coupled with a severe drought in the U.S. Midwest, has had many consumers asking if they will see a spike in the cost of their food. The United Potato Growers of Canada is pleased to report that the drought has not significantly affected the supply of Canadian potatoes for this fall and winter.

“Harvest has begun, and although the supply is slightly reduced, the quality looks excellent,” says Ray Keenan, chairman of the organization, which represents 1,300 producers across the country.

Other crop shortages have created uncertain food costs for the consuming public. Increased grain costs have also indirectly spiked the costs associated with producing meat and milk.

Consumers can be confident that in this coming season, potatoes will continue to provide even more nutritional value per dollar spent. Compared to other vegetables and fruits, potatoes provide the largest and most affordable source of potassium, in addition to offering an excellent supply of vitamin C.·Read more.

Summer Drought Conditions Test High-Tech Irrigation of Potatoes

This summer’s drought conditions have tested Ontario’s potato farmers, of which more than half irrigate.

From April through July, nearly all of southern Ontario received at least 20 per cent below normal rain amounts, says Rory Sweeting of Chatham-based Weather INnovations Inc. “It’s not just that the overall totals are dreadful,” said Sweeting, “but that the times between rains have been very long, and most were short, heavy downpours that were very geographically isolated. Having gone weeks without rain, working as hard as they can to draw every last bit of moisture from the soil, some crops are on the verge of giving up.·

To assist growers in becoming more efficient, economical and sustainable in their water usage, WIN and the Ontario Potato Board have launched a research project to evaluate the innovative integration of remote environmental sensing, mathematical modelling, crop production science and interactive online technologies through a new website, www.ONpotatoes.ca, that provides near-real-time decision support tools that can tell farmers when they need to turn the taps on. “In the past, timing irrigation events perfectly to get the maximum effect, using the least amount of water, was very challenging, says Sweeting. “Today, however, new technologies are available to take the guesswork out of decision making.”

Using automated monitoring equipment installed at a test farm in Simcoe County, WIN is keeping a constant eye on both weather conditions (rainfall, temperature and wind) and the soil moisture at five depths in the potato field. Wireless cellular units transmit the recorded data back to WIN’s computers, where it’s analyzed and transformed into user-friendly online advisories in the form of easy-to-read maps and graphs.·Read more.

Potatoes in GM Trial Show No Signs of Blight

The first genetically modified potatoes sown in an Irish trial have thus far been found to be blight-free.

However, researchers at the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) caution that it is early days in their four-year study of the potatoes, which were altered to improve resistance to late potato blight.

Teagasc planted 24 GM plants alongside traditional potato plants in a 10-metre by 10-metre outdoor plot in August.·“The GM plants are showing no signs of blight and growing quite well,” a spokesman for Teagasc confirmed.

Six days after the plants were sown outdoors, blight was discovered and had progressed through the non-GM plants.·Read more.

Zampro Fungicide from BASF Receives U.S. EPA Registration

U.S. vegetable, grape and hops growers will have a new mode of action for managing downy mildew and Phytophthora blight (crown rot) on their crops.

BASF has announced that Zampro fungicide has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration. Zampro fungicide is a multi-site preventative fungicide containing a unique new chemistry for use on crops including potato, cucurbits, leaf vegetables, grape, fruiting and bulb vegetables, and hops.

“With its new chemical class, Zampro fungicide offers an excellent tool for successful resistance management,” says Katherine Walker, BASF technical service representative. “It’s effective, easy to use, and will help ensure reliable crop quality and yield―and thus will be adding to growers’ confidence and convenience.”

Zampro fungicide can be applied at a maximum of three applications per season with no more than two consecutive applications. Best results are achieved with Zampro fungicide as a preventative application.·Read more.

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October 4, 2012

Potato Wart Confirmed in P.E.I.

The CFIA has confirmed the presence of potato wart in two fields on separate farms in Prince Edward Island. Potato wart poses no threat to human health or food safety. However, it is a quarantine pest that is regulated in Canada because it reduces yield and can make potatoes unmarketable.

The agency has placed the fields under quarantine and is carrying out additional control measures as part of Canada’s potato wart long-term management plan. These measures include controlling the movement of equipment and soil as well as cleaning and disinfecting machinery to prevent spread of the pest. To mitigate the spread of this pest, the potatoes produced in the fields will be destroyed.

The CFIA, the P.E.I. government and P.E.I. industry associations are working together to control this pest and inform various stakeholders of the situation. The potato wart long-term management plan was established after the initial finding in 2000 and has been used to respond to previous detections of the pest. It includes regulatory requirements to effectively manage detections and prevent trade disruptions in the event of future detections. The last detection occurred in 2007.·Read more.

Growing Forward Agreement Reached for Canadian Agriculture

The federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture have reached an agreement on the content of the Growing Forward 2 policy framework for the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sector.

The new five-year agreement includes investments in strategic initiatives of over $3 billion for innovation, competitiveness and market development, including a 50 per cent increase in governments’ cost-shared initiatives. The governments also agreed to continue to deliver a complete and effective suite of Business Risk Management programs to ensure farmers are protected against severe market volatility and disasters.

Modifications to AgriStability and AgriInvest programs will ensure that Canadian producers continue to have access to a strong and effective suite of BRM programs. AgriInsurance (crop insurance), AgriRecovery and the Advanced Payment Program will continue to help farmers manage production risks and provide cash flow assistance.

The ministers reviewed the status of federal trade negotiations and promotional and access initiatives in key export markets, including South Korea, Europe, Japan and China. They agreed to continue an aggressive trade agenda that is opening new markets and creating opportunities, while reaffirming their support for supply management. Under the new agreement, governments will continue to work to increase access to international markets and to reduce obstacles to trade, promoting growth and competitiveness for the entire agriculture, agri-products and agri-food sector.

