1. Art and Diseño

Potato Growers of Alberta
www.albertapotatoes.ca
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From the Desk of the Executive Director
January 2014:
• The Canadian Dollar
has
reached
its
lowest point since
2007 bottoming out
at $0.8973 US.
• The price of oil is
$97.43 US a barrel.
• The pump price for
fuel
is
averaging
about $1.10 per litre.
• There is word on
the
street
that
Washington may go
into planting season
without a contract,
as the two sides are
far apart in their
discussions.
January 2015:
• The Canadian Dollar
is trading at $0.7924
US.
• The price of oil is
$43.75 US a barrel.
• The pump price for
fuel
is
averaging
about $0.76 litre.
• Washington has already settled contracts
with
Lamb
Weston and Simplot
for the 2015 crop year
• The port slowdown
on the American west
coast
has
greatly
affected the offshore
sale of French Fries
to the Pan Pacific and
Asian market, thus
allowing the European
industry
to
make
headway into North
America’s traditional
marketplaces.
• Power prices continue
to increase at an
alarming rate.
WHAT HAPPENED???
Every single one of
these factors, although
completely
out
of
our hands, has had a
tremendous
influence
on our industry and will
continue to do so in the
coming year. Most of our
fertilizer pricing is based
NOLA with US dollars
and equipment pricing
is bought, base on US
dollars. Most of our larger
equipment dealers are
anticipating a 5% increase
in purchase costs, as
much of this equipment
has been in the system
before the downfall of
our dollar and oil, but
our specialty equipment
is seeing a 20% rise in
costs as everything is US
dollar based. Even our
European equipment has
gone up tremendously. If
things stay the same the
large equipment will take
a huge jump next year as
well.
With the lion’s share of
Alberta’s economy being
petroleum based and in a
dire readjustment period,
we can all be assured
that our industry, with its
January 30th, 2015
Inside this Edition
200 million dollar farm
gate value and 1 billion
dollar economic value,
will continue to move
forward and do what we
do best. Alberta growers
pride themselves with
growing some of the
best seed available in the
world, and our process
growers have the ability
to compete with anyone
for the best quality.
Post Harvest Test Update 2
Shipping Season Reminder
2
On-line Grower Resource
3
Potato Expo Recap
3
There is one thing to be
said about a family that
is involved in agriculture.
When things get tough
and seem to be going
sideways, they never
give up, they just adjust,
become innovative and
carry on. Our organization
continues to be the model
of choice across the
country. The PGA was
built on trust, integrity,
open communication and
hard work. The continued
cohesiveness and unity
amongst its growers is
a must in order to be
successful. As the PGA
works towards its 50th
anniversary in 2016 we
will strive to continue
to be instrumental and
lead this great industry.
After all “A chain is only
as strong as its weakest
link.”
Until next month
Terence
Where to your Donations Go? 8
Project Manager's Message 4
PGA Potato Cook Book
5
APIA News
5
National Potato Message
6
International News
7
From the Office
9
AG Expo Volunteers Needed
9
Accelerated Release Invite
9
Upcoming PGA
Events
March 24th
NORTH GROWERS
Hilton Garden Inn @ 6pm
March 26th
SOUTH GROWERS
Heritage Inn @ 8am
July 13th
APIA Burgers & Beans
BBQ
July 14th
PGA Golf Tournament
November 17 - 19th
201 Potato Conference
& Trade Show
Sheraton Red Deer
Seed Industry Update
Post-Harvest Test
The post-harvest test grow out in Hawaii was again well managed by E.S. CropConsult Ltd., from
British Columbia, resulting in an excellent site to work in. Growing conditions favoured optimum
plant growth and row closure was beginning when inspections, emergence counts and leaf picking
were completed.
Preliminary results were sent to those who sent samples before I left Hawaii, and the
final results were emailed and hard copies mailed to growers
about a week later by E.S. CropConsult Ltd. If you have
not received the final results either by email or by mail,
please contact me. Although CFIA does the visual
inspection of the PHT grow out, E.S. CropConsult
Ltd. compiles the results from CFIA and sends
them to the growers. With these results is a
cover letter from CFIA explaining this process.
