Potato Field Days Set for Aug. 21

The annual potato field day tour will travel to three locations - Larimore, Inkster and Hoople - on Aug. 21.

The field day begins at 7 a.m. with breakfast at Hoverson Farms near Larimore. Research presentations will begin after breakfast.

Lunch and research presentations will be given at the Forest River Colony near Inkster starting at noon. Following lunch, a field tour will highlight irrigated research trials.

The twilight tour will be at Oberg Farms near Hoople starting at 5 p.m. This will include a barbecue and research presentations by North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota potato researchers and Extension specialists. 

Topics include:

* Dual-purpose russets and potato processing breeding program

* 2014 potato production review

* Aphid alert II

* Use of unmanned air craft systems for potato production

* Potato selections from the University of Minnesota potato breeding program

* Glyphosate in seed potatoes

* Breeding for irrigation and chip potatoes

* Verticillium research

* Stem control

* Slow-release phosphorous

* Early blight

* NDSU potato breeding of red and fresh market clones

* Red- and yellow-skinned potato variety trial

Potato research and Extension activities are occurring throughout North Dakota and Minnesota, according to Andy Robinson, NDSU and University of Minnesota Extension potato agronomist.

“The work addresses potato breeding, nutrient management, diseases and insect and weed pests,” Robinson says. “Research continues to examine ways to more sustainably produce potatoes in North Dakota and Minnesota to enable farmers to help feed the world.”

 For more information on the field day, contact Robinson at (701) 231-8732 or andrew.p.robinson@ndsu.edu.

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NDSU Agriculture Communication – Aug. 13, 2014

Source: Andy Robinson, (701) 231-8732, andrew.p.robinson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.edu