This agreement sets the stage for federal, provincial and territorial governments to complete bilateral agreements so programs will be in place by April 1, 2013, when the current framework expires. The next annual federal, provincial and territorial ministers’ meeting will be held in Halifax, in July 2013.·Read more.

Study Says Canadians View Agriculture Positively

Canadians continue to have an increasingly positive impression of agriculture, with 88 per cent of those polled ranking it positive or neutral, up from 81 per cent in 2009 and 75 per cent in 2006, according to the new 2012 Farm and Food Care study entitled,·Canadian Attitudes Study towards Food and Farming.

“Our research shows that although food and farming isn’t a top-of-mind issue for most Canadians, most have an overall positive impression of our food, how it’s grown and the people who produce it,” says Crystal Mackay, executive director of Farm and Food Care.·“Canadians ranked farmers as warmly and favourably as their own family and friends, just slightly above doctors and other medical professionals.”

This year’s research, which builds on previous studies dating back to 2001, was expanded to include gathering public opinion on the five pillars of sustainable food: food safety, environment, farm animal health and welfare, human health, and economics/food affordability.

Canadians feel they are generally better informed about food and farming than they were even three years ago, and more than half of them are interested in learning more.·Approximately 70 per cent of Canadians have visited a farm at least once before.·Other findings demonstrate that Canadians are concerned about rising costs―including the cost of food―and many try to buy local by purchasing Canadian food products when possible.·Read More.

Monsanto Offers Royalty-Free Access to Biotechnology

Monsanto Company has announced that it will provide a royalty-free research license to the academic community and other non-profit research institutions to a newly-issued U.S. patent related to the·Agrobacterium transformation method.

The announcement, which is expected to benefit the academic community and other crop researchers, has the potential to further advance research and development of new technologies in key dicot crop plants. Dicot crops include major row crops such as soybeans, cotton and canola, as well as specialty crops such as alfalfa, potatoes, tomatoes and sugar beets.

“We hope that access to one of the leading agricultural biotechnologies can further both the enablement and development of key agriculture solutions for farmers and consumers alike,” said Robb Fraley, chief technology officer for Monsanto and also one of the leading scientists behind this breakthrough discovery.

The·Agrobacterium transformation process was first invented by Monsanto scientists in the early 1980s. Today, plant researchers around the world use several transformation methods to introduce novel trait technologies into crop plants―some of the primary methods include the·Agrobacterium transformation process and the biolistic transformation process. Through these methods and continued advancements in breeding, plant researchers have been able to develop crops with improved nutritional profiles, plants that can better mitigate the effects of drought, as well as other agronomic improvements such as herbicide tolerance and insect protection.

Fraley noted that the continued, successful development of crop products and novel agriculture technologies by both the public and private sectors represents an important part of supporting the growing food, feed and fuel demands of our planet and its finite resources. Experts estimate that the agriculture sector will need to double food production to feed a growing global population estimated to be at 9 billion by mid-century.·Read More.

Bakery and Snack Food Industry to See Annual Growth Through to 2015

A recent market report released by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association entitled·Bakery and Snacks — Market Assessment 2012, details the effects of current trends in the industry.·

The market report notes bakery and snack products manufacturers will see continued growth, with four per cent growth predicted in U.S. sales of packaged snacks through 2015, but seven per cent annual growth to US$334 billion in global sales of snack foods in the same period.

Globally, bakery product sales are expected to increase 4.5 per cent annually to US$410 billion by 2015. “Globally, regions such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America and India are presenting the best scenarios for future growth for snacks and bakery products,” says Paula Feldman, director of business intelligence at the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association. “Our global packaging report noted that by 2015, world population growth will spring largely from the Asia Pacific region, which is expected to see a 160 billion-person increase in that time.”

The United States is the world’s largest market for snacks, while European markets top the list for baked goods sales. And while 62 per cent of the snack food companies surveyed for this market assessment see Asia-Pacific markets as the source of the largest fraction of their sales growth, only 20 per cent of bakery companies share that experience.·Read more.

 

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September 20, 2012

 

FMC of Canada Expands Agricultural Product Line, Adds Staff

Canadian growers now have additional options when it comes to their weed and insect management programs. FMC of Canada Agricultural Products Group has made new solutions available to growers, providing them with additional modes of actions to combat resistance throughout the Prairie Provinces.

“The expansion of FMC in Canada allows growers the opportunity to have more options when it comes to their pest management programs,” says FMC Canada country manager David Strilchuk. “We look forward to continuing to offer more solutions for Canadian growers.”·

In the past 14 months, FMC of Canada has welcomed five new staff members: Todd Denofreo, product registration manager; Mike Gerhardt, account manager; Mitch Long, product development manager; Carmen Lowe-Wassermann, marketing and promotions; and Brett McBride, account representative. Together, the FMC of Canada team has more than 65 years of experience in agriculture.

“This team, with all their years of service to Canadian agriculture, brings the perfect amount of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm each day,” says Strilchuk. “They collectively work together to provide excellent customer service in order to meet growers’ crop protection needs.”·Read more.

Pro-Health Adds Kwik Lok Trackers to Potato Packaging

Pro-Health is taking their commitment to healthy potatoes and sustainability one step further, bringing traceability to the forefront of the company’s vision.

Starting this month, customers will see new data matrix codes on the Kwik Lok closures for Pro-Health Russets―innovation that offers unique insight into each product’s story.

Simply by scanning the Kwik Lok’s data matrix code with a smartphone, customers are taken to a landing page on Pro-Health.com that shows the exact field their potatoes were grown in. Each page includes the field’s specific location, latitude and longitude along with information about the farm.