To those growers who sent samples for the
grow-out, please ensure you include the cover
letter from CFIA when providing your PHT results to
customers. Deb Hart ~ PGA Seed Coordinator
Shipping Season
A friendly reminder to contact your local CFIA
office in advance to schedule shipping point
inspections. CFIA MUST perform all shipping point
inspections for shipment to the US, however; if
your farm is registered on the Seed Potato Tuber
Quality Management Program, you can continue
to perform this duty for domestic movement
within Alberta and across Canada.
If you are unsure of our SPTQMP status with CFIA,
please contact them now to prevent any delays in
your shipping season.
2
2015 Seed
Price List
Available Online under the
“Members Only”
Seed Growers
and select the 2014-15
Seed Pricing link.
PLEASE NOTE:
The Seed Directory on
the PGA website is the
2014/15 issue listing
PGA Licensed Growers
Online Grower Resources
Herbicide symptomology photo repository launched by the
University of California IPM Program
January 22, 2015 by Janice LeBoeuf
New UC IPM photo repository shows plant damage
from herbicides
Identifying nontarget crop and ornamental plant damage from
herbicides has become much easier, with the launch of a new
online photo repository by the Statewide IPM Program, University
of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Dr. Kassim Al-Khatib, weed science professor at UC Davis and
director of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM), has gathered nearly a thousand
photos of herbicide-damaged plants, drawn from his own and others’ research. The images are cataloged to
show damage that can occur from 81 herbicides in more than 14 specific herbicide modes of action, applied in
field to demonstrate the symptoms or when known herbicide spray has drifted onto the plant.
Each image is characterized with the name of the plant, mode
of action of the herbicide, and notes the specific symptoms of
damage. Together these photos provide a comprehensive archive
of damage to over 120 different crops and ornamental plants by
known herbicides, which users can easily compare with what they
see in the field.
Also included in the repository is information about the modes of
action of various herbicides and an index of example herbicide
trade names and active ingredients.
The repository can be found at
http://herbicidesymptoms.ipm.ucanr.edu/
Source: OMAFRA
The PGA had a booth at the recent Potato Expo held in Orlando, Florida manned by Terence
Hochstein, Jay Anderson and Deb Hart. United Potato Grower meetings were held prior to
the beginning of the Expo providing industry updates across North America and presentations
were available for all sectors of the industry throughout the conference. This has become the
premier potato conference in North America.
Other Alberta companies represented at Potato Expo were
Rockyview Elite Tubers Ltd., Solanum International Inc.
and Parkland Seed Potatoes Ltd. Other provinces represented were
Manitoba, Quebec, PEI and NB.
Many thanks to...
Markus Reicheneder ~ Rockyview Elite Tubers Ltd.,
Darcy Olsen ~Edmonton Potato Growers and
Russ Van Boom, Northbank Potato Farms Ltd.
for volunteering to assist at the PGA booth.
3
PGA’s New Project Manager
Greetings!
I am the new Project Manager with the Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA). Finally, after the long
wait I’m here! My name is Jay Anderson, I was raised on a small farm north of Barnwell, AB. As
a boy I spent time helping out around the farm doing various chores and, in doing so, developed
a deep-rooted love for the land and the agricultural lifestyle this area has to offer.
My interest in agriculture carried through into my early twenties, when I started a Diploma in Plant
and Soil Science at the Lethbridge College. In 2006, I graduated from the college and transferred
to the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) in Saskatoon to further my education in agriculture. In
2009, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) from the Department of Plant
Sciences at the U of S. An undergraduate thesis during year four of my BSA, triggered my interest
in research and project management.
Not intimidated too badly by the frigid Saskatoon winters, I decided to stay for another two and a
half years to work on a Master’s Degree in Plant Sciences. I worked on my Master’s Degree under
the tutelage of Dr. Steve Shirtliffe, a weed scientist in the Department of Plant Sciences at the U
of S. He was patient with me for two and a half years while I completed my graduate research
and thesis writing. I successfully defended my thesis in July, 2012 and graduated with a Master
of Science in weed ecology in October, 2012.
In 2008, while working on my BSA I met my sweetheart Stephanie. We were married and have
since had four children together. We are currently living in Barnwell and thoroughly enjoying our
family life there.
