Spud Smart Podcast: Recent Episodes
Spud Smart Podcast
When should you plant your spuds? When should you spray them? When should you harvest them? All of these are important things to consider when growing a potato crop. In this webinar experts explain what you need to remember in regard to timing for growing the best possible potato crop. We share results on a study looking at the effect of planting dates, and information on what to keep in mind when it comes to in-season crop protection.
Presenters Jed Grow, North Dakota State University PhD graduate student
Jed Grow grew up in Utah and left in 2013 to serve a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints in Peru for two years. There he learned Spanish and became involved in humanitarian work developing a passion for service and feeding the poor. He returned the United States and, in an effort, to further pursue these passions began working with a quinoa breeder in Utah trying to feed struggling minorities in Morocco.
He graduated with his undergraduate degree in biotechnology and genetics from Brigham Young University in Utah in 2018. He the received his master’s degree from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in plant sciences and is currently working on his PhD in plant sciences at NDSU and teaching degree slated to graduate with both the end of this year/start of 2024. His current research work involves potato planting date manipulation and if’s effect on yield, bulking rates, and V. dahliae colonization.
Grow’s a drone pilot and well versed in lots of emerging technologies. He’s married to Hannah Grow and they have three wonderful children aged 4, 3, and 1. He’s very involved in his church and passionate about serving God, others and feeding the hungry. He loves potatoes, and his favourite way to eat them is Lefse and his wife’s mashed potatoes. He also plays hockey in his free time.
Dave Bell, owner of Bell Crop Services Inc.Dave Bell is the owner of Bell Crop Services Inc. (est 1999) in Harvey Station, N.B. He is an agronomist who has worked with potato and cash crop growers in New Brunswick specializing in sustainable crop production since 1986. Bell created and operates the Potato Disease Spore Monitoring Network for Maine and New Brunswick. He’s a long term research partner with Atlantic Grains Council and the Eastern Canada Oilseeds Alliance. He graduated from Dalhousie University’s Agriculture College in 1986 with bachelor of agronomy degree in plant protection.
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A good potato crop starts with good seed. If you don’t have quality seed then you’re holding back your crops potential. Should you cut your seed before planting? What width should your rows be? There’s a lot to consider before your seed even touches the soil. On this webinar, we have professionals sharing some tips on what you can do to make sure your seed is top notch for planting this year.
Presenters Ryan Barrett, research and agronomy specialist with the Prince Edward Island Potato Board
In this role, Barrett coordinates local and national research projects with several different partners as well as conducting on-farm research trials with several P.E.I. potato growers.
Barrett graduated with a bachelor of science in agriculture from Dalhousie University in 2002 and a master of science degree from the University of Guelph in 2004. He has worked with the P.E.I. Potato Board since 2012 after previously working in the purebred dairy cattle industry. Barrett continues to be involved in his family’s dairy farm in Belmont, P.E.I., breeding registered Milking Shorthorns. He also serves as secretary-manager of the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society.
Barrett is a professional agrologist and serves as the president-elect of the P.E.I. Institute of Agrologists. He’s also a certified crop advisor for the Atlantic provinces and serves on the board of directors for the Potato Association of America, the P.E.I. 4-H Council, and the Eastern Canadian Oilseeds Development Association (ECODA).
Khalil Al-Mughrabi, provincial potato pathologist with the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
Al-Mughrabi graduated with a PhD in biology from Dalhousie University in 1994. He has been the provincial potato pathologist for the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries since 2001. Al-Mughrabi is the program lead for the science, research and innovation program with the New Brunswick provincial government and is the provincial representative for the Atlantic Agricultural Research and Innovation Initiative; and federal, provincial and territorial innovation working group. He’s the chair of education and training pillar of “Improving Food Self Sufficiency in New Brunswick” action plan for Agriculture in the Classroom at the high school and post-secondary curriculum development level.
Al-Mughrabi’s an adjunct professor in the faculty of agriculture and faculty of graduate studies at Dalhousie University, and an adjunct professor in the school of climate change and adaptation at the University of Prince Edward Island. He previously worked at Al-Balqa’ Applied University in Jordan.
Al-Mughrabi’s research focus on potato early dying and late blight management. He is the chairman of the national late blight working group and has released numerous publications on his research.
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The post Prepping Your Potato Seed for Spring — Webinar and Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
A multitude of issues from spray drifting to soil carryover to sensitive varieties can cause herbicide injury on potatoes. And while it can sometimes cause only a little damage, it can also easily lead to huge losses for your crop. So, what can, and should you do to protect your spuds? In this roundtable webinar, experts share information about what herbicide injury in potatoes is, how it happens and what you can do for your spuds if they get hit.
