President/CEO
Roberts Irrigation
IMPORTANT UPDATE On Blocker Fungicide ANNUAL REPORT: GROWERS WITHSTAND Weather & Workforce Challenges of 2025
WELCOME TO POTATO Back to Basics Magazine
KENYA NEARS RELEASE OF Disease-Resistant 3R Potatoes
Including PureGrade® Liquid Fertilizers in your program will ensure your crop has the nutrients to reach its full potential. PureGrade Liquid Fertilizers include both Low-Salt Starters and Low-Salt Foliars, and are compatible with MicroSolutions EDTA Chelated Micronutrients. Contact Nutrien-Great Lakes, leaders in high leverage crop fertility programs, to learn more about PureGrade Liquid Fertilizers and MicroSolutions Micronutrients.
FEATURES
• Chloride free
• Near neutral pH
• 100% water soluble
• Trouble-free
• Non-corrosive
• Low rates per acre
AVAILABLE PRODUCTS
7-25-5 GoldStart® 9-18-9 GoldStart
5-15-15 GoldStart
6-24-6 GoldStart
3-18-18 GoldStart 10-10-10 GoldStart
5-18-10-1 GoldStart Chelated Micronutrients
Nutrien-Great Lakes also handles a full line of humic and biological products. Custom mixes available upon request.
On the Cover: Periodic maintenance like changing sprinkler heads is one of many services that Roberts Irrigation of Plover, Wisconsin, offers. Celebrating its 70th anniversary in business next year, the certified Reinke dealer has been at the forefront of advancing water application methods and irrigation technology, historically providing innovative and reliable solutions to growers in Central Wisconsin and beyond.
8 BADGER COMMON’TATER INTERVIEW:
New president/CEO of Roberts Irrigation, Mike Weis, and sales and marketing manager, Margaret Klismith, discuss new software, remote sensing and field monitoring technologies, including the FieldWise platform. Shown is a FieldWise LLC Z5 full-color 5-inch touch screen panel with Smart Start for irrigation pivot systems. Today, even the basic center pivot packages include a framework for communication through smart phones and laptop devices.
KENYA RAISES DISEASE RESISTANT POTATOES
Country nears release of
DANA DISHES IT UP
Twist on vegetable stir fry includes roasted potatoes and is
WPVGA Board of Directors:
PresideNt: WeNdy Dykstra
Vice PresideNt: Josh KNights
Secretary: Bria N Lee
Treasurer: JohN HopfeNsperger
Directors: Ra Ndy Fleishauer, Charlie HusNick, ANdy Schroeder, Jeff SuchoN & Lucas Wysocki
Wisconsin Potato Industry Board:
PresideNt: Heidi Alsum-Ra Ndall
Vice PresideNt: ANdy Diercks
Secretary: Nicola Carey
Treasurer: Keith Wolter
Directors: Rod Gumz, Jim Okray, Eric Schroeder, Joe Seis & Tom Wild
WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors:
PresideNt: Matt SeleNske
Vice PresideNt: Etha N OlsoN
Secretary: Melissa Heise
Treasurer: Paul Salm
Directors: Brady Patoka, Scott Scheer, Morga N Smolarek, Sally Suprise & Bra NdoN Taylor
Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement
Association Board of Directors:
PresideNt: ANdy Schroeder
Vice PresideNt: CloVer Spacek
Secretary/Treasurer: Rya N FassbeNder
Directors: Mitch Mattek & Markus Shafel
Wisconsin Potato Growers
Auxiliary Board of Directors:
PresideNt: Heidi Schleicher
Vice PresideNt: Dakotah Smiley
Secretary/Treasurer: Sama Nt ha Cypher
Directors: Jody BagiNski, Misti KiNNisoN, JeNN a SuchoN & EriN Meister
WPVGA Staff:
ExecutiVe Director: Tamas Houliha N Ma N agiNg Editor: Joe Kertzma N
Director of PromotioNs & CoNsumer
EducatioN: Da N a R ady
FiN a Ncial Officer: KareN RasmusseN E xecutiVe Assista Nt: Julie BrauN
Program Assista Nt: MadisoN Hoffma N -Taylor
Spudmobile EducatioN & Outreach
AdmiNistrator: Patrick Popejoy
WPVGA Office: (715) 623-7683 • FAX: (715) 623-3176
E-mail: wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com
Website: www.wisconsinpotatoes.com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WPVGA
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center Denver, CO
My phone dinged indicating I had a text message, this one from Keith Wolter of Hyland Lakes Spuds, in Antigo, Wisconsin. When I opened the message, the photo below was attached with a note, “That’s 50 kilos of potatoes that Dana is lifting, about 110 pounds!” If you look closely beyond her smile, you can see the hidden strain on the face of Dana Rady, director of promotions and consumer education for the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA). Rady, Wolter and other Wisconsin potato industry representatives traveled to Mexico, in November 2025, as part of a targeted trade mission aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the Mexican potato market and exploring future opportunities for Wisconsin-grown potatoes. See “Marketplace” herein for the full story along with 10 other images from the trade mission. With this being the Irrigation & Specialty Equipment issue of the Badger Common’Tater, I realized it had been six years since I interviewed anyone at Roberts Irrigation. When I contacted Roberts Irrigation Sales and Marketing Manager Margaret Klismith, she indicated it was good timing because the company has a new president, Mike Weis, who’s been on the job a total of two months. Weis agreed to an interview but requested that Klismith be included because, as he put it, she’s an incredibly strong team member excelling in a role often dominated by men in the agriculture industry. It turned out to be a nice, informative interview.
WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan contributed his Annual Report to this issue, explaining that Wisconsin potato growers overcame the challenge of a hot harvest season in 2025 with good yields and quality. The detailed report includes efforts by the WPVGA, growers and agribusinesses in the areas of workforce development, producer-led watershed protection, leadership training, export expansion, and promotions, research, and government affairs. See the complete Annual Report inside this issue for a great overview of the 2025 growing season and WPVGA-led initiatives on behalf of growers and the industry.
Please email me with your thoughts and questions. If you wish to be notified when our free online magazine is available monthly, here is the subscriber link: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blognews/subscribe.
Joe Kertzman
N1435 Cty Rd D Antigo, WI (715) 623-2689 farm@sbfi.biz johnt@sbfi.biz
NAME: Mike Weis
Title: President/CEO
Company: Roberts Irrigation
Location: Plover, WI
Hometown: Stratford, WI
Years in Present Position: Two months
Previous Employment: Manufacturing environment over the past 35 years in a variety of general management, operational, and executive positions in the Wausau area
Schooling: University of Wisconsin-Stout, with a Bachelor of Science in engineering Activities/Organizations: Member of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association
Family: Mike has been married to his wife, Lyn, for 33 years and they have a son, Zach, and two daughters, Chelsea and Cassie, the latter of whom, along with her husband, Brady, is expecting Mike and Lyn’s first grandchild Hobbies: Avid hunter who likes fishing and still plays softball. “I play on a 55-and-older senior softball traveling team out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area,” Mike says. “At the end of March, we played in Virginia Beach.”
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
New to his role at the helm of Roberts Irrigation, President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Weis says he is not the face of the organization, but instead he’s taking a team approach with the goal of building and empowering many contributing members.
An employee-owned ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company, Roberts Irrigation has been a leader in Wisconsin agricultural irrigation since 1957. For nearly 70 years, the Roberts family has provided innovative and reliable solutions to growers in Central Wisconsin and beyond.
A certified Reinke dealer, Roberts Irrigation has been at the forefront of advancing water application methods and irrigation technology, historically transitioning from heavy steel pipes to lightweight aluminum pipe and wheel line systems, and finally to today’s advanced centerpivot systems.
At Mike’s request, Roberts Irrigation Sales and Marketing Manager Margaret Klismith sat in on the interview, with Mike stressing that she is an incredibly strong team member excelling in a role often
Above: At the request of new Roberts Irrigation President and CEO Mike Weis, the company’s sales and marketing manager, Margaret Klismith, sat in on the interview. Mike stressed that Margaret is an incredibly strong team member excelling in a role often dominated by men in the agriculture industry.
dominated by men in the agriculture industry.
Mike, what is your own background, and does it include agriculture? The only background I have in agriculture is from a long time ago, having grown up on my family’s turkey farm, but I think that type of environment formed not only my roots, but also my work ethic.
My dad had 13 brothers and sisters, many of them in farming, and my grandfather was a farmer. My wife grew up on a dairy farm, but my overall experience is not so much being in agriculture as taking from my limited farming experiences a desire to learn, listen, and work hard.
I’m already getting along well with Roberts Irrigation customers because they’re people who I can relate to, and I have some understanding of what they go through daily on the farm. I can have meaningful conversations with them.
Mike, how did you end up at the helm of Roberts Irrigation, and why is it a good fit for you? I’ve always wanted to lead an organization and believe that I have the skills necessary to do that. When this opportunity came up, it just felt right.
I had only worked for large manufacturing companies, the last one having 1,000 employees, so the idea of working with a smaller company appealed to me. I like to lead, mentor, and coach from a business perspective, with a goal toward operational excellence.
What’s intriguing about Roberts are the products and services we offer, as well as this idea of moving water, both in getting rid of water and bringing water in. I see the benefits of both draining excess water off fields and construction job sites and bringing water in through irrigation in a controlled environment.
I was also intrigued with the business being 100 percent employee owned. It seems like if there’s ownership by a team, it should be cause for
Right: A Roberts Irrigation service technician captures a serial number and other information so that the farmer can apply for a warranty on the pivot system. Roberts Irrigation fills out warranty cards and sends them in for customers.
improvements in safety and quality of products and services, two things that are close to my heart.
Roberts has been around for long time. Next year we’ll be celebrating our 70th year in business. The types of relationships and partnerships that have occurred in a business like this over that period are awesome. I enjoy building and retaining those types of relationships.
Margaret, how many locations does Roberts Irrigation have, where, and with how many employees?
Roberts Irrigation has two locations in Plover and Bloomer, Wisconsin, and presently a total of 50 employees. Plus, we have a few open positions posted online to bring in more help for the busy season.
I would consider Plover to be the main office and Bloomer more of a satellite location, but it also has a fully equipped shop and service department, and a lineup of parts available for customers.
I want to mention our acquisition, in 2024, when we purchased land in the Eau Claire area where we’re looking to expand and be centrally located for our southwestern and northwestern customers nearer the Wisconsin/ Minnesota border.
Mike: We’re still forming our strategy for the Eau Claire location and how to best develop it to help grow the Roberts Irrigation business.
Margaret, can you give me a brief history or overview of the company? The company was created by the Roberts family, with Hal being the original founder, and his son, Paul, eventually taking over and running the business.
The business was started in the Black River Falls area, with Hal and his wife transitioning it to the Plover location when farmers began to grow potatoes and vegetables under irrigation.
Above: In this early Roberts Irrigation photo from when Hal Roberts ran the operation, a tractor is used to run a pump and pull irrigation water from a local source.
Right: The technical drawing illustrates the drilling technique employed by Roberts Irrigation using forced air, which is cleaner for the sites.
In preparing for our 70th anniversary next year, I asked Paul about some fun things we’ve done over the years and who some of our first customers were. We have one customer who’s been with us since the beginning. He’s 91 years old and still farming today.
In researching a little about the history of Roberts Irrigation, we began to ask ourselves questions like, “Who bought the 1,000th pivot?” and “On what farm was the first well drilled?” And we’ll start to compile and incorporate some of those stories into our 70th anniversary celebration next year.