In 2012, when our family moved to Barnwell, I took a position as the Agriculturist for Rogers
Sugar stationed in Bow Island, AB. With Rogers, I had responsibility over seed orders, acreage
contracting, planting, in-field agronomic recommendations, harvest operations (including piling
ground management and safety), record keeping, progress and year-end reporting, and everything
in-between. I worked with Rogers for three harvests and crossed the tracks on January 1st, 2015
to start work for the Potato Growers.
I come to the PGA with a firm background in agriculture. I am honored to have been considered
for and to have received this position. In the few weeks that I have been with the PGA, I have
seen opportunities on how we can strengthen and improve the potato industry in western Canada.
I foresee this job as being very fulfilling and I know there is potential to make a real difference
wearing the ‘Project Manager’ hat. I am excited to be with this group and I look forward to being
part of the promising future in the Potato Industry in Alberta.
If you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns about the work
I am doing, please do not hesitate to contact me. My office door
is always open. I look forward to visiting all the operations across
the province in the future (though that may take some time!!)
Please view my contact information below:
Office: (403) 223-2262
Mobile: (403) 892-7184
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @AlbertaPotatoes
Jay
4
Terence, Deb, Jay & friends
having fun at Potato Expo!! PGA Potato Cookbook
As part of the Ladies’ Program at the 2014 Potato Conference & Trade Show, Keynote Speaker and Best Selling
Cookbook Author, Dana McCauley shared her expertise and offered tips to the group on how to start the process of
creating a successful cookbook for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the PGA in 2016! She gave us much to think
about such as;
• Do we want a concept for our cookbook, like “20 minute potato recipes”, or “Best Alberta varieties to use for
certain dishes”?
• If we are promoting Alberta Potatoes, what is the most “Alberta-ish” potato to feature?
• Who is our reader, experienced or not experienced? This will determine how to write the recipe. Dana suggests
that it is always a great idea to offer variations to add more flavor or tips to help the ingredients blend better.
• How many recipes do we want? How many chapters and sections do we want? What will our budget allow?
Dana also suggested that with a group cookbook, we could submit our favorite recipes, but include a background to
give it a personal touch such as, “This recipe has been passed around our family since....” She also suggested that we
test each other’s recipes, to ensure they are easy to follow, have the desired appeal, and of course taste great!
She provided handouts to all in the room, with additional recipe writing tips which will prove to be very useful once
we get the process started! She also provided cost saving tips, like skipping the expensive photographer and use our
own devices and phones which produce great pictures for print.
The idea of a new cookbook is an initiation by the Staff, who feel its about time for a new one, as the last one was
published in 1996! But, to make it possible we need direction from our Growers, as we work for you!
If you are interested in becoming involved as part of the Grower Committee who will be the driving force behind
this project, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] or call the office 403-226-2262.
Thank your for your interest! We hope to get this project on the go soon, so please stay tuned! Happy cooking....
APIA News
The Alberta Potato Industry Association’s 24th Annual
Trade Show was a great success with 51 Exhibitors. That’s
15 more than in Calgary in 2013, which proves that this
event is gaining in popularity! 2015 marks the 25th
Anniversary of the APIA! Great plans are in the works for
next year in Red Deer to make this a memorable event for
Alberta’s Potato Industry. The APIA is pleased to announce that Mike Duell
from Taber Home and Farm has been elected as Secretary of the APIA! The
APIA and it’s members appreciate Mike’s commitment to serve!
5
Place the Face...These folks were working hard to make the 2014
Trade Show a success long before it started! Can you name these Alberta Potato Industry Associates?
National Potato Message
Potato Business Summit Zeros in
on Key Market Trends
The Ninth Annual
Potato
Business
Summit sponsored
by
the
United
Potato
Growers
of America, the
United
Potato
Growers of Canada, and the Potato Marketing
Association of North America attracted over 400
participants in early January to hear the latest
market trends in the potato industry.
