b'INSIDERS ADVICE FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTSPOTATO GROWTH REGULATORS AND SPROUT INHIBITORSAre You Letting Your Stressed Pile Sprout Away?BILL ORR Canada Technical Representative1, 4 Group14group.comITS BEEN A tough couple years to be a potatoSprouts could more correctly be called spouts,market. 1,4ZAP was introduced to the U.S. market producer in many parts of Canada. Harvestsince each sprout is like a little blowhole throughin 2016, and only came to Canada in September 2019 was memorably bad, the rain, snow and coldwhich moisture and energy escape. How costly is2019. Im pleased to already see good uptake of which interrupted digging in most Canadian po- sprouting? Ive seen piles shrink by up to 15 per1,4 ZAP in Western Canada. Out East, however, tato fields didnt just lead to unhappy farmers, itcent once dormancy breaks and sprouting begins. uptake has been slower to grow. I expect this to led to stressed tubers too. In 2020, many farmers,There are alternatives to watching your pilechange, likely sooner rather than later. More and especially those in the Maritimes, were disap- sprout away though. more, processors are focusing on (and paying bo-pointed by the weather for the second year in a1,4ZAP, derived from a completely naturallynuses for) quality. While processors will accept up rowunusually hot and dry conditions throughoccurring potato hormone, delivers 95 to 100 perto inch and a half sprouts, they will increasingly the second half of the growing season meantcent burn back on sprouting. Unlike other rescueoffer bonuses for completely clean tubers. Produc-potatoes, again, came out of the ground stressed.products available on the market, 1,4ZAP doesnters who try 1,4ZAP will quickly realize the salable Unfortunately, tubers compromised by any formhave a scent issue and is safe for workers. In fact,weight benefits of good sprout management.of stress start pushing sprouts far earlier in theno personal protective equipment is required justAre tough later-season conditions a new reality storage season than tubers grown and harvested24 hours after a custom thermal fogging applica- for Canadian potato production? I sure hope not. in optimal conditions. In years like this one, whention. 1,4ZAP can be fogged at the same time asBut, since nature always has a few wildcards up sprouting is going to be a particularly big issue, it1,4SIGHT to manage peeps and extend shelf life ather sleeve, Im relieved we have new options for pays to know how to help your stressed crop holdthe same time. maintaining quality through storage.its value through storage. Sprout control options are fairly new to the 44 SPUDSMART.COM SPRING 2021'