b'Forbush says. What growers tend to still do too much today is err on the side of caution. We offset our lack of understanding about whats really going on with the stored crop by adding more energy to the system. Rather than saying were going to run our fans 24 hours each day because weve always run our fans 24 hours each day, what we need to do is investigate the specific stored crops needs and then meet those needs through optimized,Heated walls in prescriptive ventilation. storages are providing The first step to optimizing ventilation is understanding thatgrowers with many every potato crop stores differently. Countless factorscropbenefits. PHOTO: MERIDIAN condition at harvest, temperature going into storage, dockage inMANUFACTURING INC.the pile, building design, ventilation capacity, and so much moreinfluence how a crop proceeds into and out of dormancy. Every potato crop is unique. As an industry, we have to fully em-brace that and manage each stored crop as individual, says Forbush. Todays highly sensitive ventilation monitors, usually equipped to transmit data right to a smart device, are excellent interpreters of whats happening inside a stored crop. The potatoes are trying to talk: were now doing a better job of trying to listen through watching key performance indicators, says Forbush. Though few growers currently manage their storage with an eye to optimi-zation, the monitoring and gauge technology is already in place to facilitate this shift in storage management. Also available is the technology to manage and direct ventilation. Trademarked by Techmark in 2013 and now capturing commercial uptake, prescriptive ventilation is a disease management system that directs high volumes of dry air via a secondary ventilation system to specific zones of a pile. Anytime you deal with storage, you deal with the pathogen triangle: if you have a pathogen, a food source, and the right environment, dis-ease will develop. Pathogens existence and the food source are givens. What we want to control is the environment. Prescriptive air removes the environment that supports the pathogen. Its not just adding extra air, its controlling that air, says Forbush.Potato growers today Innovations in potato storage technology also include certainare meeting the crops needs in storage new products designed to extend tubers storability, enhancethrough optimized, quality, or decrease pathogens.prescriptive ventiliation. PHOTO: TECHMARK INC.SPROUT CONTROLBurn options designed to rescue a sprouting crop are very new to the market, especially in Canada. 1,4Zap by 1,4Group was introduced to the U.S. market two years ago; SmartBlock by AMVAC has been available to U.S. growers for four years; and clove oil, approved for use in organic production in the UnitedPeracetic or peroxyacetic acid (PAA), a combination of hydrogen peroxide and States only, has been on the U.S. market for about 12 years.acetic acid, is a disinfectant and anti-microbial that is highly effective in stopping In Canada, 1,4Zap has just received technical registration and should bepathogens and dry rot. Though not new to the market, the product is new to many available to producers for the upcoming storage season. Clove oil is less likely togrowers, especially in Canada where uptake is currently low.come to Canada anytime soon: currently, no registrations have been filed with theIt wasnt launched well when it was first launched in some regions, so the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.product is fighting a less than great reputation, says Orr. Theres no question it I dont think all Canadian growers, especially table stock growers, are awareworks: Ive seen some rot issues dried up like Ive never seen before in my life.that they have an option to burn sprouting off with some of these agents, saysPAA is multi-purposeit can be used to disinfect equipment, bulk storages Bill Orr, Canada technical representative with 1,4Group. Processors can handleor wooden crates, and can be applied directly to tubers themselves. It is also some sprouting, but as a grower, you dont want any sprouting because thatsacceptable for use in organic production. money coming straight out of your potatoes. Despite all kinds of recent innovation in storage products and technology, Orr Some companies continue to work on reviving ethylene as a sprout controlsays the very best monitoring and management technology has never changed and agent, an effort that has been underway for more than two decades. While ethylenedoesnt cost a dime.is effective at managing sprouting when it is applied, the products primary down- Use your eyes and your nose. It all comes down to watching your pile. A good side is treated potatoes sprout extremely quickly after removal from storage. Also,storage manager stays up to date with storage innovations but knows theres no chippers and processors do not like ethylene because it throws off potatoes colour. replacement for careful monitoring and hands-on management.32 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2019'