With oil prices expected to bottom out at
$45.00/barrel, Rabobank feels that this will
probably have a larger effect on our rotational
crops, then on potatoes. Although everyone
expects the crop acreage grown for ethanol to
drop, the reality is that EPA mandates a certain
amount of ethanol to be included in gasoline
manufacturing. In addition to cheaper oil
lowering fertilizer costs, the real bonus for
potatoes could be in the reduction of freight
rates, due to lower diesel costs. This should
bring rail-shipping costs back into a less
expensive bracket.
restaurants
(LSR/Burger)
such
as
Five
Guys Fries and Steak and Shake. In addition
to using lean trimmings as a source of ground
hamburger, it is important to note that these
restaurants also use “fresh cut fries” as their
potato source.
In terms of conventional French fries, Lamb
Weston, President, Greg Schlafer, expects
production to grow by 1.8 billion pounds by
2018. Most of the growth will come from Asia,
particularly China as 100 million people move
into Tier 2 cities to upgrade their standard of
living. North America, however, is still the
largest market, with 60% of the fries sold in
Quick Service Restaurants (QSR’s). Traffic in fast
food restaurants is down and in particular, fry
servings are down 1.8%. To quote Mr. Schlafer,
“the French fry growth model screams of a need
for innovation”.
Restaurant visits as categorized by Don Ladoff,
of the US Potato Board, showed that McDonald’s
lost the greatest number of visits. Chipotle
and Panera had the greatest increase in visits.
Unfortunately potatoes are not a significant
menu item in either of these chains. The potato
chip category is doing well as Generation X
members increase their snacking opportunities.
On the fresh side, the petite category is moving
Currency values are having a huge effect on
up especially in the southeast part of the country.
export potential. With the Canadian dollar
Organics, even though they represent only
trading at $.80 U.S., it is a win–win for Canadian
2.4% of all potato dollar sales, have shown a
products being exported to the United States.
30% volume growth per year, and a 40% dollar
Russian currency took the biggest hit last year
growth per year.
with a 45% value reduction. Products from both
the United States and Canada being exported
In the big picture, Jerry Wright, CEO of UPGA,
to China are being affected by a slow down in
pointed out that Russets make up 75% of the
China’s economic growth. China is only expected
US fresh potato shipments. Reds, yellows, and
to grow at a rate of 7% this year. Usually growth
fingerlings now make up the other 25% of fresh
below 7% is considered a recession. As a
sales.
commodity, potatoes are expected to hold their
prices better than other
Presentations summaries are available at
crops this year.
www.potatobusinesssummit.com
One of the interesting
areas of growth in
the potato category
has been in sales
in
high-end
burger
6
Submitted by
Kevin MacIsaac
General Manager
International News
Announcing
the Salad Bar
Challenge
United States Potato
Board (USPB) President & CEO Blair Richardson
surprised attendees at the USPB-sponsored
Thursday Keynote Luncheon at POTATO EXPO 2015
with an industry challenge to install 3,000 potatofriendly salad bars in school lunch programs across
the United States.
Taking to the stage following Fox News Sunday anchor
and keynoter Chris Wallace, and in an unprecedented
move since the beginning of POTATO EXPO after eight
years of USPB sponsorship of the Keynote Luncheon,
USPB Chairman Brett Jensen of Brett Jensen Farms,
Idaho Falls, ID, brought Richardson to the stage to
issue the challenge to the entire potato industry.
The Challenge: Put 3,000 “potato-friendly” salad
bars in elementary, middle and high schools across
the country over the next five years.
Targeting 300 salad bars per year for five years, for
every one of those 1,500 salad/potato bars donated
by growers, potato industry agribusinesses or others
vested in the U.S. potato industry, the USPB will
match one-for-one for a total of 3,000 potato friendly
salad bars installed by 2020.
But the challenge doesn’t stop with the donation
of the salad/potato bar, putting it in a school of the
donor(s)’ choice and walking away! No! For every
donated salad/potato bar installed by U.S. potato
industry stakeholders, the USPB will continuously
work with school lunch personnel and school district
nutritionists to deliver a nonstop stream of potato
serving ideas, recipes and themes. Imagine the
salad bars with Mexican themed potatoes for Cinco
de Mayo or red, white and blue potato salad for
President’s Day… the possibilities are endless!