This innovative technology, similar to a barcode, helps customers better understand Pro-Health’s dedication to not only providing first-rate produce, but more importantly providing 100 per cent traceability.·Read more.

J.R. Simplot Plans to Build New Headquarters in Boise, Idaho

The J.R. Simplot Company is planning to begin construction of a new corporate headquarters in Boise, Idaho in late 2013 or early 2014.

Company officials anticipate the building will likely be 10 stories high and measure roughly 300,000 sq. ft. Final size and configuration are still under consideration.

The new headquarters, which should be ready for occupancy two years after construction begins, will be designed to better meet the company’s needs for a modern, collaborative work environment, according to Simplot president and chief executive officer Bill Whitacre.

“The goal is to bring most of our employees together at one central location that will be distinctive to the J.R. Simplot Company,” says Whitacre. “This consolidation will strengthen our culture of innovation and offer better opportunities for our personnel to leverage their wide range of talents and expertise in a more collaborative workspace.”Read more.

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September 6, 2012

 

CFIA Streamlines Registration for Safe Fertilizers and Supplements

Effective immediately, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will streamline the registration process for fertilizers and supplements.

In an effort to focus its resources on verifying the safety of fertilizers and supplements, the CFIA will no longer be regulating product efficacy as of 2013. The streamlined registration process is an interim measure that will remain in place until the Agency amends the Fertilizer Regulations to eliminate efficacy requirements.

All regulated fertilizer and supplement products must continue to be safe for humans, plants, animals, and the environment. They must also be properly labelled.

However, under the streamlined registration process, foreign trial data or scientific literature will be accepted as evidence of efficacy. Fertilizers and supplements registered through the streamlined process must clearly identify on their label the limited extent of the evidence used to assess product efficacy.·Read More.

Old Dutch Chips Plant Expands Workforce

The New Brunswick government is investing $115,000 to help create 29 jobs at the Old Dutch Foods Ltd. in New Brunswick.

Premier David Alward was recently joined by Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour Minister Martine Coulombe at the company’s plant in Hartland to announce this workforce expansion investment and to launch New Brunswick’s value-added food strategy.

“Investing in workforce expansion and the value-added food sector are key pieces of this government’s plan to rebuild New Brunswick’s economy and create jobs,” said Alward. “This funding builds on Rebuilding New Brunswick: Growing Together – An Economic Development Action Plan for New Brunswick, which outlines our commitment to work with innovative value-added food companies such as Old Dutch Foods Ltd. to create long-term, sustainable, full-time employment.”

Alward noted that value-added food companies are important employers throughout New Brunswick and contribute $650 million to the province’s gross domestic product.Read More.

McCain Foods Names P.E.I.’s Champion Potato Grower

Margate Farms Ltd. of Kensington was named the 2011-12 McCain Champion Potato Grower for Prince Edward Island during the annual McCain Growers’ Banquet.

Allison McCain, chairman of McCain Foods Limited, and Darryl Rowe, president of McCain Foods Canada, were on hand to extend personal congratulations to Steven and Harry Van der Veen and all of the McCain growers.

Harry van der Veen said it’s quite an achievement to be in the Top 10, but noted that it takes more than hard work and dedication to get there. Sometimes it takes a little luck, as well, he said.·Read More.

America Throws Away 40 Per Cent of Food Supply

Americans are throwing away 40 per cent of food in the United States, the equivalent of US$165 billion in uneaten food each year, according to a new analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council. In a time of drought and skyrocketing food prices, NRDC outlines opportunities to reduce wasted food and money on the farm, in the grocery store and at home. 

“As a country, we’re essentially tossing every other piece of food that crosses our path – that’s money and precious resources down the drain,” said Dana Gunders, NRDC project scientist with the food and agriculture program. “With the price of food continuing to grow, and drought jeopardizing farmers nationwide, now is the time to embrace all the tremendous untapped opportunities to get more out of our food system. We can do better.” 

NRDC’s issue brief, entitle: "Wasted: How America is Losing Up to 40 Per cent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill", analyzes the latest case studies and government data on the causes and extent of food losses at every level of the U.S. food supply chain. It also provides examples and recommendations for reducing this waste.

The causes of losses in the food system are complex, but there are notable problem areas. At the retail level, grocery stores and other sellers are losing as much as $15 billion annually in unsold fruits and vegetables alone, with about half of the nationwide supply going uneaten. In fact, fresh produce is lost more than any other food product—including seafood, meat, grains and dairy—at nearly every stage in the supply chain.

But consumers are also a major contributor to the problem, with the majority of food losses occurring in restaurants and household kitchens. 

Wasted food also translates into wasted natural resources, because of the energy, water and farmland necessary to grow, transport and store food. About half of all land in the United States goes to agriculture; some 25 per cent of all the fresh water consumed in the United States, along with four per cent of the oil, goes into producing food that is never eaten.·Read More.

 

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August 23, 2012

 

Edzo Kok Retires as Secretary of UPGC

Ray Keenan, Chairman of the United Potato Growers of Canada, recently presented Edzo Kok with a certificate of appreciation for his years of service as secretary of the organization. Kok, of Taber, Alta, joined the Potato Growers of Alberta as their executive director four years ago. According to Kevin MacIsaac, general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada, Kok brought over 30 years of experience to the potato industry and his expertise will be missed. He has had a diverse portfolio working for McCain Foods, with his last posting being in New Zealand. Keenan added, “Edzo has been very generous with his time, serving on many national potato committees. We will miss his guidance on technical issues, but wish him well on his retirement in Vancouver Island.”·Read more.

