b'INSIDERS ADVICE FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTSPOTATO EQUIPMENTWhat a Long, Long Way Weve ComeKARL M. ABRAHAMSONElectrical EngineerLOCKWOOD Manufacturinglockwoodmfg.comWhen TJ Lockwood built the potato industryscertainly love the size and power increases ofdownright shocked by the information technolo-first ever potato grader way back in 1930, hismachinery today, which have brought about hugegy, the touch screens, push-button adjustability innovation was greeted with huge enthusiasmefficiency gains. In his time, harvesting a handfuland informatics, now available. We now take by farmers who, until then, had to do all potatoof acres in a day was a major accomplishment.for granted things like automatic planter depth sorting by hand. Its hard to fully comprehend justEven a couple decades ago, harvesting 20 acresadjustments, push button sprocket changes how far potato handling equipment has come inin a day was noteworthy. Today, farmers usingdone from the comfort of ones cab, yield the years since.high-efficiency equipment can complete 100monitoring data linked to a smart phone, and so TJ Lockwood would be impressed but likely notor more acres in one day while relying on fewermuch more. In fact, much of what farmers now surprised by many of the mechanical innovationsworkers than ever before. The efficiency increasesdepend on to maximize efficiency, comfort and present in todays machines. He loved solutions,are necessary, not only because farm sizes areproduction success wouldnt have been imagin-so would quickly see the value in innovations likegrowing quickly, but also because available labourable to farmers even a few decades ago.air cups that precisely position seed potatoes atis far harder to find than in decades past.Lets raise a glass to progress, weve come a planting, mobile equipment that allows in-fieldOne of the biggest benefits of todays biggervery long way! That said, we at Lockwood firmly cleaning, and the many high and low-tech im- tractors is more auxiliary hydraulic function.believe theres always room to strive, innovate provements which ensure gentle, bruise free tuberImproved hydraulics allows variable speed andand improve from where we are today. 100 years handling. In even just the last 10 years, weveincreased throughput adjustability, allowing pota- from now, in fact, likely much sooner, Im sure seen huge improvements in automation, highertoes to flow smoothly in any harvesting conditions.farmers will be saying, Remember when some-volume blowers, better cleaning tables, and more.While TJ would be impressed by potatoone actually had to drive this thing?! An innovator who valued efficiency, TJ wouldhandling equipments size and innovation, hed be POTATO GROWTH REGULATORS AND SPROUT INHIBITORSCare About Sustainability? Make Yourself HeardBILL ORR Canada Technical Representative1, 4 Group14group.comCanada is growing into a global player inwelcomed and celebrated, especially in places likechemical which could lead to customer rejection the processed potato market, thanks to aEurope, which recently deregistered CIPC, and Ja- of their finished product in any market. For exactly rapid expansion in processing capacity in thispan, which is a global leader in green technologiesthat reason, international hesitation on any new country. However, our ability to produce the most thats not the case. Instead, gaining globalbiochemical product translates to usage hesita-sustainable, environmentally responsible productacceptance of newer, more sustainable optionstion here at home too.continues to be hamstringedcompromised byis expensive, challenging, and most frustratingly,At the end of the day, Canadian farmers, slow international acceptance of newer, betterhighly political.processors, retailers and consumers want the chemical solutions.Some argue the fact North America is aheadsame thinga viable, sustainable potato Todays consumers care about sustainability.of the rest of the world in registering certainindustry which produces quality potato products Increasingly, they expect greener productionbiochemicals is a good thing, since it allowsfor the long-term. I am convinced our counterparts practices including the replacement of traditional,producers here to get familiar with new optionsaround the world want the same. To get there, we harsh, broad-spectrum chemicals with newerahead of their global competitors. Unfortunately,need to work together as a united industry, both technologies like bio-chemicals. Options exist. Fortaking the lead in developing new products likedomestically and internationally, to encourage example, 1,4-Dimethylnapthalene (1,4DMN, soldthe biochemical 1,4SIGHT has provided a new setgovernment regulators to make decisions which as 1,4SIGHT) is a naturally occurring potato hor- of problems which stifles this innovation.unify international regulations and eliminate mone which stabilizes dormancy, then volatilizesTodays processors produce for a global marketunnecessary regulatory barriers.entirely away. Available in Canada for the past 15and rarely designate specific harvest regions years, 1,4DMN is so safe and natural that neitheror lots to specific markets. Because their final Canada nor the U.S. require it to have an MRL.product must be shippable anywhere in the world, Logically, bio-chemicals like 1,4DMN would beprocessors are reluctant to take a chance on a 56 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2021'