EEUU: State potato commission, WSU share information about seed potatoes

The Washington State Potato Commission and Washington State University’s Othello Research Station held its annual Potato Field Day on Thursday.

The commission and university have collaborated on research and improving potato farming in the state since 1963.

The event let researchers provide farmers and other industry members with reports of how different varieties of potato seeds performed during independent trial testing.

Varieties of seeds are grown and monitored for quality factors such as susceptibility to disease, pests and other potential damages.

The majority of Washington’s commercial potato growers typically purchase their seed potatoes from seed-growing regions outside of the area. The trials provide a venue where producers and growers can view how seed varieties perform within Washington’s growing region.

“The potato field lot trials are critical in helping farmers in the region gain a better understanding of the quality of their seed. As a result of the partnership of the local potato industry and WSU, growers have a more realistic and accurate view of their seed’s performance in their own fields,” said Mark Pavek, Associate Professor and Potato Extension and Research Specialist for Washington State University.

Funding from the potato commission helped keep the WSU Othello Research Station up to date and able to help farmers more efficiently. This year, the commission purchased an $87,000 tractor for the research station, replacing an outdated and obsolete model.

In 2013, the station received a donation of three center pivots from the WSPC to assist in upgrading its irrigation system.