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Cover Crops in Potatoes

Cover Crops in Potatoes

Cover crops are plants grown between cash crops for the purpose of soil conservation. Cover crops reduce erosion from wind and water, and over time will improve and maintain soil organic matter and soil health. Additionally, cover crops may aid in pest management, increase soil biodiversity and carbon, reduce loss of nutrients, and can increase nutrient availability. In many cases, cover crops have been shown to increase yields of cash crops.

Cover Crops in Potatoes - Read More…

Potato Tuber Second Growth

Potato Tuber Second Growth

Potato tubers are the result of the plant genetics and the environmental conditions in which they are grown. Potato varieties are selected carefully for tubers that have desirable appearance to maximize sales and reduce waste. However, some years can cause more environmental stress than others, resulting in tuber secondary growth. Secondary growth often manifests as heat sprouts, tuber chaining and tuber malformations. This physiological disorder decreases yield and quality of the tubers in the field.

Potato Tuber Second Growth - Read More…

NDSU Potato Breeding Program Handout

NDSU Potato Breeding Program Handout

This is a handout from Dr. Susie Thompson's Potato Breeding Program.

NDSU Potato Breeding Program Handout - Read More…

Spud Scoop, September 12, 2020

Spud Scoop, September 12, 2020

Welcome to Spud Scoop for the week ending on September 12, 2020. No late blight has been reported in ND, MN and MB. This week no late blight spores were found in the spore traps. Aphid vectors were down at all locations this week with cooler temperatures slowing down reproduction and movement. With multiple nights of freezing temperatures, potato vines in many areas have died. Because of this we will be ending the spore trapping network and this newsletter for this growing season. The cooler temperatures have provided favorable harvest conditions. Ideal tuber pulp temperature for harvest is 45 to 65 F. Yesterday was 9/11, and as Dr. Ian MacRae said “let’s take a moment to remember those brave individuals who run towards danger in order to safeguard us all.” Have a happy and safe harvest!

Spud Scoop, September 12, 2020 - Read More…

Spud Scoop, September 7

Spud Scoop, September 7

Welcome to Spud Scoop for the week ending on September 5, 2020. No late blight has been reported in ND, MN and MB. Congratulations to everyone in the potato industry in our area. Stay diligent with fungicide protection and scouting fields as harvest approaches. This week no late blight spores were found in the spore traps. Aphid numbers were down this week buy they’re still flying. Green peach aphids are more dispersed being found in 10 of 19 sites. Good luck with harvest as it gets into full swing.

Spud Scoop, September 7 - Read More…

Spud Scoop August 29, 2020

Spud Scoop August 29, 2020

Welcome to Spud Scoop for the week ending on August 29, 2020. No late blight has been reported in ND, MN and MB. Congratulations to everyone in the potato industry in our area. Stay diligent with fungicide protection and scouting fields as harvest approaches. This week no late blight spores were found in the spore traps. The spore trapping network is winding down as harvest is beginning.

Spud Scoop August 29, 2020 - Read More…

NPPGA Field Day 2020

The NPPGA Potato Field day, originally scheduled for August 27, 2020 was changed to a virtual field day. In these videos, researchers will provide information about their research work in potatoes. Hope you enjoy these presentations.

NPPGA Field Day 2020 - Read More…

Spud Scoop August 22, 2020

Spud Scoop August 22, 2020

Welcome to Spud Scoop for the week ending on August 22, 2020. No late blight has been found in ND, MN or MB. Late blight spores were found in Cavalier, ND and in Little Falls and Rice, MN. Stay diligent with fungicide protection and scouting fields. We had another big week for aphid vector numbers, with very similar numbers to last week. A total of 287 vectors were recovered from 15 sites reporting. In fact, with this week's catch, we've caught up with 2019 and are pretty much at the same levels, but with different levels at different sites.

Spud Scoop August 22, 2020 - Read More…

Spud Scoop August 14, 2020

Spud Scoop August 14, 2020

Hi and welcome to Spud Scoop! Late blight was confirmed in Wisconsin and genotyped as US-23. No late blight spores were found in the traps this week. Aphid numbers took an even bigger jump this week with the vector numbers and the PVY Vector Risk Index tripling over last week. A number of efficient vectors were found at most locations, including Green Peach Aphids being recovered from both the Crookston and Hoople traps.

Spud Scoop August 14, 2020 - Read More…

Spud Scoop August 7

Spud Scoop August 7

Hi and welcome to Spud Scoop this week. No late blight has been reported in potato fields, however weather conditions are favorable for late blight and late spores have been found in Lake Bronson, Oakes and Perham. Keep scouting for late blight. If you have any leaves, you’d like tested for late blight let Gary Secor or Andy Robinson know. Early blight is becoming more prevalent. Aphid numbers have doubled over last week, causing the PVY Vector Risk Index to more than double this week. The good news is PVY Risk Index values are less than half what they were at this time last year. This continues to be a low aphid year, but it only takes a few aphids to move inoculum around in a field. Harvest season is here. Our red and yellow-skinned potato trials are sizing up well. The favorable planting conditions and warm weather has encouraged rapid tuber growth. Some early russets were harvested this week including we harvested an early russet research potato trial. The value of herbicides, from one of our research plots can be seen below, you can see where herbicide treatment was and was not applied.

Spud Scoop August 7 - Read More…

Spud Scoop July 31, 2020

Spud Scoop July 31, 2020

Welcome to this week’s Spud Scoop. Late blight severity values continue to rise, but no late blight has been reported and no DNA was found in spore traps this week. Aphid numbers are down from last week but are more widely distributed. The warm temperatures are causing tuber sets to be lower and as a result, tubers are sizing rapidly. As an example, a tuber from an early planted research trial was nearly 24 ounces. Heat stress is also causing cracking and secondary growth. In general, the crop is progressing well, and harvest is getting into full swing for fresh growers in central Minnesota. Have a spudtacular week!

Spud Scoop July 31, 2020 - Read More…

Spud Scoop July 24, 2020

Spud Scoop July 24, 2020

Welcome to this week’s Spud Scoop! It’s been a week of warming temperatures and more rainfall in many areas. In general, the potato crop seems to be progressing well. Weather conditions continue to be favorable for late blight, as can be seen in late blight model severity values increasing this week. Late blight spore DNA was identified in the Lisbon, ND trap. Some things I have noticed this week as a result of the heat is that tuber sets seem to be lower, causing the remaining tubers to size up quickly. As a result of hot temperatures, I have seen Red Norland tubers have knobs or bumps developing on them. Nitrogen stress is showing up really nicely in our research trials. Symptoms of nitrogen stress is yellowing or chlorosis of lower leaves and reduced plant size.

Spud Scoop July 24, 2020 - Read More…

Spud Scoop July 17, 2020

Spud Scoop July 17, 2020

Welcome to this week’s Spud Scoop. The Potato crop is progressing well with some challenges from the weather. Hot temperatures are initiating heat sprouts to form, producing rapid development of Colorado Potato Beetles and encouraging thunderstorms. Excessive rainfall in the Red River Valley is likely causing iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) of some potato varieties. This is similar to the IDC often observed in soybean. With soils drying down I have observed plants growing out the IDC with new green leaves forming.

Spud Scoop July 17, 2020 - Read More…

Special Late Blight Spore Trapping Network report for June 29 - July 6

Special Late Blight Spore Trapping Network report for June 29 - July 6

Two sites had positive confirmation of late blight spore DNA in this first report of 2020. Late blight has not been confirmed in any potato fields.

Special Late Blight Spore Trapping Network report for June 29 - July 6 - Read More…

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