Mike: When we talk about what brought me here, the relationship piece was certainly front and center. The other day, the 91-year-old gentleman who Margaret mentioned visited us here, and I had a 45-minute conversation with him covering the last 60 years that he’s been a customer.
Margaret, why should area Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers opt for Reinke center pivot systems and/or high-capacity wells from Roberts Irrigation?
With Reinke, much like Roberts Irrigation, the company has been in business for decades. Reinke is right behind us in celebrating its 70th anniversary, and their corporate foundation and how they grew the company is a similar model to ours.
One of Reinke’s main advantages is that all its equipment and parts are made in Nebraska. Last year, I had the opportunity to tour the Nebraska facility, and the company is emphasizing such things as reduction in waste and environmentally friendly practices. All their waste metal is donated to local schools for welding classes, and some of the sludge that comes off the galvanizing machine, for example, is sold to people who purchase it for the biproducts.
Reinke’s warrantees for parts and pivot systems are top-notch, too.
Buying a Reinke pivot means it’s warranted for 5, 10, and sometimes 25 years. It’s a machine and an investment that’s going to last.
Margaret, what kind of water management solutions does Roberts Irrigation offer? Reinke offers water management through its pivots via variable-rate irrigation and soil moisture monitoring with sensors.
At Roberts, we can meet the needs of customers, whether potato or vegetable growers or even cranberry or ginseng farmers, by providing solutions from start to finish, from wells and pumps to full turnkey solutions as part of moving water and providing a better yield.
Mike: Roberts Irrigation is the only certified Reinke dealer in the state of Wisconsin, and thus the only operation that can provide true turnkey solutions through our own resources such as installation and
– Mike Weis
setup on the front side, and parts and service on the backside.
There’s no debate of who owns each job and answers for it. We’re a vertically integrated one-stop shop.
Margaret, what exactly is environmentally safe wastewater distribution, and how can Roberts Irrigation help growers with that? That’s something we’re in the infancy stages of. We’re starting to research how our customers can use wastewater as a nutrient for their crops.
Mike: We have dewatering solutions for growers to utilize drainage ditches, and many of the same customers who we support on the potato side, we also serve on the construction side. It’s a different piece, and I happen to have more experience on the construction side.
If someone is putting up a brandnew building—it’s currently under construction, and the water table is high or the area is experiencing a lot of rain, that can certainly bring the process to a halt. Timing is everything, it means money, and the customer needs to get the structure up.
We have solutions to remove water and drop that water table down, so construction is one example of water distribution.
So, then, Margaret, what percentage of the Roberts Irrigation business is in agriculture? It’s high—80 percent of our customers are connected to agriculture, with the other 20 percent made up of such industries as construction firms, universities, school districts, municipalities and sanitation districts.
We’ve put up center pivots for conservancies planting prairie grass, but the business model will always skew toward the agriculture side and water delivery.
Mike: Like any good business model, we look to diversify and discover products and services that will lead us into other industries. The big picture is agriculture, but that also happens to be cyclical and seasonal. By diversifying, we won’t be as dependent on the seasons.
We don’t want to lay off employees during the slow season, but to instead keep team members fully engaged and employed. Our current workforce is difficult
to navigate. It’s harder to find people and retain them than ever before, so we turn to technology, automation and innovation to adapt and grow the business.
Margaret, do potato and vegetable growers typically employ drip irrigation? Our potato growers, especially in the Central Sands region and further north, rely mainly on center pivots, but when you go south toward Madison, particularly in industries such as nursery operations, greenhouses, or even brussels sprouts growers, they practice drip irrigation.
The soil components in the southern part of the state are different from the sands of Central Wisconsin or the soils further north, and they will apply drip irrigation for the health of their products and to keep disease at bay when working at the root level on down, rather than spraying from overhead.
Margaret, does Roberts Irrigation have a large team of installers and maintenance personnel, and how do they work with growers? We have several service teams,
density polyethylene) fusion techs, fabricators who can create detailed pieces for any project, builders who erect systems, and maintenance staff.
As a turnkey operation, we have a service individual or expert in the field at every level who can bring
Mike: We’re also concentrating our efforts more toward preventive equipment maintenance best practices, with maintenance
continued on pg. 14
schedules that are data driven and analytic.
Many industries are transitioning to a more analytical approach, using data to drive decision making. It is an exciting thing I can bring to irrigation.
Margaret, are the Roberts Irrigation crews in the field after installation for service and instruction? Sure, that makes up the customer-facing component, and our service crews do a wonderful job. They’re really the ones who ensure customer
satisfaction after the initial sale and installation of a pivot system.
Service calls include anything from pivot crashes in heavy windstorms to assistance with new systems and general maintenance.
Margaret, are there any recent improvements to the Reinke center pivot systems? Yes, Reinke just debuted a new center pivot with a couple components that have changed structurally for better support from the brackets.
The sprinkler output pattern is more uniform to provide customers with complete coverage over fields, and the pressure can be adjusted to not damage crops. The tires also have less impact on the soil, so the crop quality and yield improve.
Margaret, does it seem like most growers want remote sensing and to be able to turn on and off or change irrigation via their phones? Yes, most of our customers have some sort of telemetry capabilities. Even without the FieldWise portal for field monitoring or a Nano TGB monitor, the basic center pivot packages include a framework for communication through smart phones and laptop devices.
Mike: I think growers today are working smarter and making a lot more decisions around data than ever before. I think it’s cool that
Above: Welding pipes is part of the job for Roberts Irrigation system fabricators.
Left: The photo shows the typical plumbing and HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe work that Roberts Irrigation performs for area potato and vegetable growers.
they’re able to make informed investment decisions and use data to drive return on investment.
When we meet with customers, most of them are excited about data that shows them when they have the appropriate amount of moisture content on their fields.
Margaret, what remote sensing software do you offer, and what capabilities does it have? We work with a handful of vendors to offer different solutions depending on what the grower or customer is looking for, including FieldWise telemetry and CropX soil sensors and moisture probes.
Reinke technology allows customers to not only turn center pivots on and off remotely but also provides information and suggestions about how much precipitation to apply in inches or quarter inches.
Messages are sent to customers’ cellular phones and devices telling them when a pivot has a fault or error and how to correct it. We’re working with vendors who specialize in giving customers such information as frost alerts or other weather data to help them make informed irrigation decisions.
Margaret, what are the advantages of telemetry and/or remote sensing? There are a lot of advantages. Our customers work long days and many hours, so to be able to bring a pivot system error to their attention or information telling them to irrigate a certain area of the field or perform proactive crop protection practices puts them at ease.
They don’t have to run out to the pivot in the middle of the night to make sure the irrigators are running. They can see that information on their phones at their bedside. It’s something our customers want. They want to have security. “I can see it all here; the pivot system is running as it should.”
Some of the larger growers have
agronomists on site, but the smaller customers who don’t have that luxury become reliant on telemetry and other data options.
Margaret, what types of well drilling or maintenance does Roberts Irrigation provide? One of the things that Roberts still does that’s different from our competitors is the way wells are drilled. Through our system, there’s no need to lay out water supply lines, no excavation, and better yielding wells.
The wells are straight. Oftentimes, when drilling wells through several layers of soil, you’ll hit rocks and boulders. While the drill rigging and tooling of other well drillers will move to the side when hitting rock, our drills continue right through it for a straight, clean well site.
We don’t do mud drilling, and we use forced air, which is cleaner for the sites. Our reverse rotary drill rigs are sought-after by the industry.
N7158 6TH DRIVE P.O. BOX
PLAINFIELD, WI 54966 OFFICE: (715) 335-6660 FAX: (715) 335-6661
BLOCK APPLICATIONS
Mike, how important is building relationships in this business, and why? This is certainly a relationshipbuilding business, and I would take it a step further and say it’s more a partnership-driven business.
Even though growers in the area compete against each other, they also have a strong desire to come to the aid of a neighbor in need. Just like when my grandfather and parents were farming, growers still get together to help a neighbor bale hay, or they share equipment during planting or harvest.
That’s a partnership, and Roberts Irrigation strives to be a partner to our customers.
Margaret, is there a lot of brand loyalty, and if so, why Reinke? Roberts Irrigation was voted the number two Reinke dealer in our region last year. We’re a Diamond Dealer and enjoy a longstanding relationship that was initially based on a handshake deal between Hal Roberts and the founder of Reinke. Similarly, we want to partner and do business with area potato and vegetable growers and other
customers. As the only Reinke dealer in Wisconsin, the brand is our bread and butter, and we service the entire state of Wisconsin, northern Michigan, eastern Minnesota, and south to the Illinois border.
As far as brand loyalty is concerned, growers generally look at what works in their types of fields and soils. We have some customers who are loyal to Reinke, but the main thing to keep in mind is that we service other pivots and our crew is versed in multiple brands and setups.
Margaret, are there other brands, parts or services that Roberts Irrigation offers that aren’t available elsewhere? In addition to Reinke, CropX and FieldWise, we offer Flowserve industrial pumps manufactured in Nebraska. They build their own pump dies and castings and have been in business for 150 years.
Mike, what are your goals as the new president? My goals center around operational excellence. I’m wearing the team out already in the first few weeks preaching safety and environmental practices.
We’re going to be good stewards of the environment but we’re also going to be safe in a lot of different situations, on the road, during installations and maintenance, and working around electricity.
So, safety is number one, and number two, we’re going to work hard on quality. We’re going to make mistakes, but we need to make sure we’re providing a quality product and service, and that goes a long way towards building relationships and partnerships.
We’re going to work on schedule attainment, doing what we say and saying what we do, making sure we’re performing at the highest level, and establishing internal team expectations and accountability.
We have a lot of experience here —ag experience and industry experience—and we have the right team in place. The key is getting them
to work together seamlessly, and that’s my job. It’s a pretty big agenda.
Margaret, is there anything I’ve missed that you’d like to add? Our brands, parts and services are not available elsewhere. Last year, we focused on our website and online availability of parts and components. We launched a new website with an online store in April 2025, and by the end of the year, had shipped products to 22 states.
We can provide the parts and
components to customers across the United States.
Mike: As for the online parts, we offer thousands of parts, 5,000 different skews, and that’s unique. To Margaret’s credit, with her industry experience in this area, we are different from other organizations. She drove the online parts program, and I’m interested to see how far that goes for us. The team has some great ideas, and I’m pursuing them along with
the whole idea of how we can run Roberts as a business that steps outside of the traditional irrigation company boundaries.
I’m very excited about what’s yet to come. I’m so new to the position that I’m still drinking the Kool-Aid, so to speak. The opportunities that we have are so tremendous, and that excites me very much. My job is to be a cheerleader for our team and present them with the best opportunities for success.
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Allows Plants to Utilize Unavailable Phosphorus
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Allows Plants to Utilize Unavailable Phosphorus
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Allows Plants to Utilize Unavailable Phosphorus
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Allows Plants to Utilize Unavailable Phosphorus
• Insoluble P source (hydroxyapatite) was solubilized only by roots of plants treated with Nutrient Solubilizing Technology (yellow color)
• Insoluble P source (hydroxyapatite) was solubilized only by roots of plants treated with Nutrient Solubilizing Technology (yellow color)
• Insoluble P source (hydroxyapatite) was solubilized only by roots of plants treated with Nutrient Solubilizing Technology (yellow color)
• Insoluble P source (hydroxyapatite) was solubilized only by roots of plants treated with Nutrient Solubilizing Technology (yellow color)
rock phosphate
check plus insoluble rock phosphate
check plus insoluble rock phosphate
plus
Enhanced Phosphate
Enhanced Phosphate Nutrition
Enhanced Phosphate Nutrition
PROLOGUE combines a highly available, chelated zinc source with unique Nutrient Solubilizing Technology to increase a crop’s access to phosphate for a higher-performing and more sustainable approach to phosphate nutrition.
