b'and chief engineer, says in addition to providing superior capacity cleaning in even the most remote spots, the mobile VACS unit offers one-of-a-kind quick-change table technology that allows growers to easily swap in or out one of five different tables to meet a host of environmental conditions.Its also environmentally friendly. Most of the debris that is cleaned from the potatoes is contained within the VACS mobile itself.Our work environment is very clean compared to most of our competitors, Nilson adds.PRAIRIE SIDE EQUIPMENTThere are few things more frustrating for a potato grower than losing a portion of their product to poor storage equipment and conditions. Prairie Side Equipment in Taber, Alta., has a simple solution to help prevent such loss. It manufactures potato boxes that sales and service manager Frank Michielsen says can help ensure growers are able to send 85 to 90 per cent of the potatoes they put into storage back out to market. The boxes come in two standard sizes6 feet x 4 x 4 and 6 x 4 x 5but can be customized to fit a clients individual needs.The companys storage boxes are manufactured using wood imported from Northern Europe to ensure the highest quality. They are precisely cut to provide strength and even airflow which helps prevent potential skinning or bruising.We looked at local suppliers for a long time but the quality of wood is just not available here, Michielsen says.The boxes can pay for themselves within a couple of years, he adds.You cant have a good ROI if you only have 50 per cent going back out of the shed. You transport all of that product and invest in storage space for nothing if half of your storage is trash due to pressure, rot or quality issues due to improper ventilation practice.SPUDNIKSpudnik remains one of the biggest names in the business when it comes to potato harvesting equip-ment. And with good reason, says Al Koyata, manager of Growers Supply Ltd. in Taber, Alta. Growers Supply distributes a number of Spudnik products including the companys popular AirSep Harvester. It comes in two modelsthe two-row 6621 and the three-row 6631. Its gentle, high capac-ity potential is perfect for any variety of potato. The AirSep separates dirt from potatoes so well farmers can use cleaning staff to carry out other tasks. It also helps to significantly increase produc-tion and efficiency, Koyata adds.There are guys who are putting away over 2,000- Prairie Side Equipments storage boxes are manufactured using wood imported from Northern Europe to ensure plus tons a day. Thats pretty good volume. In the past,the highest quality. They are precisely cut to provide strength and even airflow which helps prevent potential a 1,000-ton day would have been a good day.skinning or bruising.PHOTO: PRAIRIE SIDE EQUIPMENT16 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2019'