Presenters
Vikram Bisht, plant pathologist for potato and horticultural crops with Manitoba Agriculture
Bisht obtained his PhD in plant pathology from the University of Illinois working on soybean diseases and his post-doctorate at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics in India working on phytophthora blight of pigeon pea crop. Prior to joining Manitoba Agriculture Bisht managed hydroponic seed potato production facilities in China and Maine.
In his current position, Bisht works on disease and pests affecting potato and vegetable crops in Manitoba. He is involved with insect pests and disease monitoring, disease diagnosis, surveillance and on-farm research and extension on diseases and herbicide drift. Bisht is a cooperator in Canadian Agricultural Partnership projects on potato late blight in Canada and Necrotic viruses, including PMTV in potato.
Andy Robinson, extension potato agronomist at North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota
Robinson grew up farming in Parma, Idaho with his family. He received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his master and doctorate degrees from Purdue University.
Robinson’s research and extension goals are to develop science-based solutions to address real-world problems in potato production, enabling producers to increase economic and environmental sustainability through improved crop management. He contributes regularly to the Valley Potato Grower writing “Andy’s Advice.” His work has taken him around the globe speaking, conducting research, and providing education.
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Growing a potato crop is a 365-day process and fall means it’s time for the potato harvest, it also means time for field prep work. From cover cropping to tillage to fall bedding, there’s a lot you can do to get your field ready for spring potato planting. We will be joined by experts here […]
The post Getting Your Potato Field Ready for Winter – A Spud Smart Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
With more potato processing companies pushing for regenerative agriculture and other sustainable growing practices you may be wondering how the fertilizer you use is affected? In this webinar experts from the fertilizer industry explain how you can use fertilizer sustainably on your farm. Experts from the fertilizer and potato industries take you through the 4R […]
The post Using Fertilizer on Your Spud Fields Sustainably – A Spud Smart Retail Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
AIR Program uses a proprietary system combining spore trapping and weather monitoring to protect potato crops. Spud Smart (SS): What is AIR Program? And why should potato growers be interested in it? Daniel Mondor (DM): AIR Program is a fungus diseases detection program — we like to call it preventive. Because as we know, for […]
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Climate change is in the headlines with parts of Canada receiving record heat, cold, drought and moisture over the past few years. While we are firsthand seeing climate change on potato farms across Canada, there is still questions about how it’s going to affect potato production long term. In this webinar we take a closer […]
The post Climate Change and What it Means for Potatoes – A Spud Smart Retail Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
Colorado potato beetles (CPBs) are highly adaptive to new control methods, which makes them hard to get rid of in potato fields. A national research project led by AAFC and funded by the Canadian Horticulture Cluster has been working to quantify regional patterns of insecticide resistance and develop regional control methods. This webinar will take […]
The post Controlling Colorado Potato Beetles on Your Farm – A Spud Smart Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
Cover crops are becoming more and more popular as producers of all types are looking at how to preserve and help their soil. Potato growers have been using cover crops for years but with more varieties available, how worth it is it to put the extra work in to plant, maintain and harvest or till […]
The post Are Cover Crops Worth the Work? – A Spud Smart Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
There’s a lot that happens before seed potatoes end up planted in your fields. In order for you to be able to grow the best potato crop you can, seed growers work hard to get that seed ready for you. In this webinar the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will give you an overview of […]
The post Potato Seed Certification Process – A Spud Smart Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
Potatoes are a welcome sight in a field when planted, but they can pop up in non-potato years and become unwanted visitors. Volunteer potatoes are tubers left in the field which survive winter and grow the following the spring. Not only do these potatoes compete with crops and reduce yield, but they can also harbour […]
The post Keeping Your Fields Free of Unwanted Potatoes – A Spud Smart Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
Late blight can devastate a potato field. Across Canada though, a group of researchers are working, as part of a national research cluster, to develop a strategy to fight back against this costly potato disease. This webinar will explain the work that has been done and what researchers still have to come. Speaker Rick Peters […]
The post Fighting Back Against Late Blight – A Spud Smart Innovation Series Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
AIR’s mission is to protect your crops and allow you to reduce your operating costs. Managing your pesticides effectively has many benefits. Stop working blindly when it comes to fungal diseases! Get a measurement tool that will provide a factual and accurate report on your situation, providing you with scientific evidence that will serve to […]
The post How to maximize fungicide use & reduce costs – A Spud Smart Innovation Series Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Spud Smart.
Wireworms are a soil-borne pest which cause millions of dollars in damage to potato crops on Canadian farms each year. Canadian researchers have been working, as part of a national research cluster, to find ways for potato growers to manage these pests with new innovations and tools. This webinar delves deep into their research work. […]
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SWAT MAPS chart soil, water and topography in fields to help growers manage their potato crops better. Fields are not all the same, with low and high spots, wet and dry ones, these patches all require different management strategies. SWAT MAPS allow growers to accurately identify areas of the field which shed water and sites […]
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