PROLOGUE combines a highly available, chelated zinc source with unique Nutrient Solubilizing Technology to increase a crop’s access to phosphate for a higher-performing and more sustainable approach to phosphate nutrition.
PROLOGUE combines a highly available, chelated zinc source with unique Nutrient Solubilizing Technology to increase a crop’s access to phosphate for a higher-performing and more sustainable approach to phosphate nutrition.
PROLOGUE combines a highly available, chelated zinc source with unique Nutrient Solubilizing Technology to increase a crop’s access to phosphate for a higher-performing and more sustainable approach to phosphate nutrition.
Highly Available Chelated Zinc EDTA
Highly Available Chelated Zinc EDTA
Highly Available Chelated Zinc EDTA
Highly Available Chelated Zinc EDTA
Supports the utilization of phosphorus in the plant and aids in the production of early season growth hormones and key proteins that help support quality and yield goals. Chelated Zinc EDTA is the most efficient and easily absorbed form by developing plants.
Supports the utilization of phosphorus in the plant and aids in the production of early season growth hormones and key proteins that help support quality and yield goals. Chelated Zinc EDTA is the most efficient and easily absorbed form by developing plants.
Supports the utilization of phosphorus in the plant and aids in the production of early season growth hormones and key proteins that help support quality and yield goals. Chelated Zinc EDTA is the most efficient and easily absorbed form by developing plants.
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology
Supports the utilization of phosphorus in the plant and aids in the production of early season growth hormones and key proteins that help support quality and yield goals. Chelated Zinc EDTA is the most efficient and easily absorbed form by developing plants.
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology
Combines specific root-colonizing bacteria and microbial metabolites that work together to provide greater availability of applied and soil bank phosphate early in the season so they are available to the developing crop.
Combines specific root-colonizing bacteria and microbial metabolites that work together to provide greater availability of applied and soil bank phosphate early in the season so they are available to the developing crop.
Combines specific root-colonizing bacteria and microbial metabolites that work together to provide greater availability of applied and soil bank phosphate early in the season so they are available to the developing crop.
Combines specific root-colonizing bacteria and microbial metabolites that work together to provide greater availability of applied and soil bank phosphate early in the season so they are available to the developing crop.
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Relieves Phosphorus Stress
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Relieves Phosphorus Stress
Nutrient Solubilizing Technology Relieves Phosphorus Stress
Enriches community of P-solubilizers in soil
Enriches community of P-solubilizers in soil
P-stress relief
Enriches community of P-solubilizers in soil
P-stress relief
Enriches community of P-solubilizers in soil
P-solubilization in soils
P-stress relief
P-stress relief
P-solubilization in soils
P-solubilization in soils
Plant vigor enhancement
P-solubilization in soils
Plant vigor enhancement Zn
Plant vigor enhancement
Plant vigor enhancement
By Amanda Gevens, professor and Extension specialist, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Plant Pathology
In mid-December 2025, AMVAC Chemical Corporation, the manufacturer of the fungicide Blocker (pentachloronitrobenzene [PCNB]), decided to stop producing Blocker 4F and 10G. In effect, this concludes production of Blocker for the future.
The Blocker that is on the shelves at this time is all that will be available for future use. It is estimated that this will leave potato growers with a supply that may satisfy only 25-33% of the potato use demand in 2026.
Potato growers in Wisconsin have
relied upon Blocker for strong common scab and Rhizoctonia control and will face challenges in the 2026 growing season in planning for disease management.
Additional vegetable crop production uses of Blocker include crucifer (cabbage, broccoli) Rhizoctonia and Clubroot management.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has, for several years, proposed canceling registrations of Blocker due to ecological and human health risk concerns, AMVAC ultimately made the decision to stop manufacturing Blocker.
There is no change to the registration of Blocker at this time, but access to this fungicide will be extremely limited in 2026 and non-existent beyond this year.
Blocker provides multi-site
Above: Dr. Amanda Gevens, UW Department of Plant Pathology, provides a potato disease research update at the 2025 Hancock Agricultural Research Station Field Day.
interference with fungal metabolism and is an active protectant. The fungicide is a non-systemic, broad biocidal soil treatment and has minimal vapor action.
TARGET PATHOGENS
Blocker’s target pathogens are true fungi including Rhizoctonia solani (stem canker, black scurf, wirestem), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white mold), and Colletotrichum coccodes (black dot).
Other true fungi target pathogens are a filamentous bacterium Streptomyces scabies and other Streptomyces species (common scab), and a plasmodiophorid
Plasmodiophora brassicae (club root).
Please note that the registration of Blocker 4F via chemigation (only) for potato white mold and black dot management is limited to Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
AMVAC Chemical Corporation is the company that makes and registers Blocker products (Blocker 4F and Blocker 10G). AMVAC markets a suite of fungicides with PCNB under several brand names including Blocker, Terraclor, Turfcide, and Premion in the United States.
AMVAC will stop production of all these products.
For vegetable crop disease management, two formulations of AMVAC’s Blocker (4F and 10G) are registered. The differences are in formulation, not chemistry.
The 10G granular formulation treats a broader soil zone and has higher bulk. The 4F flowable formulation provides precision in placement with lower carrier volume.
Alternatives to Blocker for potato Rhizoctonia control:
Rhizoctonia control requires an integrated preventative approach including varietal tolerance, clean seed, avoiding planting into cold
continued on pg. 20
Contact: Jim or John
(ideally >45°F) and wet soils, allowing suberization time and conditions (50-55°F with good airflow) for cut seed, immediately treating cut seed with fungicides, and using in-furrow fungicides.
The seed-applied and in-furrow fungicides for use on Rhizoctonia include mancozeb (FRAC M3); benzovindiflupyr, flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, penthiopyrad and pydiflumetofen (FRAC 7);
azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin (FRAC 11); and fludioxonil (FRAC 12).
Seed treatments and in-furrow treatments protect stems and stolons early, but do not eradicate soil inoculum. Encourage quick shoot emergence by choosing optimum planting times, conditions, and planting depth.
Rotate away from potatoes for 3-4
years and avoid rotations with other susceptible crops including beets and beans. Small grains and corn are best rotations to help reduce Rhizoctonia soilborne inoculum.
Alternatives to Blocker for potato Common Scab control:
Potato common scab requires an integrated and preventative approach for management.
Elements of management include use of tolerant or resistant varieties, maintenance of consistent soil moisture during tuber initiation (~3-4 weeks, avoid drying-rewetting cycles), management of soil pH to 5.0-5.2, crop rotation (3-4 years out of potatoes, beet, carrot, radish), use of seed with low or no common scab, avoidance of excess early nitrogen, maintenance of adequate calcium, and avoidance of over-application of manure before potatoes.
Chemical and biological inputs are generally variable in performance, but there are some with greater consistency in common scab management.
Fludioxonil (ie: Maxim) has demonstrated common scab control in past recent years. In our Wisconsin studies, our seed-applied fludioxonil treatments have not reduced common scab severity or incidence, but other locations have documented this outcome.
When applied as a seed treatment in a Canadian study, fludioxonil reduced common scab incidence by 35%, and reduced common scab severity by 58%. The yield of marketable tubers increased by nearly 25% when compared to the non-treated control.
The study, which also offers evaluation of other biological fungicides and fumigants, can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.
com/doi/full/10.1080/09583157.20 15.1079809.
As with all aspects of common scab management, effectiveness of any one parameter can vary by location. (The citation of this paper is: Al-Mughrabi, Vikram, Poirier, Jayasuriya, Moreau. 2015. Management of common scab of potato in the field using biopesticides, fungicides, soil additives, or soil fumigants. Biocontrol Science and Technology. Vol. 26(1):1-23).
Ralph Frederick of AMVAC has conducted field research on Blocker 4F rates for reducing common scab. In his work, he has found that the standard 10 pint/acre rate of Blocker 4F can be reduced to 7.5 pints/acre and result in effective common scab management and increased yield.
“There is no change to the registration of Blocker at this time, but access to this fungicide will be extremely limited in 2026 and non-existent beyond this year.”
– Amanda Gevens
His work showed that the 5-pint rate was less effective. To utilize the limited Blocker supply most efficiently, and across broadest acreage of susceptible potato crops in 2026 for common scab control, one option is to reduce the rate to 7.5 pints/acre.
For further information or if you have any questions, please reach out to Ralph Frederick of AMVAC at RalphF@amvac.com or 218-340-1609 regarding Blocker or his rate work; or Amanda Gevens, UW-Plant Pathology at gevens@wisc.edu or 608-575-3029 regarding disease management in vegetables.
By Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA)
The Wisconsin potato planting season went well in 2025, with most growers finishing ahead of schedule. Growing conditions were nearly ideal during the month of June. Reports indicated that crop emergence was exceptional.
The Wisconsin potato planting season went well in 2025, with most growers finishing ahead of schedule. Growing conditions were nearly ideal during the month of June. Reports indicated that crop emergence was exceptional.
Some areas received a little rain in late June and early July, but in general the state was relatively dry, which growers prefer.
By early September, close to one-third of this year’s crop was harvested. Yields for early red and yellow potatoes were close to average. The quality for early russet varieties was good to excellent, but the size profile was smaller than usual.
As growers were getting ready to dig storage potatoes, the temperatures
were well above average. As a result, there was a lot of very early morning and night digging this year, which slowed the harvest progress significantly.
Most growers could not dig a full day throughout September. Despite these challenges, the Wisconsin potato crop came through with flying colors.
Fresh and chip stock growers are pleased with this year’s crop. They report that both quality and yields have been good. Yields for frozen processing potatoes have been better than expected.
Potato storage facilities are full, and some growers were looking for extra storage space due to slow earlyseason movement. Packout rates for the 2025 table potato crop are improved relative to last year’s crop.
For crop year 2025, Wisconsin growers planted 66,753 acres of potatoes, a 2.3% increase over the 2024 crop.
Some frozen processing potato growers received contract volume reductions of up to 7%. It is likely that some of those acres were
Left: Potatoes are put into storage at Wysocki Family Farms, Bancroft. Wisconsin maintained its status as the third largest potato-producing state in the United States, in 2025, with a crop of over 28 million cwt. (hundredweight).
planted to table potato varieties. Certified seed potato acreage is 9,215 acres, down 4.2%.
The average yield estimate for the state is 430 cwt. (hundredweight) per acre. The harvested acreage estimate is 66,000 acres (up 4,000 acres over last year), which provides the crop production estimate for Wisconsin at 28.38 million cwt., an increase of 9% over 2024.
Recognizing the growing challenge of a labor shortage in agriculture, the WPVGA continued to expand its workforce development efforts in 2025 through our Student Career Development Program.
For the past two years, the WPVGA has provided an open invitation to high school, technical college and university students who may be aspiring to careers in the agricultural sector to participate in a multi-
faceted program that exposes them to our industry.
The idea is to connect those potentially seeking careers with the farms and businesses that are looking for their talents.
This program offers first-hand
experience by inviting these students to take part in a day at the WPVGA Grower Education Conference, followed by field days on farms during spring planting and fall harvest.
WPVGA Works to Withstand Weather & Workforce Challenges of 2025. . . continued from pg. 23
Beginning with the annual Grower Education Conference & Industry Show in February, participants had meetings with industry leaders to better explain details of how the potato and vegetable industry is structured and operates.
Students then met with many of our businesses seeking talent through participation in our trade show where exhibitors are demonstrating and offering the newest advancements in technology and innovation.