The USPB will ensure schools never run out of
exciting, fun—and most importantly—healthy,
nutritious potato ideas students will love-- and eat!
A 2014 Texas A & M Plate Waste Study said that
when “comparing fruit and vegetable consumption, it
appears fruit is much more popular than vegetables…
but when potato products are served (mashed
potatoes, potato wedges, tater tots, etc.); just about
every student chooses the vegetable.”
Why Salad Bars?
Today’s kids are referred to by the media as the
“Salad Generation” because they’re so fresh-food
focused. There are 55 million of them attending
K–12 schools nationwide, and they eat over 5 billion
school lunches each year. If they eat potatoes one
more time per week, that will be 3,750,000 cwt more
potatoes served each year. The potato industry has
a rare opportunity to
be on the front lines of
getting potato-friendly
salad bars and potato
nutrition materials in
thousands of schools
nationwide.
Richardson concluded
his challenge with a
core statement for this
program, “It is government’s role to help educate
consumers on proper nutrition. As an instrumentality
of USDA, the USPB is delivering to students,
nationwide, much needed education on healthy
eating and the many positive nutrition facts about
potatoes, ‘America’s Favorite Vegetable’.”
For additional information on the proposed
challenge, please visit
www.uspotatoes.com/saladbars, call the USPB
Marketing Department +1 (303) 369 7783 or
email to [email protected].
Source: http://www.potatopro.com/
WORLD POTATO CONGRESS TO BE STAGED AT BASE OF GREAT WALL IN 2015!
The 9th World Potato Congress features world class keynote speakers! Five internationally
renowned speakers will deliver timely and relevant keynote addresses to delegates attending
the Beijing 2015 World Potato Congress to be held in July, 2015. It is the first time the
Congress will be held in the Beijing Region of China and will be hosted by the People’s
Government of Yanqing County. It’s expected more than 900 delegates from developing and developed countries,
including growers, researchers, producers, traders, processors and manufacturers, will attend the conference.
www.potatocongress.org/congress/
7
Where do PGA’s Donation Dollars Go?
The Potato Growers of Alberta is committed to donating back to our
communities to the tune of 1% of annual revenue. For the 2014-2015 season,
our budget allows for $11,700.00 for donations to other groups. Some of
the monies spent so far include sponsorship of the Canadian Horticulture
2015 Conference, wine for the Premiers dinner plus four attendees, 2014
Pheasant Festival in Taber, Breast Cancer’s “Dress for the Cause” Campaign,
Vauxhall’s Cancer Fund-raiser “Lobster-fest”, The Chili Cook off at Cornfest, APEX Golf Tournament,
local 4-H Group for Highway Clean Up, Agronomy Update for two College Student Attendees, and
more. This is in addition to the give-away of many bags of potatoes from our variety trials to food
banks and soup kitchens. Below is more detail on two groups the PGA is proud to sponsor! Read
more to see how your donation dollars are making a difference in your communities and globally.
Taber Assisting Nations through Global Outreach is a new organization,
founded in 2013 out of a desire to share the talents of the Taber
community with third world countries around the globe. This group
became involved with our Cornfest Potato Stand, and volunteered to
help serve fries and poutine as a means of fundraising for their trip to
Figi. For 2014, we continued our Platinum Sponsorship for their efforts
in Guatemala. Here is a note from their thank you letter of January 13th,
outlining their group’s accomplishments on this 10 day project.
We wanted to send an update and a huge thank you to each of our generous donors who have supported The
Tango Foundation over the past year. We have had an amazing and successful year. In November we took 32
people to Guatemala. We extracted over 400 teeth, performed about 40 general and minor surgeries, completed
33 cataract and eye surgeries and conducted hundreds of clinic visits. We also distributed about $70,000 worth
of pharmaceuticals, gave out 672 pairs of glasses, hundreds of backpacks, 60 soccer balls, built a chimney and
painted an extensive amount in the local school. Additionally, we gave out numerous articles of clothing and
footwear.
The Guatemala people are extremely gracious and appreciative. We had people travel by foot up to 7 hours and
other traveled by bus up to 24 hours for care. One man who had severe bilateral cataracts hadn’t been able to see
his grandchildren and had to be helped everywhere he went. Dr. Mike Johnson performed cataract surgery on
one eye on the Monday after we arrived and his second eye on the Wednesday. He saw his grandchildren for the
first time that evening. Please see the fantastic video and his personal interview at www.thetangofoundation.ca.