Potato Acreage 2012 down in North-Western Europe

The North-Western European Potato Growers organization has provided an update on the potato acreage in north-western Europe (Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom). For all five countries, official potato acreages have now been published. Compared to harvest 2011, overall potato acreage has decreased by six per cent. Acreage decreased in all countries, with the most prominent decreases in Belgium (-6.9 per cent) and Germany (-9.2 per cent).

Both France and Belgium have published initial test harvest results. The results show major differences between main crop potatoes planted late March/early April compared to end of May/ early June. Current yield estimates are well below last year’s potato yields. In France, yield estimates are as much as 36 per cent lower.

·The quality of early potatoes in Germany is good. Tuber sizes are small in all NEPG countries. NEPG has reported that prices of early potatoes were 10 per cent higher than for harvest 2011. The picture in the Netherlands varies by region—several regions are expecting lower yields due to water damage.·Read More.

Spud Bank Stores World’s Varieties

Stored inside a nondescript building and greenhouse in Door County is the equivalent of much of the world’s potato blueprints. Wisconsin is home to many things, but it’s safe to say few know the globe’s largest collection of wild and cultivated potato species, the United States Potato Genebank, is located here, at the Peninsular Agriculture Research Station just outside Sturgeon Bay.

The genebank is a repository of thousands of seeds and cultivars collected throughout the United States and the world over more than six decades. The oldest potato seeds at the genebank, which was established by Wisconsin potato farmers in 1948, date back to the early 1950s.

The Sturgeon Bay facility, part of the National Plant Germplasm System preserving the genetic diversity of plants, is the only genebank based in Wisconsin. Genebanks are scattered across the country, including facilities for rice in Arkansas, soybeans and corn in Illinois, wheat in Idaho and tomatoes in California.

The genebanks are used to acquire, preserve and evaluate different plant varieties and then distribute them free to researchers. The potato facility houses about 5,000 seed populations and 1,000 clonal varieties.·Read More.

Jet Harvest Solutions is Now Offering Bio-Save in Canada

Jet Harvest Solutions, a Florida-based company dedicated to the development and use of agriculture biological products, is now marketing the bacterial biofungicide Bio-Save in Canada. Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has approved Bio-Save for use on potatoes in storage.

Bio-Save, registration #29673, is a freeze-dried (lyophilized), wettable powder fungicide used for the prevention of post-harvest decay in potatoes. The active ingredient is a bacterium called·Pseudomonas syringae that naturally occurs on the surface of many agricultural plants. Bio-Save effectively limits decay caused by fusarium dry rot in cold and controlled atmosphere storage environments.

“Biopesticides are new tools which, when used with beneficial management practices in all phases of the production and storage of potatoes, can help protect the growers’ investment planting disease-free seed, ensuring clean farm equipment, minimizing damage to the potato at harvest, and promoting wound healing and appropriate storage temperature and humidity which are all integral parts of a sound strategy, says Khalil Al-Mughrabi, pathologist for the Potato Development Centre, an office of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “This product adds another tool to the IPM toolbox, which will reduce the incidence and severity of storage diseases of potato.”·Read more.

Manitoba Growers Tour CMCDC Research Plots

Nearly 50 potato growers from across Manitoba recently attended a tour of the Carberry Potato Research Plots at the Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre near Carberry, Manitoba. The tour offered growers an insiders’ look at trial plots examining nitrogen use efficiency, potato plantings in rows versus beds and phosphorous application rates. Following the tour, growers were updated on the 2012 crop outlook by Keystone Potato Producers Association’s extension agronomist, Andrew Ronald, and a Fall Control Panel Settings refresher from Techmark’s Damon Johnson.·Read more.

 

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August 9th, 2012

Canadian Government Boosts Potato Industry

Potato producers have received a boost from the Canadian Government, as Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and member of Parliament Mike Allen (Tobique-Mactaquac) recently attended the Centennial celebrations at the Potato Research Centre located in Fredericton, New Brunswick and announced an investment for two innovative potato research projects.

“These investments will benefit the potato industry, which is vital to the growth and future prosperity of our economy,” said Minister Ritz. “As we celebrate 100 years of agricultural research here at the Potato Research Centre, this targeted investment in research and innovation will ensure that the government and industry continue to build strong, value-added opportunities for farmers here in Atlantic Canada and across Canada.”

“I am honoured to be here to celebrate this exciting milestone for the Potato Research Centre, which has played an important role in the well-being of the potato industry and our local economy,” said MP Allen. “Not only is the Centre home to Canada’s leading potato breeding program, but the researchers here continue to look at new and innovative uses for the potato in non-food products, which will create new opportunities for the industry.”

The Canadian Horticulture Council will receive nearly $67,000 to consult with stakeholders and develop a Canadian potato strategy to help the industry identify short- and long-term research priorities. The strategy will focus on research, innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness.

BioAtlantech will benefit from $185,000 in research activities to study the effectiveness of using mineral oils to prevent the spread of the harmful Potato Virus Y in potato seed crops. Researchers will look to better understand how mineral oils inhibit transmission in order to establish best practices recommendations.·Read more.

Teagasc to Investigate Impact of GM Blight Resistant Potatoes

Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland, confirm that they have been awarded a license by the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out field research on a GM potato, designed to resist potato blight disease. Teagasc has proposed to carry out the research over the next four years in order to determine the impact this technology could have on the Irish agri-environment.

The work is being completed as part of the 22 partner ‘AMIGA’ consortium that represents 15 EU countries and is funded through the EU’s Framework 7 research program. Critically, the biotech industry has no association with this public-funded research project. Teagasc is currently evaluating the license conditions and putting the necessary measures in place to ensure that it fully meets its obligations as required by the EPA. Once this has been achieved to the satisfaction of the EPA, the work will commence at the Teagasc Crops Research Centre in Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland.