Students also took part in research talks by leading researchers on topics related to potato and vegetable production.
They were also provided with an Agriculture 101 session, led by our University of Wisconsin (UW)Madison potato and vegetable faculty team to better understand the many developing and challenging areas of vegetable crop production in our state.
Following up the Grower Education Conference with field day tours during planting and harvest seasons, we provided students with direct contacts to farms and businesses from the potato and vegetable industry that are seeking to hire new talent and bring fresh ideas into our association.
These field tours were followed up with roundtable discussions with industry members on careers in agriculture at the exciting new Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover, as well as at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station.
Plans are already in place to continue this student recruitment effort with a similar curriculum in 2026.
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants
The WPVGA is proud to announce two new Producer-Led Watershed
Protection Grant groups that were approved in 2025.
A group from Antigo led by James Spychalla of Kohm-Spychalla LLC includes WPVGA members: GP Ventures, LLC, Guenthner Farms, Hyland Lakes Spuds, J.W. Mattek & Sons, Kakes Farms, Schroeder Bros. Farms, Sunnydale Farms and Wild Seed Farms.
Also, a group from the 14-mile watershed was approved, and this group includes WPVGA members Heartland Farms, Bula Land Company, K & A Farms (Kiley Stucker) and Woyak Farms.
Eight WPVGA-member farms in central Wisconsin are working together on a Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant project to protect the watershed that includes the Little Plover River and a portion of the Wisconsin River.
This group includes lead farm Plover River Farms, along with Feltz Family Farms, Firkus Farms, Gagas Farms, Hamerski Farms, Myron Soik & Sons, Okray Family Farms and Worzella & Sons.
With matching funds from the WPVGA and working closely with UW Extension and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, the group was successful in securing a sixth year of funding from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for successful conservation work in 2025.
Conservation practices employed by the group include the extensive use of cover crops, prairie and pollinator plantings, and no-till/minimum till practices.
There were also extensive wetlands restoration practices employed in this watershed, as well as research projects using an eddy covariance flux tower for accurate evapotranspiration (ET) readings, and inter-seeding
research on corn fields.
An additional Producer-Led group received its fourth round of grant funding in 2025 in the Central Sands: Farmers of the Roche-A-Cri. This producer-led group has members representing Coloma Farms, Signature Farms, Heartland Farms, Nathan Bula Farms, Sterling Farms and Flyte Family Farms.
The WPVGA Member Development Leadership Training Program returned in 2025. This has proven to be one of the most valuable leadership training and networking programs offered by the Association, with 19 members taking part in the program that began in November 2025.
Over the five months of programming, the participants learned about the core programs of the WPVGA, including research, education, governmental action, and promotion, and received effective communication skills and media training.
Over the last three years, the WPVGA has received three export expansion grants from the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP). Grant funds (over $140,000) have been used to explore export expansion into Mexico and Canada for fresh, chipping and seed potatoes.
This export expansion exploration will have significant impacts in terms of educating growers on markets and creating sales and marketing materials fit for specific Canadian and Mexican markets.
We will also identify key contacts and buyers in both international markets that could help foster sales. WPVGA staff along with growers and shippers attended the produce marketing trade show known as ANTAD in
Mexico, in March 2025.
The WPVGA also organized a trade mission with growers, buyers and other market partners from Mexico in 2025. Several grower/shippers along with WPVGA staff members met with Mexican buyers on sales tours in November to consider trade options. This is a great opportunity that has the potential to expand markets and provide significant returns for Wisconsin growers.
Promotions, Research, Education and Governmental Affairs Programs Yield Benefits
In addition to coordinating Export Expansion Grants, the WPVGA Promotions Committee continued its excellent work in 2025. The group is showcasing the sustainable ways in which Wisconsin growers produce the highest quality potatoes and vegetables to feed families.
Monthly articles and blog posts as well as TV spots, social media posts, Spudmobile visits and various sponsorships with TV shows like “Wisconsin Foodie” are helping the WPVGA communicate those messages in various ways.
The Healthy Grown program also showed expansion with several new members after Walmart recognized it as one that meets the requirements of their Integrated Pest Management protocol.
The WPVGA’s efforts continue to yield positive results in the areas of Research, Education and Governmental Affairs.
The Research Committee, with contributions from the Water Task Force and Chip Committee, approved over $375,000 in applied research projects in 2025, including base funding for our highly qualified team of UW-Madison research scientists.
Our members are educated by these industry-funded researchers who
Pat Testin (R-Stevens Point); Jeff Suchon of Bushman’s Riverside Ranch (and a WPVGA board member); Rep. Vincent Miresse (D-Stevens Point); Rep. Scott Krug (R-Rome); Mary Curry (Rep. Krug’s Chief of Staff); and Gov. Tony Evers.
report on their studies at various events throughout the year, including our annual three-day Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, as well as at summer field days held in Antigo, Hancock and Rhinelander.
The Governmental Affairs Committee was very active in 2025 as well, with the new certified seed potato law being signed by Gov. Tony Evers on Dec. 9. The new law provides stiffer penalties for planting non-certified seed potatoes while also providing geographic restrictions on certified seed potato waivers.
There is also a provision for removal or destruction of fields in violation of the law if necessary.
Results were also achieved in agricultural road improvement projects, as well as state funding for
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants, Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program projects and cover crop insurance premium rebates.
In closing, I would like to thank all the members of the WPVGA, along with our outstanding Board of Directors led by 2025 President John Bustamante.
Special thanks go out to the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board as well as the Associate Division, Auxiliary and Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association boards.
I also want to thank our hard-working WPVGA staff, which includes Karen Rasmussen, Julie Braun, Dana Rady, Joe Kertzman and Madison Taylor. I am sure more challenges will arise in the years ahead and I’m confident our members will step up to meet those challenges.
In early February 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advanced American farmers’ and equipment owners’ lawful right to repair their farm and other nonroad diesel equipment.
EPA’s guidance to manufacturers clarifies that the Clean Air Act (CAA) supports, rather than restricts, Americans’ ability to make repairs on their own, and makes clear manufacturers can no longer use the CAA to justify limiting access to repair tools or software.
For America’s farmers, timely and affordable repairs are essential to planting, harvesting, and keeping operations running.
“EPA is proud to set the record
EPA advances owners’ lawful right to repair their farm and other nonroad diesel equipment
By the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Press Office (press@epa.gov)
straight and protect farmers. For far too long, manufacturers have wrongly used the Clean Air Act to monopolize the repair markets, hurting our farmers,” says EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
“Common sense is following the law as it is written, and that is what the Trump EPA is committed to doing,” Zeldin adds. “By protecting every American’s right to repair, we’re not just fixing devices, we’re securing a stronger, more independent future for our country.”
WIN FOR FARMERS
“This is another win for American farmers and ranchers by the Trump Administration. By clarifying manufacturers can no longer use the Clean Air Act to justify limiting
access to repair tools or software, we are reaffirming the lawful right of American farmers and equipment owners to repair their farm equipment,” says Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
“Thank you, Administrator Zeldin, for continuing to put farmers first. This is expected to save our farmers
Top: Hooked up to a John Deere 7210R, a Salford AirFlow with 60-foot booms is used to spread fertilizer in sweet corn, July 2021, on Brooks-Schardt Farms, LLC, in Markesan, Wisconsin. Image courtesy of John Schomburg, Roven Farms
Above Left: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin says, “For far too long, manufacturers have wrongly used the Clean Air Act to monopolize the repair markets, hurting our farmers.”
thousands in unnecessary repairs,” Rollins remarks, “saving much needed funds.”
“EPA’s guidance affirming the Right to Repair will save our agricultural communities thousands of dollars by eliminating corporate middlemen and empowering farmers to fix their own equipment,” says Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
“The Clean Air Act has long crushed family farmers across America,” Loeffler continues, “but under the Trump Administration, they are finally getting the regulatory relief to break free from burdensome rules and focus on the vital job of feeding, clothing, and fueling America and the world.”
For years, prominent equipment manufacturers have interpreted the CAA’s emission control antitampering provisions as preventing them from making essential repair tools available to all Americans.
This has forced farmers to take their equipment exclusively to manufacturer-authorized dealers to be fixed, even though a repair could have been made in the field or at a nearby independent repair shop.
Not only has this made repairs more costly, but it has also caused many farmers to opt for older agricultural equipment that lacks modern emission controls simply because they can fix that equipment themselves.
EPA’s guidance does not change the law, weaken emission standards, or reduce compliance obligations. Rather, it clarifies what the CAA already states, that temporary overrides of emission control systems are allowed when it is for the “purpose of repair” to that equipment to obtain proper functionality.
This clarification applies to all nonroad diesel engines equipped
with advanced emission control technologies including selective catalytic reduction and inducement systems as well as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system repairs.
Importantly, farmers and equipment owners are not required to rely on authorized dealers exclusively to fix equipment. This makes clear that the law should not serve as a barrier to timely, affordable maintenance of agricultural equipment.
The EPA’s action will not only expand consumer choice and provide opportunities for farmers but also encourage the use of newer farm equipment. This underscores the agency’s commitment to both America’s farmers and EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.
To read EPA’s guidance, visit https:// dis.epa.gov/otaqpub/display_file. jsp?docid=64859&flag=1.
On June 3, 2025, John Deere sent a letter to EPA requesting the agency issue guidance confirming that temporary emission control overrides are allowed by EPA. The agency’s guidance is a direct response to this request and makes clear that temporary overrides are allowed under the CAA.
On August 12, 2025, Administrator Zeldin announced new guidance urging engine and equipment manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment.
EPA’s action works to protect hardworking American farmers, truckers, and other diesel equipment operators from sudden shutdowns and give them the time to make repairs without impacting productivity or safety.
Manufacturers proudly recognize and celebrate their longstanding partnership
LOCKWOOD® Manufacturing proudly recognizes and celebrates its longstanding partnership with Struik, a Holland-based equipment manufacturer and internationally recognized market leader in rotary cultivator technology.
LOCKWOOD is now directly importing equipment from Struik to reduce freight costs and save customers money.
For more than 25 years, LOCKWOOD Manufacturing has partnered with Struik to bring industry-leading rotary cultivators and hillers to growers in the northern valley area.
Struik has built a global reputation for precision engineering, durability, and performance in cultivation equipment and potato hilling machines. As a market leader in rotary cultivators, the company continues to set a standard for efficiency and agronomic excellence.
“Over the past quarter century, our partnership with Struik has delivered tremendous value to our customers,” says Tim Martin, director of LOCKWOOD manufacturing.
“Their commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to provide growers with
reliable, high-performance potato equipment that drives productivity and profitability in the field,” Martin adds. “And now that we are importing directly from Struik, we can save our growers money.”
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing agricultural technology and supporting producers with dependable equipment solutions. LOCKWOOD looks forward to continuing its strong relationship with Struik and delivering best-in-class rotary cultivator and potato hiller
When you need goods or services, please consider asking our Associate Division Members for quotes or explore what they have to offer. Together, we make a strong organization and appreciate how wonderful we are as a group.
Top: North Valley Equipment and LOCKWOOD® executive team members pose with Struik’s third-generation leaders at the International Crop Expo, February 2026. They are, from left to right, Brent Huper, Darren Demers, Wichard Struik, Harry Struik, Dan Birrenkott, and Tim Martin.
solutions to customers for many years to come.
For more information about LOCKWOOD Manufacturing, North Valley Equipment, or Struik rotary cultivators, please contact LOCKWOOD Manufacturing North Valley Equipment, 1809 Hwy. 81 S, Grafton, ND 58237, call 701-3521833, or visit https://lockwoodmfg. com/north-valley-equipment/.
