Oregon Potato Commission Conference set for next month
Oregon Potato Commission Conference set for next month
Oregon potato growers will gather to learn more about the state of their industry at the 39th annual Oregon Potato Conference to be held in Portland Jan. 26-27.
Highlighting the conference will be a discussion on "Tomorrow's Agriculture, Six Trends You Can't Afford to Miss." The session is sponsored by the Oregon, Washington and Idaho potato commissions and supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As he was gearing up for the conference, Oregon Potato Commission Chair Jim Carlson told The Produce News that official numbers aren't in yet, but he said that he expects to see a 30 percent overall reduction in the seed potatoes for 2005.
According to Mr. Carlson, warmer regions saw greater impacts.
"The Columbia Basin had a good, normal crop," he said. "The Klamath, central Oregon and Ontario area crops were down due to rain." He added that the information had come from growers with whom he had spoken.
Mr. Carlson went on to say that the commission is looking for expansion into Mexico for fresh potatoes.
"The percentage increase is large, though the numbers aren't big," Mr. Carlson said. He noted that the United States competes with Canada, which moves a significant amount of product into Mexico.
When asked about trade barriers, Mr. Carlson said that impacts from nematodes must be explored. It's a negotiation thing. It's a political thing," he said.
He said that research performed at the Tri-State Potato Breeding Program continues to show promise, adding, "New varieties are coming down the road [and will] be bred for yield and quality."
Regarding the 2005 harvest, he said there were no tuber moth blowups, and he said research also continues into plant and tuber pest resistance with an eye toward prevention.
"From a field perspective, insecticide programs have increased," said Mr. Carlson.
He said that growers are becoming educated about the dangers of tuber moth and nematodes, and he noted their awareness helped with this year's crop. "Growers are being vigilant, and the USDA is doing a lot of tracking to get a handle on it."
Some research dollars are being allocated to study the healthful qualities of potatoes.
"As much as anything to me, this is a bright spot," Mr. Carlson continued. He said that increasing consumer awareness about the need to eat a balanced diet is important, and the latest promotions stressing the ways potatoes can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle will pay off. "This is a good future way to market," he said.
Highlighting the conference will be a discussion on "Tomorrow's Agriculture, Six Trends You Can't Afford to Miss." The session is sponsored by the Oregon, Washington and Idaho potato commissions and supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As he was gearing up for the conference, Oregon Potato Commission Chair Jim Carlson told The Produce News that official numbers aren't in yet, but he said that he expects to see a 30 percent overall reduction in the seed potatoes for 2005.
According to Mr. Carlson, warmer regions saw greater impacts.
"The Columbia Basin had a good, normal crop," he said. "The Klamath, central Oregon and Ontario area crops were down due to rain." He added that the information had come from growers with whom he had spoken.
Mr. Carlson went on to say that the commission is looking for expansion into Mexico for fresh potatoes.
"The percentage increase is large, though the numbers aren't big," Mr. Carlson said. He noted that the United States competes with Canada, which moves a significant amount of product into Mexico.
When asked about trade barriers, Mr. Carlson said that impacts from nematodes must be explored. It's a negotiation thing. It's a political thing," he said.
He said that research performed at the Tri-State Potato Breeding Program continues to show promise, adding, "New varieties are coming down the road [and will] be bred for yield and quality."
Regarding the 2005 harvest, he said there were no tuber moth blowups, and he said research also continues into plant and tuber pest resistance with an eye toward prevention.
"From a field perspective, insecticide programs have increased," said Mr. Carlson.
He said that growers are becoming educated about the dangers of tuber moth and nematodes, and he noted their awareness helped with this year's crop. "Growers are being vigilant, and the USDA is doing a lot of tracking to get a handle on it."
Some research dollars are being allocated to study the healthful qualities of potatoes.
"As much as anything to me, this is a bright spot," Mr. Carlson continued. He said that increasing consumer awareness about the need to eat a balanced diet is important, and the latest promotions stressing the ways potatoes can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle will pay off. "This is a good future way to market," he said.