Research confirms that GM late blight-resistant potatoes have the potential to significantly reduce the fungicide load on the environment, but as Teagasc researcher Ewen Mullins recently stated, “We cannot simply look at the benefits without also considering the potential costs. We need to investigate whether there are long-term impacts associated with this specific GM crop in carefully controlled conditions. We need to gauge how the late blight disease itself responds. This is not just a question being asked in Ireland. The same issues are arising across Europe.”Read more.

PHC Trials Shows Harpin Treatment Increases Potato Yields

Plant Health Care, a leading provider of naturally derived products to the agriculture industry, has announced that in recent trials it was found that potatoes, when treated with PHC’s proprietary Harpin technology while still in the field, produced a 4.4 per cent greater marketable yield at harvest and a reduced loss in long-term (seven to eight months) storage from 4.6 per cent in the untreated to 1.9 per cent in the treated tubers. These results were achieved in trials conducted by independent crop consultants using commercial production practices in grower fields in Washington and Idaho.

Harpin technology is available for all major crops. The Harpins bind to receptors on the surface of the plant leaf, causing a reaction where the plant gears up to defend itself against disease. This is the well-documented Systematic Acquired Resistance response, which affects the yield quality and shelf life of the crops. PHC currently has several testing agreements with major companies looking at disease control, yield increase and longer, post- harvest, shelf life achieved through the combined use of Harpin and fungicide.·Read more.

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July 26th, 2012

 

2012 Canadian Potato Production (preliminary data)

Released by Statistics Canada July 20, 2012, producers reported seeding 371,900 acres (150,508 hectares) of potatoes in 2012, up 3.0·per cent·from 2011. Prince Edward Island had the largest increase in seeded area, up 4.1·per cent·to 89,500 acres (36,221 hectares). The area in Manitoba also increased 4.1·per cent·to 76,000 acres (30,757 hectares), while in Ontario, 39,800 acres (16,107 hectares) of potatoes were reported, up 5.6·per cent·from 2011. The expansion of potato area in Manitoba and Ontario was primarily because of increased contract volumes for processing potatoes.·Read more.

World Potato Congress Information Available

Spud Smart Magazine was very pleased to have attended the 2012 World Potato Congress recently held in Edinburgh, Scotland. Many of the world’s largest companies in the business sat down and spoke with·Spud Smart exclusively about some of the new products coming down the pipeline in 2013.·Spud Smart is proud to be able to offer these video interviews of some of the interesting and valuable insights from many of the leaders of the global potato industry.·See the Videos here.

USDA Grants Protection to Two New Potato Plant Varieties

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued certificates of protection to developers of 30 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include chicory, corn, lettuce, potato, rice and wheat. The Plant Variety Protection Act provides legal protection in the form of intellectual property rights to developers of new varieties of plants.

“A certificate of protection is awarded to an owner of a crop variety after an examination shows that it is new, distinct from other varieties, and genetically uniform and stable through successive generations,” said acting administrator David Shipman, Agricultural Marketing Service.

“The public benefits as the recipient of lower prices from increased productivity, and from quality food, feed, fiber and other products, that result directly from improved plant varieties.”

The term of protection is 20 years for most crops, and 25 years for trees, shrubs and vines. The owner of a protected variety has exclusive rights to multiply and market the seed of that variety.·Read More.

 

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July 12th, 2012

 

CFIA to Transfer Seed Crop Inspection Services

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be working with industry to transfer seed crop inspection services to an alternative delivery mechanisms beginning April 1, 2014 as one of the Government of Canada’s decisions pursuant to Budget 2012. This initiative will advance the Agency’s longer-term strategic policy of reducing its role in direct delivery of seed crop inspection and contribute to the government’s overall objective of fiscal constraint.

The underlying principles of the initiative are that:·it is national in scope;·it will focus on direct delivery of seed crop inspection by the private sector;·the CFIA will continue to be involved in activities in support of seed crop inspection and certification, including licensing and oversight of private sector delivery of seed crop inspection;·the CFIA will work with the sector to develop a national framework that will put the necessary mechanisms in place to enable alternative service providers to offer seed crop inspection services; and·it will meet commitments for fiscal restraint under Budget 2012.

The CFIA is committed to its core mandate of food safety, consumer protection and animal and plant health. This means that in the future there will be less emphasis on activities such as the direct delivery of seed crop inspection that could be provided more efficiently and effectively by the private sector.

While the CFIA intends to reduce its role in the direct delivery of seed crop inspection, it will continue to be responsible for seed certification in Canada. The Agency will still be involved in activities such as:·licensing of persons to conduct seed crop inspection;·entering into agreements with Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Services;·oversight activities such as monitoring and auditing of those parties involved in seed crop inspection;·setting the performance standards that licensed seed crop inspectors will have to achievedeveloping training materials; and·providing, when necessary, direct delivery of seed crop inspections in those cases where it is not possible to use private inspectors.·

The immediate priority is to establish a functional framework for Alternative Service Delivery of seed crop inspection so that inspections can be conducted by licensed inspectors beginning in 2014. In 2014, the CFIA will only be providing seed crop inspection activities on an exceptional basis, only where an ASD is not available or it is not possible to use private inspectors. The longer-term objective, however, is to have most, if not all, seed crop inspections conducted by licensed inspectors.·Read More.

AgriLife Research Focuses on Psyllid

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? Knowing whether the insects are migratory or local could help growers more efficiently manage the insects, which are increasingly inflicting damage on the U.S. potato industry, according to scientists. The national Zebra Chip Specialty Crop Research Initiative involves Arash Rashed, Texas AgriLife Research vector ecologist, and Charlie Rush, AgriLife Research plant pathologist in Amarillo and lead for the national initiative.