LOCKWOOD manufactures highquality, reliable potato planters, windrowers, harvesters and handling equipment. To learn more about LOCKWOOD equipment, please contact a potato specialist at 800247-7335 or by visiting https:// lockwoodmfg.com.
On February 5, 2026, Wisconsin potato growers gathered for the Annual McCain Foods Grower Awards Banquet, held this year at the Food + Farm Exploration Center, in Plover, Wisconsin.
After guests had a chance to catch up during a social hour, they were seated and greeted by Morgan Smolarek, field manager for McCain Foods USA, Inc. of Plover, who thanked growers for their part in remarkable progress over the past three years.
Smolarek mentioned reduced inputs, optimized potato quality, new seed varieties, cover crops, disease resistance, and land conservation as
recent Wisconsin success stories.
Smolarek went over the four pillars of the McCain Foods vision and mission: seed and new varieties; contracting excellence; agronomic resilience; and perfectly planted acreage.
She said 30% of the potato acreage grown for McCain in Wisconsin will
and
Grace Mortenson, Anette Stucker, Chad Kraft, Mike Firkus, and Morgan Smolarek.
be in new varieties and result in higher payables and lower cost of production.
“We appreciate the partnerships between the plant and our growers,” Smolarek stated. “We strive to grow our relationships with you.”
Ryan Schwanz, Plover-based McCain Foods plant manager, said there’s been investment in the plant, including four additional packing lines for retail and the company’s large distribution channel.
Dan Metheringham, McCain Foods vice president of agriculture, North America, reflected on the current
tough environment for contracted potatoes and other commodities, and said he appreciates the resilience of growers.
Left: On behalf of Gagas Farms of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Curtis Gagas (right) accepts the Field Direct Russet Burbank-Champion Award from Daniel Metheringham, McCain Foods vice president of agriculture-North America.
“We are just now starting to overcome a softening of the market,” he stated. “But I’m confident that with Wisconsin potato growers raising 30 percent of their crop in new varieties, it’s only the start
Right: Mike Firkus (right) of Firkus Farms, Stevens Point, accepts the Burbank Grower Storage-Champion Award from Dan Metheringham of McCain Foods.
Field Direct
Russet Burbank-Champion Gagas Farms, $2,000
Field Direct
Russet Burbank-Reserve Champion K&A Farms, $1,000
Field Direct Umatilla-Champion
Mortenson Brothers Farms, $2,000
Umatilla Grower Storage-Champion RD Offutt Farms, $2,000
Burbank Grower Storage-Champion Firkus Farms, $2,000
Burbank Grower
Storage-Reserve Champion
Signature Farms, $1,000
New Variety Champion Coloma Farms, $2,000
Dan Metheringham (left) of McCain Foods presents the Field Direct Russet BurbankReserve Champion Award to Kiley Stucker of K&A Farms LLC, Plainfield.
of what’s going to happen. That didn’t just happen at McCain, but through our partnerships with you.”
“The fact we’re investing in the Plover facility,” Metheringham added, “is a testament to where
the area potato industry is at. We’ve created a roadmap to lower costs and be competitive. Now we’ve got to drive quality and yield.”
His remarks were a nice segue into the awards portion of the banquet, including monetary rewards and trophies given to potato growers for another job well done.
Even pivots that look fine on the outside can lose performance over time. Repiping restores the backbone of your system, improving water flow and uniformity.
For a limited time, get the newest Valley ICON+ control panel and see your pivot operation clearly. Adjust easily and manage your irrigation on-the-go without a full panel replacement.
NPC Washington Summit gives industry the opportunity to advocate for issues
Several members of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association traveled to Washington, D.C., February 23-27, to take part in the 2026 National Potato Council (NPC) Washington Summit. This annual gathering is the national potato industry’s opportunity to come together as one, align our priorities, and advocate for potatoes. WPVGA members’ voices and participation are critical to ensuring policymakers understand both the economic strength of our industry and the real challenges facing growers across the country.
During the 2026 NPC Washington Summit, attendees advocated for issues such as keeping potatoes in federal nutrition programs, promoting free and fair-trade agreements, and protecting tax policies that support the long-term health of family-owned farming operations.
the
Potato growers urge passage/additional measures to remain competitive
With more than 100 amendments considered and debate concluded early Wednesday morning, March 4, 2026, the House Agriculture Committee voted to favorably report the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (a.k.a. the Farm Bill) out of Committee by a vote of 34–17.
All Republican members voted in favor of the bill, in addition to seven Democrats. The bill will now need to be taken up on the House Floor.
“It’s clear that the policies of 2018 are no match for the challenges of 2026. The National Potato Council [NPC] and our nation’s potato growers are encouraged by the bipartisan support the House Farm Bill received in committee and look forward to supporting its passage on the House floor,” says newly elected NPC President Ben Sklarczyk, a potato grower from Michigan.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement on the approval of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, by the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture:
“The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends Chairman Thompson for his leadership, and we are grateful to the House Agriculture Committee for advancing the Farm Bill process. H.R. 7567 includes key bipartisan provisions that would enhance the competitiveness of family farms that produce specialty crops in the United States.
“At a time when our producers confront unprecedented economic challenges, enacting a full five-year
Newly elected National Potato Council (NPC) President Ben Sklarczyk, a potato grower from Michigan, says it’s clear that the policies of 2018 are no match for the challenges of 2026.
Farm Bill is critical to the continued sustainability of American agriculture and the communities that specialty crop producers serve.”
SENATE’S VERSION OF BILL
Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.)
noted on Monday, March 2, that the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill is expected to mirror the House GOP’s approach, though it may include a specific provision that was not included in the House version to permit the sale of E15 fuel throughout the entire year.
Sklarczyk says growers are cautiously optimistic that passing a new Farm Bill and increasing exports will provide new opportunities this year. He notes that producers want U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to be accessible for specialty crops throughout the Farm Bill.
“Making sure that growers can continue to recapture benefits for all the good practices they conduct and making sure that USDA programs don’t get left
off the Farm Bill are necessary considerations, as specialty crops include some more unique practices versus row crop operations,” he emphasizes.
Sklarczyk says farmers need access to labor and affordable inputs to keep prices competitive with imported products.
“Making sure we can have cost containment to keep the imports at bay is a good way to help strengthen and keep the industry strong,” he notes.
A third-generation farmer, Sklarczyk produces hydroponic seed potatoes in northern Michigan, supplying farmers in the United States and globally.
A recent NPC survey found that more than half of growers believe federal ag labor policy is a significant threat to their competitive position, and more than 65 percent said input costs are the largest factor impacting their businesses.
By Brooke Babler, associate program director, Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program
Wisconsin seed potato growers entered 9,418.3 acres for certification during the 2025 growing season. Acreage was down by 269.3 acres from 2024, yet consistent with the average acreage over the past decade.
Top six certified potato varieties:
• Proprietary varieties: 2,884 acres
• Atlantic: 836.3 acres
• Lamoka (PVP): 807.4 acres
• Silverton Russet (PVP): 539 acres
• Snowden 480.4 acres
• Caribou Russet (PVP): 441 acres
Wisconsin seed growers remain focused on growing Atlantic, Lamoka, Snowden and proprietary chipping varieties. There was an increase in acreage of Lamoka and proprietary varieties, while approximately 10% fewer Atlantic and Snowden acres were planted.
Silverton remains a strong
fresh-market russet, however approximately 100 fewer acres were planted this season. Reveille Russet continues to gain interest in the state, with an additional 50 acres planted, while acreage of the chipping varieties Manistee and Mackinaw remained stable to slightly lower than last year.
Spring weather provided favorable conditions for a mid-May to mid-June planting season. Between seasonal rainfall, especially during drier periods, growers irrigated fields.
Vine-killing occurred on the same or a slightly earlier schedule
Above: Although 100 fewer acres of Silverton were planted this season than last, it remains a strong fresh-market russet. The photo was taken, in 2025, at the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station.
compared to previous years, with growers focused on aphid movement to mitigate late season Potato Virus Y (PVY) infection.
The harvest season began in earlyto mid-September but was initially slow due to unseasonably warm temperatures. Favorable weather later in the season allowed harvest to finish up by mid-October.
Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification inspectors observed excellent tuber quality and size across most seed potato lots, with average to above-average yields reported.
A small number of seed lots were downgraded (foundation to certified) or rejected following field inspections. No late blight was detected during field inspections.
Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification staff are actively collecting and gassing seed potato lots for the upcoming postharvest season. PVYlatent varieties will be grown in the program’s greenhouses, while those expressing PVY will be shipped to Hawaii.
A combination of visual inspections and ELISA testing will be used to certify postharvest seed potato lots.
The team also continues to advance direct tuber testing (DTT) through ongoing survey efforts. Results from both 2023 and 2024 support DTT as a valuable postharvest testing tool, strengthening the program’s commitment to disease-free, highquality seed potato production.
Growers in 13 major potatoproducing states reported conditions ranging from ideal to challenging in 2025. While some battled hot, dry conditions, others weathered rainy springs to produce acreage largely on par with state averages.
One state reported “phenomenal” yields, with growers concerned about running out of storage space.
By WPVGA Associate Div. President Matt Selenske, Allied Coop’s Pest Pros Division
Hello, everyone. April is upon us. It’s time to get out and execute the plans that we made in the winter months and then adjust as those plans go haywire because of all the unknowns that pop up, be it weather, logistics, or any host of unforeseen challenges.
We always need to start with a plan, but it takes some skill and experience to know how to react to those challenges.
At the Associate Division Board Meeting in March, we recapped the Industry Show in February and went over the exhibitor surveys. Our goal is to evaluate the feedback provided and see if there is anything we can do to improve exhibitor experience to maintain the level of quality that everyone has come to expect.
I took a few minutes and read through the summary of the surveys, and most of the comments are very constructive. One suggestion that got me thinking is to draw more attention to the outdoor displays of tractors, implements and equipment. That is something we will discuss and brainstorm some ideas on to potentially make it happen.
There were other comments that were more entertaining than constructive, especially pertaining to potential future entertainment at the Associate Division Awards Banquet.
EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
We are also working on finalizing
the details for awarding the annual WPVGA Associate Division/Auxiliary Scholarships. Every year, the two boards meet and award around $9,000 in scholarships to students who are employed or whose parents are employed by WPVGA members.
The events we sponsor over the course of the season fund those scholarships, including the silent auction that was held during the 2026 Industry Show.
Last year, between the two boards, we awarded eight scholarships to students, most of whom were headed toward a career in agriculture. Others wanted to work adjacent to growers in other areas such as accounting or electrical engineering and had strong ties to the potato and vegetable
industry. All of them were deserving!
See the “Scholarships Now Available” ad in this issue for more information and watch your inboxes for the Tater Talk E-newsletter on Fridays. The application deadline is May 1, so keep that on your radar. If you have any questions, Julie Braun can help you out at jbraun@wisconsinpotatoes. com.
With that, I will visit with you next issue. It’s time to get outside and get to work!
Have a good month,
WPVGA Associate Division President
MAY 1, 2026
Applications can be obtained online at www.wisconsinpotatoes.com or by calling the WPVGA office at (715) 623-7683
If you have any questions, please call the WPVGA office and ask for Julie Braun.
PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORMS TO: Julie Braun WPVGA PO Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409-0327
or, Email Completed Form to: jbraun@wisconsinpotatoes.com
The WPVGA Associate Division and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary are pleased to inform you of scholarships totaling over $9,000, available to students attending post-secondary institutions. Several scholarships will be awarded to students with WPVGA ties based on the number of applicants and their merits. The top candidate among all applicants will be awarded the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Avis, who was a founding member of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary and an integral part of the Wisconsin potato industry.
The scholarships detailed above can be used to defray educational expenses and are open to students in undergraduate and post-graduate programs. Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin and are eligible to reapply in subsequent years regardless of whether they have been previously awarded a scholarship.
The selection of scholarship winners will be based on the following criteria:
• Applicant or applicant’s immediate family must be, or be employed by, WPVGA or a WPVGA grower or Associate Division member.
• Merit – e.g. G.P.A., extra-curricular activities, etc.
• Other information provided in the application
• The applicant must attend an accredited school of higher education (includes technical college) as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student.
• The applicant must meet the entry requirements of the selected accredited school of higher education (grade point average, etc.).
You are encouraged to complete the scholarship application form in a professional manner. Applications must be properly completed and typed. Hand-written applications will not be considered. Remember, the application will be the only representation of you that the selection committee has a chance to see.
Applications can be obtained online at www.wisconsinpotatoes.com or by calling the WPVGA office at 715-623-7683. If you have any questions, please call the WPVGA office and ask for Julie.
By Amanda Gevens, professor and Extension specialist, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Plant Pathology
On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share with you the Wisconsin Potato Back to Basics Magazine.
This magazine was authored by Jed Colquhoun (Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences), Amanda Gevens (Department of Plant Pathology), Russell Groves (Department of Entomology), and Deana Knuteson (Department of Plant Pathology) of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A self-paced training aid, the online digital magazine includes videos and additional linked resources aimed at walking new industry participants through basic production and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
options for potatoes grown in Wisconsin.
Potato Back to Basics Magazine is designed as a combination of written and video instructions and can be used as a primer to learn about the basics of potato production, initially focusing on IPM basics.
Key aspects of insect, disease and weed IPM programs are highlighted, and future modules, such as plant fertility, irrigation, and production (planting, harvest, and storage) management, will be developed and included on an ongoing basis.
The intent is to introduce these production concepts to those new to the potato industry. Each subject
matter module includes a quick overview followed by several topics explored in more detail, and a corresponding QR code that opens a video with further details.
Watch each video individually or view them in sequential order by visiting go.wisc.edu/PotatoIPMVideos.
Modules include “Potato Insect Management Basics,” “Potato Weed Management Basics,” “Potato Disease Management Basics,” and “General Potato IPM Topics.” The authors are currently discussing additional modules to add to this magazine to make this resource even more comprehensive.
Within each module are questions, answers, and the aforementioned corresponding QR codes linking to videos that delve further into the subject matter.
Questions and corresponding answers within the “Potato Insect Management Basics” module include “How do you scout for key insect pests and what are thresholds?” and “What are insecticide modes of action, and why do they matter over the season?”
Included in the “Potato Weed Management Basics” module
are answers to such questions as “Why is weed control important?,” “Which weeds have been found with metabolic resistance?” and “How can we manage herbicide effectiveness over the rotation?”
The “Potato Disease Management Basics” module includes “What are key disease concerns and management options for potatoes in Wisconsin?,” “When and how do you time fungicides for disease control in
potatoes?” and “What are the types of fungicides?”
Questions and answers in “General Potato IPM Topics” include “What can I do with data and new technologies?,” “Why do I need to be concerned with IPM overall?” and “Why is resistance management important?”
Find the guide, resource links, and videos online by visiting https://
go.wisc.edu/PotatoBasics or https:// cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/ articles/potato-integrated-pestmanagement-back-to-basics/.
This work was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, EIP grant number 2024-70006-43559. Contact Deana Knuteson at dknuteson@wisc.edu with questions.
by Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions & Consumer Education
Wisconsin potato industry representatives explore opportunities in region
Wisconsin potato industry representatives traveled to Mexico, in November 2025, as part of a targeted trade mission aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the Mexican potato market and exploring future
opportunities for Wisconsin-grown potatoes.
Over several days, the delegation met with growers, distributors, processors, and market officials in Mexico City and Guadalajara, gaining
valuable insights into consumption trends, logistics, pricing, and varietal preferences.
The mission began Monday, November 17, with a visit to the
Above: NaturaSol hosted a tour of its chip processing plant, in Ejido Tulyehualco, Mexico, for the Wisconsin delegation, on November 18, 2025. The plant is located about 30 minutes north of Mexico City.
Pictured from left to right are Reynaldo Santamaria of NaturaSol; Keith Wolter from Hyland Lakes Spuds, Antigo; Rosel Canto of NaturaSol; WPVGA Director of Promotions & Consumer Education Dana Rady; Doug Posthuma from Alsum Farms & Produce, in Friesland; and Consultant Saul Mercado.
Left: The Wisconsin delegation meets with Grupo Tarahumara at their office location in the Central de Abastos, Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday, November 18. Pictured from left to right are Doug Posthuma of Alsum Farms & Produce; Keith Wolter, Hyland Lakes Spuds; Alberto Lopez and Trini Rodriguez of Grupo Tarahumara; and Consultant Saul Mercado.
Central de Abastos in Mexico City, one of the largest wholesale markets in the world. The Wisconsin delegation was welcomed by potato industry leaders operating within the market.
The scale of the Central de Abastos left a strong impression. The market sells an average of 1,400 metric tons of potatoes each day, with volumes surpassing 2,000 tons on peak days. More than 500,000 people enter the market daily, including buyers, sellers, distributors, and workers.
Recent investments in security, including the installation of 580 surveillance cameras, have significantly improved safety and reduced crime throughout the facility.
During guided tours of the market, the delegation visited several distributor operations, many of which feature on-site washing and packing equipment.
continued on pg. 42
Potatoes arrive from the field unwashed and are cleaned and prepared for sale within individual stores or bodegas. A highlight was a visit to one of the largest potato bodegas in the market, where the group observed the full washing and drying process.
The delegation also visited Walmart and Chedraui supermarkets in Mexico City, where potato displays were relatively small compared to U.S. stores. This was partly due to
the time of year and other products being featured during the visit.
On Tuesday, the group toured the NaturaSol processing plant. Company leaders shared details of NaturaSol’s rapid expansion in potato chip production, including significant investments in processing equipment alone. Two processing lines were operational, with two additional lines scheduled for installation in 2026.
Later in the week, the delegation traveled to Guadalajara to visit its Central de Abastos and meet with
Left: Workers stack 100-pound bags of potatoes by hand in a bodega at the Central de Abastos, in Mexico City.
RIght: Keith Wolter observes how potatoes are displayed and sold in Mexico’s wholesale market, the Central de Abastos, in Mexico City, which is the largest wholesale market in the world.
additional distributors and importers, such as Dubacano and Grupo Tarahumara.
Additional visits to local bodegas and popular open-air markets (tianguis) provided further insight into current
Reynaldo Santamaria of NaturaSol shares a bag of chips from the plant with Consultant Saul Mercado during a tour in Ejido Tulyehualco, Mexico.
Right: Loading docks are shown behind the bodegas, or storefronts, of the Central de Abastos, in Mexico City.
market conditions.
Overall, the November 2025 trade mission was viewed as a highly successful business venture. Mexican industry leaders consistently
expressed appreciation for Wisconsin’s commitment to traveling, listening, and learning about the Mexican potato market firsthand. The mission strengthened
relationships, expanded market knowledge, and laid important groundwork for future trade opportunities between Wisconsin potato growers and Mexican buyers.
Potatoes USA spotlights past and current board members
Mike Carter’s path to the potato industry was anything but typical. After graduating with a history degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he spent a decade working in state politics.
“In my wildest dreams, there’s no way I could’ve imagined I’d end up in the potato industry,” he says. “And then to serve on a board like Potatoes USA, it’s mind-boggling.”
Mike’s political work led him to the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, where he eventually served eight years as
executive director. Though he became deeply familiar with the issues facing growers, he still didn’t have much firsthand farming experience.
“My mom and dad had a garden, and that was about it,” he jokes. “When I was 14, I rode my bike three-and-ahalf miles to the local potato farmer and picked potatoes by hand for one
day. I quickly decided that wasn’t for me.”
But his time with the association built strong relationships, and one of those opened a door he never expected. When a member announced his retirement, he approached Mike with an opportunity to run his potato operation.
From there, Mike became a partner and chief executive officer of Bushmans’ Inc., in Rosholt, Wisconsin. Bushmans’ is a shipper
and packer of fresh potatoes. The company grows russets but ships all varieties.
“Nowadays, our customers want one-stop shopping, and we’re able to offer that,” Mike says.
Bushmans’ Inc. has approximately 23 staff members in its sales office and around 18 employees working in its packing shed, Midwestern Potatoes LLC, in Plainfield, although the numbers vary seasonally.
Mike is now a 25-year veteran of the potato industry and served as chairman of the board of Potatoes USA from 2023-2024.
“Our goal is to get people to eat more potatoes more ways,” he says. “I could go through every program at Potatoes USA and tell you why it’s important. I think this organization does a really good job because they keep that very basic focus in mind in everything they do.”
When he was younger, a more experienced farmer shared some advice that stuck with him.
“He told me that he volunteered on boards and always felt like he got more out of it than he put into it,” Mike says. “At the time, I don’t think I fully appreciated it, but as my beard gets a little grayer, he was right on. There’s a lot of wisdom
in that saying.”
KITCHEN
When it comes to eating potatoes, Mike is no stranger to great cooking. His wife, Ali, has done professional recipe development and wrote a cooking column, Ali’s Kitchen, for many years in the Badger Common’Tater.
“She can whip up potatoes pretty much any way you can imagine,” he says.
But Mike’s favorite dish? A plain baked potato with butter, salt, and pepper. “I’m a purist,” he says. “I could eat a baked potato every day.”
When he isn’t working or eating baked potatoes, Mike enjoys curling (in the winter) and hunting and fishing.
for many years in the Badger Common’Tater.
“As I came off the Potatoes USA Board, my goal was to spend more time hunting and fishing and chopping wood,” he says, adding that he’s grateful life brought him to potatoes.
“I wake up every morning and thank the good Lord that I ended up here,” he says. “I can’t think of a better industry that suits my personality. This industry produces something that’s good and wholesome. I mean, we feed the world. What’s more noble than that? And it’s full of amazing people.”
Text and images provided by the International Potato Center (CIP) and the KALRO Food Crops Research Institute
After decades of research and funding, new resilient potato varieties are finally close to approval and release in Kenya.
The effort was undertaken to protect farmers from losing their harvests and livelihoods to the terrible scourge of an infamous and old disease,
known as late blight, best known for its role in the “Great Hunger"” or Irish Potato Famine.
These “3R” potatoes have been painstakingly developed by the International Potato Center (CIP) through research in Lima, Peru, and Nairobi, Kenya.
Late blight, caused by the water mold Phytophthora infestans, remains a persistent threat to potato production because of limited and largely defeated resistance in domesticated potato (Solanum tuberosum).
Potato relatives, like Solanum bulbocastanum, are hardier, with resistance receptors that detect P. infestans and trigger the plant’s innate defenses.
CIP scientists have shown that these receptors can be introduced into domesticated potato varieties preferred by farmers, retaining good yield, flavor, and other characteristics.
The disease receptors are widespread and naturally present in all plants. However, because the receptors
Above: Scientists and collaborators visit KALRO Food Crops Research Institute’s potato trial site, in Kenya, to evaluate biotech potatoes resistant to late blight disease. Kenya nears release of “3R” late blightresistant potatoes after 20-plus years of research by the International Potato Center (CIP) and KALRO. Supported by 2Blades, Feed the Future, and Simplot, the new potato varieties promise higher yields, disease protection, and improved food security in 2026.
