The previously scheduled dates of the WPC Congress in Ireland (May 24-27, 2021) have been moved by one week to May 31 to June 2, 2021 due to the Dublin Bloom Festival (https://bloominthepark.com/). This will allow 2021 WPC Congress participants and their partners to enjoy this important Irish horticulture event in the city, and for the Irish promotion board ‘Bord Bia’ (one of the major sponsors of WPC and organizer of the Bloom Festival)…
CBC News Fresh potato prices are higher than usual because of shortages after the worst growing season in decades. On P.E.I., Canada’s largest producer of potatoes, it’s estimated about 2,800 hectares of potatoes were left in fields, because the fall was so wet and fields were too muddy to harvest. The season was also late starting due to a cold spring. People in the industry estimate prices for potatoes are up at…
Anyone can get potatoes into the ground. If you want to maximize your time, land and in-put efficiency — and ultimately make more money — getting potatoes into the ground quickly and with accurate depth and spacing is critical. The technology that can make all of that happen is an air cup planter. Air cup planters rely on negative (vacuum) pressure to pick up a single seed and positive (air blast) pressure…
The British company Restrain has been developing ethylene generators since 2003, and they rent these to tomato, onion and potato growers throughout the season. The generators, equipped with technology developed in the Netherlands, are now sold in 36 countries. The operation of the system is relatively simple: the heat generated by the machine turns beet alcohol into ethylene. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that is produced by all plants, but climacteric…
The whole seed model has been used in Europe for some time and is becoming more popular in the United States. The practice has had low adoption in Canada; however, that may change. Is a whole seed system possible for Canada? This webinar examines the possible advantages and challenges to planting whole seed and cut seed pieces. Guest speakers will also discuss whole seed size distribution and seed sizing capabilities. Whole seed…
Given that technology and innovation are changing every part of agriculture, it’s not surprising that there have been big strides in a potato storage’s design and technology too. We’re now able to build bigger buildings than ever. Over the past 10 years, leading manufacturers have been able to significantly increase the tensile strength (KSI) of steel buildings and build in heavier gauge due to improved manufacturing technology and equipment. Because of the…
Supplies of potatoes from Canada’s Prince Edward Island province are very tight. “We’re short in Canada and I know they’re also short in Europe and the U.S. has issues as well and it’s due to weather,” says Jennifer Harris of Mid Isle Farms in Albany, PEI. “We had everything. We had a wet spring which delayed growers getting into the fields for planting and then we had a very dry summer that…
Growers of seed potatoes would like to know on which part of their parcel the potatoes grow best, and how the location influences the size of the potatoes. But during harvesting, hundreds of potatoes will roll into the harvesting machine at the same time. Wageningen University & Research is working with Aeres Hogeschool, the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Green Campus and several growers to study how this yield can be measured by…
World Potato Congress President, Romain Cools is very pleased to welcome Dr. Nigel Crump to its International Advisory Committee. “Dr. Crump is an excellent addition to our highly respected professional group of International Advisors. With Nigel’s addition, we now have potato specialists representing all parts of the world.” Dr. Nigel Crump is a potato pathologist with over 19 years’ experience working in the Australian potato industry. Nigel is the General Manager for…
The 103rdPotato Association of America Annual Meeting is to be held at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel in Winnipeg, Man., from July 28 to Aug. 1, 2019. Participants will gather to network and exchange the latest research, information and ideas to move potato science forward. The theme for the symposium is “Changes and Challenges in Potato Marketing Sectors.” PAA is a professional organization that represents the scientific arm of the potato industry. The…