Potato Bytes 06.08.2022
News from the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
Serving the potato industry in
North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.
Rain Continues to Slow Planting Progress; Some Prevented Planting Looks Likely
Ted Kreis - NPPGA Communications

Potato planting was limited again this past week after another bout of rain on the Northern Plains. The National Weather Service reported that Grand Forks has had its second wettest spring on record, receiving over 12 inches of rain in March through May period. Ironically this follows one of the driest summers on record which occurred just last year.

Potato planting progress varies greatly from farm to farm, but with less than 40% planted in North Dakota as of Sunday, it is becoming evident that there will be some prevented planting and a smaller size profiles on some late planted crops this fall.

While Minnesota reports 88% of the potato crop is planted, it is a good bet that most of 12% that is not planted is in the Red River Valley.


USDA Potato Planting Progress Report from 6/5/2022

NORTH DAKOTA - 38% planted; last week 32%; last year 99%; 5-yr avg 95%. Emerged was 7%, well behind 78% last year and 43% average.

MINNESOTA - 88% planted; last week 78%; last year 91%; 5-yr avg 94%

Crop Progress & Condition Report for all crops: ND - MN
Crop Transition Conference is this Week in the Twin Cities

Each year the United Potato Growers of America host an informative Crop Transition Conference to discuss the outlook and projections for the upcoming crop year, and how the transition from one growing region to another may shape up. This year's conference is in Bloomington, MN on Thursday and Friday.

Some meetings are for co-op members only, but the Friday morning general session is open to all; non-members are invited to attend.

Click here for more information and the meeting agenda.


CELEBRATION OF THE DAKOTA RUSSET!
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Social | 4 p.m.
Program | 5 p.m.
NDSU McGovern Alumni Center
1241 University Drive N. | Fargo, ND 58102

Potato-centric dishes | Free event

Join us to celebrate the success of the NDSU Potato Improvement Team and hear the story behind this spectacular spud. Area growers are especially urged to attend!

REGISTER HERE RSVP by June 15th 2022

The program will feature:

DR. NEIL GUDMESTAD
University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, NDSU

DR. SUSIE THOMPSON
Potato Breeder, NDSU

CARL HOVERSON
Owner, Hoverson Farms

TINA BRANDT
Variety Development Manager, J.R. Simplot

DAVID PARISH
President/CEO, AIS Ag Consulting

DANIEL ROCHE
Quality System and Food Safety Agricultural Products Lead, McDonald’s

KEITH MCGOVERN
President of RD Offutt Farms

DR. GREG LARDY
Vice President for Agricultural Affairs, NDSU

HOSTED BY: Hoverson Farms and Simplot in partnership with the NDSU Foundation and NDSU Extension.

QUESTIONS? Contact Nicolette Bresnahan at 701.231.6802 or via email.
Trained Dogs Used to Sniff Out PVY

NDSU Potato Breeder Susie Thompson brings in a speaker from Wyoming who has trained a dog to detect potato virus diseases using their nose.

Story and Photo by Mikkel Pates / AgWeek

Good news: the newest high-tech tool for diagnosing crop disease is also man’s best friend — a friendly dog.

Specifically, it’s a crew of five dogs trained by Andrea Parish, 46, of Dayton, Wyoming, owner of "Nose Knows Scouting.” Parish is married to a potato crop consultant and a friend of Asunta “Susie” Thompson, an associate professor and potato breeder in the North Dakota State University Department of Plant Sciences.

Parish and one of her dogs, Zora, flew into Fargo, North Dakota, so that Zora could sniff her way through the North Dakota State University potato seed development program, looking for a potato disease known as Potato Virus Y, or PVY.

The NDSU Potato Breeding Program develops new potato cultivars for grower, industry, and consumer adoption, as well as certified seed potatoes of all materials in their breeding pipeline.

NDSU staffers brought potato bags out of coolers for the dog to peruse....
Potato Bytes Landmark Trivia
Last Week's Famous Landmark

Last week's Trivia landmark was the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The stainless steel and aluminum fountain is 52 feet long and 30 feet tall and was erected in 1988.
It was identified correctly by Brett Miller, James Staricka, James Troyer, Karen Radke, Dorothy Viker, Geoff Price and Vicky Boyd.


Name this Famous Landmark

Send your answer in by clicking on the red tab below.


All those answering correctly will be recognized in the next Potato Bytes.

Crispy Potato Wedges with Spanish Style Picadillo


Dish: Appetizer, Side Dish or Main Dish
Preparation Type: Baked, Pan Fried

A sauce of ground Turkey, Smoked Paprika, Tomatoes, Olives and Garlic, cooked down with Olive Oil and served over a bed of crispy oven-roasted potato wedges.
Coming Events @ a Glance

June 9 - 10

June 16 - 17

July 21
  • NPPGA Golf Open - Grafton, ND

August 25

September 6 - 10