Left: A researcher tends to young potato seedlings in a controlled environment to ensure disease resistance and strong growth.
from these potato relatives were introduced as individual genes through biotechnology, they undergo strict safety testing and regulatory scrutiny, adding time, effort, and cost to the project.
Now, after more than 20 years of effort and funding, a 3R variety is on the cusp of release in East Africa. The final stages are being advanced in Kenya by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
2Blades Foundation has been a long-term funder and collaborator of the project, alongside Feed the Future, J.R. Simplot Company, and many other research partners. Their support ensured the project could continue in Kenya after the abrupt withdrawal of USAID funds earlier in 2025.
During a recent visit to KALRO’s Potato and Biotech research sites, led by Samson Kamunya and Moses
Nyongesa, the process for the final stages of regulatory approval in Kenya was observed.
With resistance efficacy and yield protection clearly established, the team is now producing enough material for Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) review, aiming for release in 2026.
The finish line is near in Kenya, which is great news for potato growers and consumers, and paves the way for similar benefits in other countries.
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES
National Geograghic Society is supporting her study of nitrogen-fixing alfalfa
The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo are collaborating to harness the power of science, storytelling and education to inspire positive
change throughout the global food system, with a focus on regenerative agriculture.
The Food for Tomorrow program is supporting an extraordinary set of Explorers diving into the future of food, through breathtaking imagery and powerful stories of regenerative farmers leading change in their communities, on-farm scientific research, and a forthcoming interactive data visualization tool.
Jamie Spychalla, daughter of James Spychalla and Bärbel Köhm of Kohm & Spychalla, LLC, in Antigo, Wisconsin, has been named a National Geographic Explorer for her research on the benefits of
integrating nitrogen-fixing alfalfa as a rotational, harvestable cover crop.
Jamie is studying the potential for nitrogen-fixing alfalfa as a cover crop to mitigate climate-induced moisture
stress, regenerate soils, and improve yields, saying she’ll be engaging farming communities along the way.
Earning a Ph.D. from Penn State University in Plant Pathology, in 2025, Jamie is a plant pathology and microbial ecology consultant at Kohm & Spychalla.
Historically, the family farm was a dairy and potato growing operation dating back to the early 1900s. In the 1940s, the family shifted to growing potatoes for potato stock, and today the fourth-generation farm has downsized to become a nuclear tissue culture, mini-tuber, and earlygeneration potato seed producing operation.
“In mid-June, I had recently defended my Ph.D. and was thinking about what comes next,” Jamie relates. “I was at a friend’s cottage in Michigan. While I was waiting for everyone to get ready, I found the Building Resilience in Agriculture Request for Proposals on National Geographic’s website. I started brainstorming ideas while overlooking the lake.”
Jamie applied to become an Explorer, and now that her study has been accepted, is in the planning stages for her field work, which will begin during the 2026 growing season.
“The fields on our farm are in an alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa-potato rotation,” she says. “On fields at the different points in this rotation, potato plots will be planted. A portion of each of these plots will receive a simulated extreme rain event through excess irrigation.”
“I plan to sample soil from these overwatered and regularly irrigated plots to look at the Verticillium dahlia, which causes Verticillium wilt, and Pythium ultimum, causing Pythium leak, levels and the overall diversity of soil bacteria and fungi,” Jamie explains.
“In addition to these biological factors,” she continues, “I will measure how fast water infiltrates the soil, soil particle stability, and nitrogen and carbon levels.”
On the farm, Jamie and her parents, James and Bärbel, have witnessed visual differences in the amount of standing water in the fields following large rain events compared to other fields in the Antigo area.
“We think the reduction in standing water in our fields is due to the alfalfa rotation we use that was started by my grandfather, Jim Spychalla, about 40 years ago,” Jamie says. “As a scientist, I’m interested in collecting data to help make sense of the observations we are seeing.”
“I think that incorporating a longrooted perennial like alfalfa in rotations helps regenerate the soils and stabilize soil health, perhaps by fostering a beneficial soil microbial community and/or increased levels of nitrogen in the soil,” she reasons.
During extreme rain events, water might be able to infiltrate through the soil faster. Less standing water might also provide less opportunity for root rot to develop in the field or in storage postharvest.
BENEFICIAL MICROBES
“As a plant pathologist, I am really
interested in seeing how this crop rotation has impacted pathogen pressure and beneficial microbial communities,” Jamie states. “At the farm level, I see Kohm & Spychalla LLC continuing to use alfalfa in our rotations, but we will hopefully have a better understanding of why we see benefits in certain years.”
“Change is needed in the way food is grown, because the choices we make today will shape the world of tomorrow,” states the National Geographic Society website (https:// www.nationalgeographic.org/society/ our-programs/food-for-tomorrow/).
Feeding a growing population while ensuring a thriving planet is a complex and challenging task. By 2050, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) estimates that close to 90% of the planet’s soil will be degraded if current trends continue, while the world population is expected to reach 10 billion people. Degraded soil affects plant health and nutrition, making it more difficult for farmers to grow food as well as sustain their livelihoods. Soil is also key to avoiding desertification and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, as healthy soil has a natural ability to store carbon underground instead of releasing it
into the atmosphere.
Regenerative agriculture, a set of practices that farmers use to prioritize soil health, improve watershed health and enhance biodiversity, can help provide the food people eat by working with nature, not against it.
The Food for Tomorrow program launched by the National Geographic Society and PepsiCo will shine a light on farmers, communities and researchers around the globe who are putting regenerative agriculture into practice using techniques like cover crops, intercropping, applying compost, efficient water use, agroforestry, and rotational grazing.
“This experience is helping me strengthen my science communication and project management muscles,” Jamie says. “My goal is to keep learning new things every day and conduct research that helps farmers, whether that be at a university or on my family’s farm remains to be seen!”
Jamie is partnering with the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute to help communicate the science behind her study to stakeholders. “We will be hosting a field day on my family’s farm in 2027,” she promises. “I will also be presenting what I learned in a webinar to a network of growers.”
Longtime businessman and civic leader established Paul Miller Farms of Hancock
Paul R. Miller, age 83, of Hancock, Wisconsin, a longtime businessman and civic leader, passed away peacefully, Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, at Heartland House Community-Based Residential Facility.
He was born September 29, 1942, in Beaver Dam, the son of Richard E. and Jean E. (Cigelske) Miller. Paul graduated from Beaver Dam High School and later attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture.
He moved to Hancock in 1966, worked for Badger Growers for several years and later bought out the owners and established Paul Miller Farms of Hancock. Paul dedicated many hours to farming, civic organizations, family and church.
He was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Plainfield, served 39 years on the Hancock Lions Club, 37 years as Town Chairman, served on the June Dairy Breakfast
for several years, and was a WIAA referee for 54 years, an FFA alumni supporter and a member of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) for many years.
Paul was inducted into the WPVGA Hall of Fame in 2021.
Farming was Paul’s love along with NASCAR, where he worked for Sunoco at NASCAR races refueling cars, attending sporting events, but his greatest love was his family.
Paul leaves behind his lifelong partner, Linda Breseman; his son, Todd (Nancy) Miller, and daughters, Michelle (Bill) Miller-Patterson and Jennifer Breseman; his grandchildren, Ian (Kayte) Miller, Jordan Miller, Kyle (Stephanie) Turzinski, Raiven Breseman, Makenzie Conley, Austin Conley and Jaiya Breseman
He also leaves behind his great grandchildren, Blake, Joslynn, Allie, Sutton, Dakota, Corbin and Luka;
September 29, 1942 – March 11, 2026
and his siblings, Phyllis (Greg) Tratar, Beaver Dam, Ronald (Shelly) Miller, Blanco, Texas, and Jeffrey (Jan) Miller, Beaver Dam. Paul is further survived by nieces, nephew, cousins, other relatives and many special friends.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Linda and Patricia Miller, and a son, Jason Breseman.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, March 21, 2026, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Plainfield. Paul was laid to rest in Hancock Cemetery. Visitation was Friday evening, March 20, and Saturday until the time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial in Paul’s name will be established for several of his favorite charities. Stahl Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit: https:// www.stahlfuneralhome.com to share your online condolences with Paul’s family
Advanced remote sensing techniques offer a nondestructive, efficient means of estimating productivity
By Yi Wang, Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University
of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison
In contrast to conventional methods such as field inspections and hand digging, advanced remote sensing techniques offer a non-destructive, efficient means of monitoring growth dynamics and estimating crop productivity throughout the growing season.
These systems have made significant progress in recent years, owing to the proliferation of low-cost sensors, ground vehicles (e.g., robots, manually operated carts, and self-propelled tractors), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and highresolution satellite constellations.
In particular, the use of multispectral and hyperspectral imagery for fieldlevel crop monitoring has garnered significant attention due to their ability to record detailed spatial and temporal variability in crop growth patterns.
Mounted on UAVs or aircraft operating at low altitudes and relatively slow speeds, these
Above: Yi Wang, UW-Madison Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, reports on nitrogen management and remote monitoring at the 2023 Langlade Agricultural Research Station Field Day.
multispectral and hyperspectral sensors enable extremely highresolution data collection for precise monitoring of crop health, development and stresses throughout the growing season.
Compared to multispectral imagery, hyperspectral imagery offers superior spectral resolution, with a greater number of narrower bands. Specifically, multispectral sensors capture data across a few broad bands (e.g., blue, green, red, and near-infrared, covering 400–900 nm [nanometers]) with bandwidths of 20-100 nm.
In comparison, hyperspectral sensors collect reflectance data across hundreds of narrow, contiguous bands (e.g., 100-400+ bands, covering 400-2,500 nm) with bandwidths
typically ranging from 1-10 nm.
ENHANCED
This higher spectral resolution results in enhanced spectral precision and object differentiation.
For example, while multispectral data might record reflectance values of 28.5000 and 28.4000 for two similar crop pixels, hyperspectral sensors could potentially discern values of 28.49999999 and 28.35555555, facilitating more accurate classification and analysis of spectrally similar objects.
Numerous studies have investigated the relative improvements in bandwidth offered by hyperspectral imagery compared to multispectral imagery.
However, the magnitude of improvement is context-dependent, influenced by factors such as the specific sensor characteristics, the number and placement of spectral bands, and the application domain.
For example, research on leaf area index estimation across four potato
varieties found that while the number of bands did not significantly affect results, the placement and width of bands, particularly in the red-edge and shortwave infrared regions, yielded substantial improvements in vegetation characterization across the four varieties.
In addition, hyperspectral sensors are much less feasible for real-time applications than multispectral sensors due to their high data dimensionality, high cost, and lengthy acquisition and processing time, restricting their use primarily to research labs under expert supervision.
Furthermore, their application in multi-environmental trials presents substantial computational challenges. In other words, the wealth of spectral detail offered by hyperspectral data comes at a cost. Hyperspectral imaging produces significantly larger datasets and requires more complex processing than multispectral data.
As a result, hyperspectral imagery is
usually reserved for targeted research or precision agriculture applications where maximum spectral information is needed, while multispectral imagery is favored for broader, cost-sensitive projects and frequent monitoring.
For example, multispectral satellite programs such as Sentinel-2 and Landsat enable large-scale, routine crop assessments. Collecting hyperspectral data typically requires specialized airborne platforms (e.g., aircraft), which incur higher operational costs.