TANGO’s next plans include a trip to Chincha, Peru in October, 2015. The group will be again performing
medical services as well as a major construction project, and educational project at a local orphanage.
At our area meeting last spring, we asked the North Growers
to offer suggestions as to where the PGA’s donation dollars
would be well spent. And we were advised of a great cause!
As of this month, we are proud Bronze Sponsors of the Silver
Skate Festival, a FREE 10 day family - oriented event which
runs February 13th - 22nd in Edmonton’s scenic river valley
at Hawrelak Park (9330 Groat Road). Rooted in Dutch winter
traditions, this festival combines sport (especially skating), arts and culture, and recreation. Celebrating their
25th anniversary in 2015, the Silver Skate Festival is the longest running winter festival in Edmonton! Over the
past years, it has grown in leaps and bounds, from a small skating event to a large-scale, winter extravaganza.
Last year, more than 70,000 visitors came out to play.
Be sure to check out their website, www.silverskatefestival.org to see all of the happenings, including free
winter activities to try, snow sculptures, fire sculpture installation, live performances, and much more!
8
From the Office
February
25th - 27th
Wed - Fri.
T-Shirt Orders
We had a great response for
these Potato T-shirts
and will be sending
another order in on
The PGA requires 16 Grower Volunteers
to cover shifts and talk potatoes at the
February 13th!
Please contact Cindy Fletcher
PGA booth for this year’s Ag Expo!
with your order or questions
The shifts are...
at the PGA office 403-2239am - 12 noon, 12 - 3pm and 3 - 6pm on
2262 or email
Wednesday and Thursday
[email protected]
9am - 12 noon, and 12 - 3pm on Friday.
Two people per shift, come in pairs or on PGA Seed & Table Service
your own.
Charge invoices were
WE ALSO NEED YOUR VARIETIES TO
mailed out this month.
SHOWCASE AT THE EVENT!
Due dates for the first
1/3 of the invoice is
Your Support is Greatly
March 15th.
Appreciated!
Payments can be made by
Please call the PGA Office
cheque or online banking.
if your can help us out,
403-223-2262 or email us
[email protected]
Farmer Pesticide Course Dates
February 23rd & March 11th
PGA Office 8:15 am start
Attending this course will allow you
to purchase restricted chemical such
as Thimet for potato production, and
Phostoxin for grain bin fumigation.
It also aids in obtaining the Environmental
Farm Plan, HACCP and CanadaGap
Lunch & Coffee are served.
Call the PGA Office to register
403-223-2262
AB Agriculture Irrigation
Management Section
is willing to offer a one
day Irrigation Management
Workshop on soil texturing
and moisture determination,
Soil-Water-Plant
relationships, New Mobile
Irrigation Schedules &
more, if there is interest!
Contact David Hyland
403-545-2231 or email
[email protected]
INVITATION
Potato Selection
Release Open House
Wednesday,February 11th
Lethbridge Research Station
10:00am to Noon ~ Video Link with Fredericton for
presentation by various potato industry and
Research Specialists
12:00 Noon to 12:45 pm ~ Free lunch will be served
12:45 - 2:00 pm ~ View Potato Selections
New AR2015 Accelerated Release selections available
for two years of non-exclusive evaluation
AR2013 series Accelerated Release available for three
years of exclusive evaluation and the option to negotiate a
commercial licence agreement (cash bid process)
Further info available online www.agr.gc.ca/potato-cultivars
9
6008 46 Avenue
Taber, AB T1G 2B1
Phone: 403-223-2262
E-mail: [email protected]
Staff Editor:
Wendy Arnold
The PGA assumes no responsibility for any errors in the information provided, nor assumes
any liability for any damages incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use
and application of any of the contents of The Potato Minute. Unless otherwise noted on an
individual document, the PGA grants users permission to reproduce and distribute
information in the Potato Minute as long as the contents remain unaltered and as long
as it is noted that the contents have been made available by the PGA.