The bacterial pathogen carried by the psyllid is·Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum. “When the psyllid feeds on a potato plant, the bacteria is transmitted into the plant and causes the disease known as zebra chip of potato,” says Rush.

While it has no effect on human health, zebra chip can cause entire loads of potatoes to be rejected by the potato chip industry because of the negative effect it has on chips and fries, which appear as burned when fried, he said. “It is generally believed that psyllids migrate from Mexico to the Canadian border,” explains Rashed. “While that is a possibility, we want to see if there are local populations and if there are winter breeding sites.”·Read More

Improved Seed Potato Selection Improves Yields in East Africa

Farmers in East Africa can increase potato yields by 30 per cent by improving their selection of seed potatoes, says Wageningen UR student Peter Gildemacher. Gildemacher says that a substantial reduction in disease pressure is possible if only seed potatoes from healthy parent plants are used.·

East African farmers, who are mostly small-scale, currently select their seed potatoes from the mass of harvested potatoes. That results in lots of virus diseases and potato brown rot, as well as low yields of an average of 10.5 tons per hectare. That is why international organizations are advising farmers to buy their seed potatoes from specialized seed potato companies. But that requires a change in farming practices―currently the small-scale farmers use their own potatoes or swap with their neighbours―and will increase costs for the farmers. That is why only five per cent of the seed potatoes in countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia come from such specialized companies.

Gildemacher, who worked for the International Potato Center in Nairobi from 2003 to 2007, studied the reintroduction of what was thought to be an unnecessary technique: selecting seed potatoes from parent plants that look healthy. He carried out field trials at 18 different locations to investigate the effect of self-selection when compared with the standard practice in which farmers take their seed potatoes from the mass of harvested potatoes. These field trials showed that self-selection increased yields by 30 per cent while the disease pressure from potato viruses fell by between 35 and 40 per cent. The big advantage, says Gildemacher, is that selecting the seed potatoes themselves costs the farmers virtually nothing whereas the return on a hectare of potatoes increases by €250 to 300.·Read more.

Potato Virus Y Fungicide Approved in U.S.

The re-emergence of potato virus Y 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. In response, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has granted a Section 18 Emergency Exemption to the Montana Department of Agriculture for use of BmJ WG to control PVY on up to 2,675 acres of seed potatoes. Manufactured by Certis USA, BmJ contains·Bacillus mycoides isolate J, a bacterium discovered by Montana State University that has been shown to trigger a plant’s immune response to pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses. Products that can produce this response, called systemic acquired resistance or SAR, represent an advancement in the management of pests and plant diseases.

Last year Certis entered into a global license agreement with Montana State University-Bozeman and Montana BioAgriculture Inc. of Missoula, MT to develop and commercialize new plant disease control technologies based on·Bacillus mycoides isolate J.

MSU Professor of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Barry Jacobsen and his colleagues discovered and patented BmJ, which is a naturally occurring, nonpathogenic bacterium. BmJ, they found, “turns on” specific genes found in most plants. These genes induce the plant to produce defensive reactions that make it more difficult for a pathogen, such as PVY, to infect the plant. BmJ is a SAR activator with no direct effect on the plant pathogen itself. That characteristic makes BmJ a potentially valuable tool for use in fungicide resistance management programs.·Read more.

New Environmental Website for Vegetable Growers

The Australian Vegetable Growers Federation has launched a new website to assist Australian vegetable growers to monitor and improve their environmental performance. AUSVEG is the National Peak Industry Body representing Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.·

The new website was launched at the New South Wales Farmers’ Association in Sydney by John Lloyd, the chief executive officer of Horticulture Australia Ltd., and will provide AUSVEG with greater insight into the environmental performance of the industry.·

AUSVEG Environment Coordinator Jordan Brooke-Barnett said the new website would bring the Program into the 21st century and provide greater ability for growers to compare environmental performance against their peers. “The EnviroVeg website gives AUSVEG the ability to analyse the environmental performance of growers in areas such as energy management, water use and soil nutrition,” said Brooke-Barnett.·

The EnviroVeg Program was established in 2000, and provides growers with information and tools to allow them to complete an annual self assessment of their environmental performance across nine key areas of their operations. “Our new website will collect data from the self assessments and present detailed results showing how participating growers are performing at the national and state levels, or even by crop type and farm size,” said Brooke-Barnett. “Individual growers can then compare their annual score against these averages and put plans in place to improve their environmental performance.”·Read more.

Enzyme Cuts Acrylamide Levels in French Fries

New independent trials show that the enzyme Novozymes’ Acrylaway can reduce acrylamide, a potential health risk, in french fries. Acrylaway has already been proven to reduce acrylamide in coffee, biscuits, crackers and other products.

Novozymes, the world leader in bioinnovation, has revealed data from new industrial-scale trials showing that the enzyme Acrylaway can reduce acrylamide levels in french fries by up to 50 per cent. Acrylamide has been considered a potential health risk by the World Health Organization since Swedish researchers discovered in 2002 that many starchy foods contain high levels of acrylamide when fried or baked.

“The food industry cares about food safety and acrylamide,” says Anders Espe Kristensen, business development and marketing director for Food and Beverages at Novozymes. “In the case of french fries, we have now demonstrated that our solution works effectively on an industrial scale. These new data support the collaboration we already have with producers of french fries with the aim of implementing our solution.”

The Acrylaway enzyme was launched globally in August 2007, initially targeting the biscuits and snacks market, and food manufacturers around the globe have since showed interest in the solution.

