b'FROMOUR DESK Ashley Robinson Winter 2021 - Vol. 18, No. 1The magazine of the Canadian potato industry.PUBLISHED BY:A Virtual Meeting 6327435 Canada Ltd.403-313 Pacific Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3A 0M2Phone: 204-453-1965, Fax: 204-475-5247Email: [email protected] I FIRST started this job a year ago, Iaccomplish that. Were offering sessions onissuesink.comwas so excited to go to every potato industryeverything from new agronomic practices to PUBLISHERconference and meet all of you. I already had Man- using farm management software.Shawn [email protected] Potato Production Days down in my calendarOne session that I am extremely excited EDITORand was trying to see if I could make it to Potatoabout is our conference closer, a precisionAshley [email protected]. But then everything changedfive weeksagriculture presentation from Dutch potato after I started, the global COVID-19 pandemic wasgrower Jacob van den Borne. Hes presentedMANAGING EDITORMichelle [email protected]. at other conferences in Canada and from what There were many months spent wonderingIve been told the precision agriculture workADVERTISING SALESCraig [email protected] when life would go back to normal and if thishe has done on his own farm is amazing. IAiden [email protected] conference or that conference would be able to golove learning about new technology and tryingDean [email protected] as previously planned. Last fall it becameto understand what is actually practical forSam [email protected] the traditional Canadian potato industrygrowers, so I feel that having a grower presentMARKETINGconferences were all being cancelled or scaledon this will give you all an inside look at whatTheresa [email protected] for online versions.is possible on your own farms. CREATIVEHere at Spud Smart, we started thinking. WeIm also looking forward to learning moreLesley Nakonechny, Kyle Dratowany, Theresa Ramsoomairknew how important these conferences are toabout the potato seed regulatory changes. ICIRCULATIONgrowers and others in the potato industry, andknow it is not the most attention-grabbingDean [email protected] knew there was still important informationtopic, but seed is something we all need, andCONTRIBUTORSto share. And well, we had a solution. Over theits important growers have a say on the regu- Shel Zolkewich, Eugenia Banks, Madeleine Baerg and Trevor Bacquecourse of the pandemic, another division withinlations around the seed they use. The marketsEDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDour parent company was launchedSeedoverview session is personally a favourite ofKhalil Al-Mughrabi, Benoit Bizimungu, Robert Coffin, Nick Hubbard, World Group Virtual Events. Since last spring,mine, although I may be biased as Im theJason Kehler, Keith Kuhl, Kevin MacIsaac, Bill Moons, Rick D. Peters, Janet Porchak, Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, Bert Tupling, Peter VanderZaagmy colleagues have worked with agriculturemoderator for it, but still, I swear you wont associations and companies around the world towant to miss it.move their conferences online using our virtualLike in-person conferences, the CanadianSUBSCRIPTIONSevents platform.Spud Congress isnt just about the sessions.Spud Smart is published four times a year. To subscribe, please email Our solution was simplewe would partnerWere having a full tradeshow, so you [email protected] subscription rate is: $45.00/year plus GST. with the provincial and national potato associa- connect with potato industry companies fromInternational subscription rate is CDN$110.00/year.tions to host one national virtual potato industryacross the country to learn about the newest conference and thus the Canadian Spud Congressand latest products available for you. And we PRINTED IN CANADAPlease recycle where facilities exist.was born.also have the Spud Shed, which I really wouldNo part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written The conference is happening on Feb. 24 andlove to meet you in.permission of the publisher. 25 and weve packed this issue full of informationSo, please grab a beverage (coffee or beer)Spud Smart makes no expressed or implied warranties of mechantability about it. Please check out pages 4 to 16 for theand come find me, I will try to be at the Spudor fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise, concerning the use of any product and assumes no liability for any injury or damage, direct show guide which gives you detailed informationShed most of the time, and I want to chat. Ior consequential, incurred from the use of such products or services on the virtual platform, sessions and speakers.want to get to know you, my readers, so I cantherein. Federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations Ive spent the last few months working withbetter know what you want to see on thesesupersede the information contained within. the provincial and national potato associationspages. I really wish I could meet you all inPublications Mail Agreement No. 40030841.to plan out a diverse and interesting slate ofperson at coffee breaks, or wandering throughReturn undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Issues Inksessions. tradeshows, and hopefully next year I will,403-313 Pacific Ave.I approached session planning similar to how Ibut for now well have to settle for meetingWinnipeg, MB R3A 0M2approach planning out a new issue of Spud Smart.virtually.PRIVACY CODEI always try to offer a mix of content becauseP.S. Make sure to check out #SpudConTo view our privacy policy, visit spudsmart.com.I know growing potatoes is a complex job andon social media before, during and after theSPUDSMART.COMthere is more to it than just putting the seeds inconference to connect with other attendees the ground. With the sessions I feel I was able toand share that youre attending.SPUDSMART@SPUDSMARTMAG2 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2021'