May/June 2020
2020 Spudwoman of the Year Britt Raybould
Britt Raybould broke new ground in two ways for the National Potato Council this year. In January, Raybould was elected as president of the NPC’s executive committee, making her the first female ... more
Biotech potatoes can bring improved performance, quality to global markets
From a scientific perspective, the potato is a pretty cool crop to work with. Cultivated potato and its wild relatives contain a lot of diversity — both above and below the ground. When growing pota... more
Cultivar Corner: Huron Chipper has strong tolerance to common scab
Huron Chipper (MSW485-2) is a new chip-processing variety developed by Michigan State University. Parentage: MSQ070-1 x MSR156-7 Developers: Michigan State University and the MSU AgBioResearch (... more
How COVID-19 is backing up potato supply chain, reducing acreage
(UPDATE: USDA announces $19 billion coronavirus relief package for food industry, including $2.1 billion for specialty crops) Stories from two potato farmers in Idaho symbolize the havoc created by... more
Hybrid potato breeding offers huge potential
Potatoes can be a tough crop to grow. Seed tubers are bulky, perishable and quickly degenerate when pressured by disease. Furthermore, improvement of existing varieties has been slow. Traditional b... more
Inside the Industry: Potato Cultivar & Rotation Survey
Spudman recently surveyed readers on potato rotations, why they choose the varieties they grow, cover crops and challenges they face in balancing longer rotations with production needs. RELATED: ... more
Muir: Idaho potato industry has been ‘upended’
Since mid-March when Americans were encouraged to stay home to help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Idaho potato industry has been upended. From unprecedented demand at retail, to a cl... more
Powdery scab suppression remains elusive so far
Powdery scab, caused by Spongospora subterranea, is a worrisome disease for potato growers around the world for a variety of reasons. Powdery scab can stay present in soil for a long period of ti... more
Researcher Mark Pavek’s message to growers: Always question what you’re doing
At its core, Mark Pavek describes his professional focus as “finding the smartest and most profitable agronomic practices and varieties for (Pacific) Northwest growers.” Pavek is a Research and Ex... more