The main mechanism for acrylamide formation involves the amino acid asparagine. When frying or roasting starchy foods, asparagine is converted into acrylamide in a process called the Maillard reaction, which is responsible for color and flavor developments. By adding Acrylaway to the foods, asparagine is converted into another common amino acid, aspartic acid, which does not take part in the formation of acrylamide. As Acrylaway specifically modifies asparagine, the other amino acids and sugars remain active to contribute to the Maillard reaction, preserving the taste and appearance of the final product.·Read more.

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June 28th, 2012

 

Canadian Scientists Fight Potato Blight in Colombia

McGill University scientists, led by Ajjamada Kushalappa of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, have teamed up with researchers from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia to develop nutritious, high-yielding and more disease-resistant potatoes for food-insecure indigenous communities in Colombia.

The C$2.8 million project, announced by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the Canadian International Development Agency, in cooperation with McGill University, is one of six new projects funded under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund. CIFSRF, a five-year, C$62 million initiative, brings Canadian and developing-country researchers together to produce lasting solutions to hunger and food insecurity in the developing world.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with leading scientists and institutes in Colombia to raise the incomes of poor farmers and make food more nutritious and secure,” says McGill’s Kushalappa. “Our university, one of the world leaders in understanding biochemical processes that occur in stressed plants, will combine efforts with experts in molecular biology at the Universidad Nacional to breed better potato cultivars that resist late blight disease and are high in nutrition.”

In Colombia, where attaining sufficient, safe and nutritious food is a national concern, the staple food crop―potato―is threatened by blight. In the hard-hit indigenous communities of Nariño, it is also the main income source for small-scale farms, which are mainly headed by women.

Building on research by the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the scientists will develop a number of highly nutritious potato clones that are resistant to late blight disease. They will also help Nariño’s indigenous communities adopt more environmentally sound agricultural and post-harvest practices. Indigenous women will also learn better agricultural, nutritional, and dietary practices.·

“The knowledge that will be generated through this project will be adapted to other Andean countries,” says IDRC President, David Malone. “This is very much in keeping with IDRC’s commitment to research that supports development through the practical application of science.”

“Canada is a world leader in the fight against hunger, and our partnership with IDRC plays a strong part in our efforts. Food and nutrition security remains a key priority of our government’s development assistance,” says Bev Oda, minister of international cooperation. “Our contribution to CIFSRF demonstrates Canadian leadership in assisting developing countries fight hunger through innovative practices and supports private sector growth in agriculture.”·Read more.

Tomato Genome Explains Evolution of Fleshy-fruited Plants

Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, Spain have participated in the sequencing of the tomato genome. The project was conducted by an international consortium with the principal aim of providing the tomato genome sequence to public and private research groups in order to gain a better understanding of the biology of this agriculturally essential plant. The results obtained by the consortium are presented in the journal·Nature and describe the regions of the tomato genome that have been key to its evolution and specialization. The study compares the genome of the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) with two species of the same genus, the wild tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and the potato (Solanum tuberosum).

By comparing the genomes of these species, researchers have observed that the genomes of the cultivated and wild tomatoes differ by only 0.6 per cent. However, the divergence between the genomes of the tomato and potato is more than eight per cent. This is because, throughout their evolution, they have inverted and triplicated long fragments of their genome. These genomic reorganizations explain evolutionary changes that occurred millions of years ago and contributed to the emergence of new species of plants with fruits and their subsequent diversification. Moreover, it has been seen that some repeated fragments include genes that would be responsible for, among other things, the control of certain characteristics of the texture of the fruit such as the formation of the skin. These repetitions have helped to form a tougher skin in order to preserve the fruit better.

“The tomato is one of the most common and most exploited crop plants. Getting to know its genome in detail allows us, on one hand, to have a better understanding of the evolution of higher plants thanks to controlled populations such as cultivated ones, and it also provides new tools for future agriculture,” explains Francisco Cámara at the Center’s Bioinformatics and Genomics lab, led by Roderic Guigó.

Guigó was one of the researchers who participated in the first sequencing of the human genome and he has been involved in numerous sequencing projects. His lab contributed to the tomato genome project by developing software to identify genes in the genome sequence of the tomato. Genes are the basic units of information and generally constitute a very small percentage of the genome sequence of a species. “The identification of genes is the first step in converting the genome sequence of a species into biologically relevant information,” adds Guigó.

This project was conducted by an international consortium with the involvement of several European research groups from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, along with other international groups in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Argentina and the United States.·Read more.

NDSU Potato Blightline to Operate in 2012

The Plant Pathology Department at North Dakota State University will again provide the potato Blightline service at no charge to the potato industry of North Dakota and western Minnesota in 2012. Based on the amount of late blight found in 2011, there is a good chance that late blight will be present in 2012 if conditions are favourable.

The NDSU Blightline is the first place to go to get the most recent blight updates and management information. This will be the eighteenth year that this service has been provided by NDSU and sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection. The hotline uses local weather data collected from weather stations throughout the area to forecast the occurrence and spread of late blight in 15 non-irrigated and 12 irrigated production areas in North Dakota and western Minnesota.·The data is processed by the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network and analyzed by a computer program to forecast when conditions are favourable for late blight to occur.

The forecast information is used by plant pathologists Gary Secor and Neil Gudmestad to make late blight management and fungicide recommendations. The recommendations are made Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week during the growing season. It is anticipated that the Blightline will continue through mid-September depending on disease pressure. The Blightline will also be used to confirm reported late blight sightings and serve as a clearing house for national late blight information.·Read more.

U.S. EPA Approves Marrone Bio Innovations’ Grandevo Biopesticide

Marrone Bio Innovations Inc., a leading global provider of natural pest management products for the agricultural and water treatment markets, has announced that the United States Environmental Protection Agency has approved a new, dry formulation of Grandevo, the company’s advanced biological broad-spectrum insecticide/miticide for protecting crops against chewing and sucking insects and mites. Grandevo is approved for use on ornamental plants and edible crops in field and greenhouse applications, and allows flexibility in air and ground applications.