Therefore, the choice between multispectral and hyperspectral data depends on the specific needs of the project. If tasks and resources permit, the richer spectral information in hyperspectral imagery may yield superior predictions of crop traits.
The table below describes the major differences in costs and processing time for crop monitoring using multispectral versus hyperspectral sensors mounted on different platforms.
*$4,000-$55,000
Hyperspectral (drone-based)
$100,000$150,000
$3,000 per collection including travel mileage
No available commercial service
Hyperspectral (aircraft-based)
$500,000$1,000,000
$800 per day to hire a pilot plus contractual fees to rent an aircraft
$1,500 per year
No available commercial product. We do it in our lab. It will take a trained technician about 300 hours to finish one season of imaging, and their hourly salary is about $27. Total cost will be about $8,100.
*This range considers the potential restrictions on drones made outside the USA.
Within 24-48 hours Own a system and operate by themselves
About a week or two
A group of growers co-rent an aircraft and hire a pilot to operate and share the cost
Loveland Products, Inc.® announces the launch of AQUA FORCE, a new kind of water use efficiency product designed mainly for center pivot systems. Unlike traditional soil surfactants or wetting agents, AQUA FORCE helps water move more evenly through the soil, stay where plants need it, and work harder for every acre.
Formulated for modern irrigation challenges, AQUA FORCE improves water distribution, retention, and infiltration in soil, so farmers can make every pivot pass count. The unique formulation helps soil hold more water in the root zone and reduces compaction, which is key to maximizing yield potential and protecting long-term soil health.
“Farmers are under more pressure than ever to do more with less water,” says Drew Butler, adjuvants portfolio manager at Loveland Products. “The Ogallala Aquifer alone can lose up to 1-2 feet of water each year, and that’s not sustainable. But AQUA FORCE helps farmers get the most out of every drop by improving how water interacts with the soil.”
Formulation improves water distribution, retention, and infiltration in the soil 04-26 Badger Common'Tater (7.25x2.25).v1.pdf 1 2026-03-09 11:13 am
In 2024, the Irrigation Research Foundation (IRF) in Yuma, Colorado,
tested AQUA FORCE on corn through center pivot applications. The result was an average yield increase of 9 bushels per acre across all production zones. Results are likely to vary based on site-specific conditions, hybrids planted, and any other factors that affect yield.
At the Oklahoma site, AQUA FORCE also helped fields maintain higher soil moisture levels (0-6 inches) throughout the growing season. This means more water stays where crops can use it, and less loss to evaporation or runoff. For farmers relying on the Ogallala Aquifer, that efficiency matters.
Why AQUA FORCE Stands Out
• Improves water efficiency: Enhances soil’s ability to hold and distribute water evenly across the profile
• Supports better yields: Supports ideal growing conditions for stronger roots and higher productivity
• Saves time and resources: Less wasted water, fewer irrigation adjustments, more efficient production
“AQUA FORCE fills a gap in the market,” says Dr. Darin Lickfeldt, senior manager of technical
development at Loveland Products. “It’s not just about getting water to the field; it’s about keeping it where it matters most. When irrigation water is applied, AQUA FORCE helps ensure it works harder, lasts longer, and supports better yield outcomes.”
AQUA FORCE represents the next step in Loveland’s commitment to advancing water management technology that supports both productivity and sustainability. Purpose-built for the challenges ahead, this innovation empowers
farmers to enhance soil health, crop performance, and long-term resilience.
For more information about AQUA FORCE, contact your local Nutrien Ag Solutions crop consultant or visit https://www.lovelandproducts.com.
Designation confirms the suitability of the biofertilizer for certified organic production
AMVAC®, the crop business unit of American Vanguard Corporation, and DPH Biologicals®, a leading developer and supplier of agricultural biologicals, are pleased to announce that TerraTrove® AmplAphex™, a liquid biofertilizer produced by DPH Biologicals and distributed regionally by AMVAC, recently received the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Listed® seal.
“The OMRI Listed designation for AmplAphex is important because it confirms the suitability of the biofertilizer for certified organic production,” says Jim Thompson, global director of biologicals for AMVAC.
“With AmplAphex, farmers experience benefits like improved soil structure, vigor, water and nutrient use efficiency and plant drought and stress resiliency,” Thompson adds. “The OMRI listing further affirms AMVAC’s commitment to increase the value, access and use of biological products for farmers in U.S. crop markets.”
OMRI listed products are reviewed and determined to be suitable for use in organic food and fiber production. This helps ensure compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP) standards. The OMRI seal on a product’s label indicates that it has been approved for organic use, except in Oregon and Washington.
OMRI’s mission is to support the growth and trust of the global organic community through expert, independent and transparent verification of input materials, and through education and technical assistance.
“Three years ago, we set out to develop the most convenient and highest performing complete biofertilizer using our well-known SP-1 Classic as a baseline,” states Mick Messman, chief executive officer of DPH Biologicals. “The multi-year performance data has consistently shown improved results with AmplAphex over SP-1 at a significantly lower use rate.”
“We are excited that organic farmers now have access to this innovative technology,” Messman says.
AmplAphex is built on the RegenAphex Technology Platform and is paired with beneficial bacteria and algae to form an all-in-one biological solution designed to amplify crop performance.
DPH Bio products like AmplAphex combine with AMVAC’s
GreenSolutions biological portfolio to provide an industry-leading offering for AMVAC’s farmers, distributors and retail partners.
More information about TerraTrove AmplAphex is available at https://www.amvac.com/ products/terratrove-amplaphex or https://aglist.com/product/ terratroveamplaphex.
©2025 AMVAC Chemical Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corporation. All rights reserved. American Vanguard, AMVAC and respective logos are trademarks owned by AMVAC Chemical Corporation. TerraTrove® AmplAphex™ and its trademarks are owned by DPH Biologicals, LLC. Important: Always read and follow label instructions.
©2025 DPH Biologicals. Management-owned since 2024, DPH Bio aims to accelerate agriculture’s transition to a more balanced biological approach. DPH Bio emphasizes scientific research, product development, field testing and partnerships to offer proven, profitable biological products.
With a legacy that spans over three decades, DPH Bio’s development capabilities and commercial reach allow novel biologicals to get to market, ultimately providing more sustainable solutions that seamlessly integrate into modern farming practices. For more information, visit https://www.dphbio.com.
A twist on vegetable stir fry includes roasted potatoes and is served as a bowl
Column
and photos
by Dana Rady, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association
My family and I love Asian food! I’d say the craving for an egg roll, stir fry and, yes, even sushi, comes up once or twice a month.
So, one night, when I started getting out the vegetables for stir fry, but not the usual rice maker, I saw some confused faces.
I explained that, instead of rice that night, we were going to use roasted potatoes to complement the stir fry. The confused expressions turned into intrigue as our sons, Griffin and Easton, pleasantly asked if they could help put the “Vegetable Stir Fry Roasted Potato Bowl” together!
An offer like that doesn’t happen every day, so I happily took advantage.
One of my assistants began cutting up the colorful vegetables while the other prepared the potatoes for roasting. That gave me some time to put the sauce together, a delicious mixture of ginger, garlic, cornstarch, water, and soy sauce. It’s a sweet and slightly spicy addition to a colorful dish.
It’s also worth noting that, while this recipe doesn’t specifically call for a meat protein, I added a package of chicken breasts that I had prepared in the slow cooker earlier that day
and shredded. With two growing boys and a husband who each thrive on protein, I need to find a way to incorporate meat into every meal. Once everything was cooked through and combined, we plated the stir fry, first potatoes, then the vegetables
ROASTED POTATOES:
2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and diced
Cold water as needed
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
Kosher salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste
VEGETABLE STIR FRY:
1 Tbsp neutral oil
3/4 cup carrots, sliced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, sliced
1 cup broccoli, cut into florets
1/2 cup snow peas or snap peas, cut thin
1/4 cup canned water chestnuts, drained
1 Tbsp cornstarch
2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
2 tsp ginger
2 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos
TOPPINGS:
1/4 cup cashews
3 Tbsp green onions, sliced Japanese barbecue sauce, optional
Rotisserie chicken, optional
Crushed red chili flake, optional
Sesame seeds, optional
and chicken. We added cashews for a little extra crunch, drizzled oyster sauce over everything, and finished the dish by sprinkling it with sesame seeds.
The meal was delicious for dinner and served as lunch for us the next day.
The rating on this recipe? Family tested, family approved!
Preparing Roasted Potatoes
Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit (205° Celsius). Peel and chop your potatoes into uniform 1-inch pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
Set them in a bowl with enough water to cover the potatoes and let them soak for 15-20 minutes to draw out some of the starch. Drain the water, rinse the potatoes, and gently pat them dry.
on pg. 58
Toss the potatoes with the oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread the potatoes evenly on a baking sheet (we recommend one with a lip since the oil will run off the sides of a flat sheet) and roast for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven, give the pan a shake, and use a spatula to release any stuck potatoes. Return the potatoes to the oven and roast for another 20-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are deep brown and crisp all over.
Add the oil to a hot sauté pan or wok. Once the oil is hot, add the carrots and cook until they start to soften. Add your bell peppers and broccoli, allowing them to cook until they start to soften. Finally, add the snow peas and water chestnuts. Continue cooking over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, but crisp. To make the sauce, combine ginger,
garlic, cornstarch, water, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Mix until the cornstarch is dissolved and the ingredients are all combined.
When the vegetables are nearly ready, add the sauce mixture to the hot pan, ensuring it coats all the vegetables, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Build your bowls starting with the roasted potatoes and stir fry vegetables. Top with cashews and green onions.
Customize with additional toppings such as a drizzle of Japanese barbecue sauce, sliced rotisserie chicken, crushed red chili flakes, or sesame seeds.
Note: Roasted potatoes can be prepped at the beginning of the week to be used as the base for different types of bowls. You can store them in the fridge for up to three days and reheat the potatoes when ready. Put them in the air fryer while your tofu is cooking (4-5 minutes) to bring them back up to temperature.
Visit https://eatwisconsinpotatoes. com/recipes/vegetable-stir-fryroasted-potato-bowl/.
Friday, June 19, 2026
Bass Lake Country Club W10650 Bass Lake Road
Deerbrook, WI 54424
Deadline for sponsorship commitments to be included in June Badger Common'Tater: May 1, 2026*
DINNER SPONSOR $2,500
• Company name/logo on two banners placed in prominent areas
• Company name/logo on dinner ticket & one beverage cart
• Company name and logo in Badger Common'Tater
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
• Registration and dinner for four golfers
LUNCH SPONSOR $2,000
• Company name/logo on one banner and lunch ticket
• Company name/logo on one beverage cart
• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
• Registration and dinner for four golfers
GOLDRUSH SPONSOR $1,500
• Company name/logo on one banner
• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
• Registration and dinner for two golfers
CONTACT KAREN RASMUSSEN for more details (715) 623-7683
Make checks payable to WSPIA
*We WILL accept sponsors after this date.
MAIL PAYMENT TO:
WSPIA, P.O. Box 173 Antigo, WI 54409
SILVERTON SPONSOR $1,000
• Company name/logo on one banner
• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
• Registration and dinner for one golfer
SUPERIOR SPONSOR $500
• Company name/logo on one banner
• Company name/logo in Badger Common'Tater
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
OCCUPIED HOLE SPONSOR $300
• Company name on hole sign
• Rights to occupy a hole on the course and provide giveaways*
*If alcohol is being served, it must be purchased through the golf course
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
BASIC HOLE SPONSOR $200
• Company name on hole sign
• Verbal recognition and name on sign at event
Since 1998, this tournament raised over $241,000, which was donated to Wisconsin potato research.
