With over 4000 registered potato varieties in North America, matching your operation’s needs with your end-use requirements with the right potato can be overwhelming. But if you ask the right people the right questions, you could find solutions quicker than you expect.
First, you need to have a clear vision of what you’re looking for. You need to meet your customer’s needs, of course. What will they use the potatoes for? Are there defined characteristics you need to deliver? What is needed to get them to your customers? What works best with your packing facility and your packaging type? Are you looking for better yield, a tolerance to drought, or a disease resistance?
Once you’ve outlined your must-haves, the next step is tapping into expert insights.
With those parameters in mind, you can reach out to your local seed grower. Most seed producers get to see those varieties for two, three, sometimes even five years before they ever introduce it to you on your farm, so they have their finger on the pulse of what’s going on. They understand what’s out there, what’s new, what’s up and coming and what hopefully will meet your next generation of demand.
From here you can start asking questions.
How does this variety perform compared to what you’re already growing on farm? Is there trial data from an area that’s similar enough to yours to be relevant?
How does the variety look agronomically? Will it fit in your farm’s cultural practices? Is it susceptible or sensitive to a chemistry that’s critical to your on-farm management?
What additional steps do you need to make to maximize the performance of this new variety? Many modern varieties do not require as much nitrogen. Some of them don’t need as many applications of pesticide or fungicide to be successful in the field.
When a variety looks promising, the next step is testing it on your farm. Whether you prefer a small-scale trial or a larger planting, make sure it provides meaningful data for your operation.
And finally, seed growers and breeders don’t base decisions on a single trial, and neither should you. If a variety trials well, test it again, expand trials, and assess storage and delivery to ensure it meets your needs.
Keep in contact with your seed grower through this process and continue to give them feedback. If your local seed grower doesn’t have the answer you need, reach out to breeding companies to see what is next on the horizon. Variety selection is a team effort, and your feedback helps determine the direction they go in the future, too. You also want to make sure that variety you’re trialing will have a secure supply into the future.
Variety selection isn’t just about the present — it’s about securing the right fit for the future. If you want to refine your approach, let’s talk.