“We’re pleased to offer this product to the industry, as trial results show that Grandevo meets or exceeds the performance of some of the industry’s leading pesticides,” says Pam Marrone, chief executive officer of MBI. “With Grandevo, growers now have a broad-spectrum product that delivers high performance without chemical residues. It offers longer control intervals than typical natural products and is of low risk to beneficial insects, making Grandevo a unique addition to integrated pest management programs. In addition, its complex mode of action aids in resistance management with synthetic chemicals.”

Grandevo, and its predecessor formulation MBI-203 (approved by the U.S. EPA in 2011), are derived from a newly discovered bacterium,·Chromobacterium subtsugae. A scientific breakthrough, this novel biopesticide features a complex mode of action and was first put to use in the Florida citrus market in 2011 to control Asian citrus psyllid—the vector for the lethal citrus greening disease. Commercial applications and results from studies and trials conducted by universities and third-party researchers demonstrate that Grandevo is effective at controlling a wide variety of pests, including Asian citrus psyllids, armyworms and other pest caterpillars, whiteflies, leaf miners, pepper weevils, peach twig borers, thrips, mites, stinkbugs, mealybugs and white grubs. Pest control has been tested on a range of crops, including potatoes, citrus, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and almonds.

Controlling insects such as Asian citrus psyllid requires an integrated program of cultural and biological strategies in addition to insecticide applications. Unfortunately, pests are increasingly resistant to synthetic pesticides, and growers must turn to products with different chemistries and modes of action to be effective and to manage resistance on an ongoing basis. Grandevo’s complex mode of action makes it an ideal partner for resistance management. In addition, when used as directed, Grandevo won’t interfere with beneficial insect activity, a critical feature for integrated pest management.

Grandevo is tolerance exempt on food crops, a key benefit for exported crops that are subject to maximum residue levels. Other advantages include a minimum four-hour re-entry interval and zero-day pre-harvest interval, which provide growers with additional operational flexibility because they can enter fields to work or harvest crops soon after application. Grandevo is compliant with the National Organic Program and listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute.·Read more.

Cavendish Farms now Fuelled by Cleaner-Burning Natural Gas

·Cavendish Farms haw celebrated the official opening of its natural gas receiving station at a ceremony held at the New Annan site. The successful implementation of this leading-edge natural gas system generates thermal energy which fuels the company’s potato processing plants and eliminates the use of 22 million litres of heavy fuel oil annually.

“Cavendish Farms is making huge strides in the area of sustainability, and our move into the compressed natural gas arena supports our continued efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of our operations in Prince Edward Island,” says Robert Irving, president of Cavendish Farms. “Our fuel mix in New Annan is now 70 per cent natural gas and 30 per cent biogas, with heavy oil now only used as a back-up fuel source. Combined with our investment in our biogas facility, we’ve now achieved a net reduction of 50 per cent in our greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We appreciate the province’s support of this investment in cleaner air and energy efficiency with a repayable loan of $15 million for a five-year term,” says Irving. “Converting to natural gas dramatically cuts our carbon footprint, reduces our energy costs and improves our competitive position. Ultimately, that means stable manufacturing jobs and improved growth prospects here in P.E.I.”

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz applauded the company’s investment and the creation of nine new jobs to date associated with the project. “Cavendish·Farms is known for being a respected and valued contributor to this community and to the Island’s economy, and this is another example of their innovation and leadership,” says Ghiz. “This initiative alone reduces the province’s CO2 emissions by one per cent, the equivalent of taking 4,200 cars off the road. We are pleased to have supported Cavendish Farms in making this investment.”

Island Gas, an affiliated company of Cavendish Farms, is the only CNG truck delivery operation in Atlantic Canada. Using a fleet of 11 specially engineered trailers built to safely move compressed natural gas, the company moves an average of 12 truckloads per day, around the clock. The gas is taken from the company’s transfer station in Baie Verte, N.B., on the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline. The fuel is then compressed prior to delivery to New Annan. Construction began in July 2011 and generated just under 30,000 person-hours of work during the construction period. The company took its first delivery in December 2011.·Read more.

Canadian Potato Museum Upgrades Facility

The Honourable Gail Shea, minister of national revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and La Francophonie, as well as the Honourable Ron MacKinley, P.E.I. minister of fisheries, aquaculture and rural development, have announced the grand re-opening of the Canadian Potato Museum after the facility underwent renovations and upgrades. “Our government is pleased to support establishments like the Canadian Potato Museum,” says Minister Shea. “Institutions like this help bring more visitors to western P.E.I., which helps grow the local economy and create jobs and real long-term prosperity.”

The Government of Canada, through ACOA, has invested $165,000 to help with the upgrades to the museum. The Government of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development and the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning, has invested an additional $100,000 and the O’Leary Centennial Museum and Library Associated invested $35,000. “The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to fund improvements to the Canadian Potato Museum” saysMinister MacKinley. “With this investment, we are helping to preserve and exhibit our rich farming history and the important role it played shaping Island communities. This project also provided employment for people needing to gain experience to move on to other jobs.”

The upgrades to the Canadian Potato Museum interior included enhancements to the cafe, gift shop and museum. This included new signs and banners, and interpretation and interactive displays were added. The improvements to the exterior included a new sidewalk, exterior benches and upgrades to the front entrance. “We are very excited to be re-opening our doors at the Canadian Potato Museum,” says Stanley MacDonald, Chairman, O’Leary Centennial Museum and Library Association. “The improvements made to the museum will help bring more people in the door and give them a better experience. I would like to thank both levels of government because without their help, these upgrades would not have been possible.”·Read more.

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