Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/15761
POTATO POTATO POTATO GROWER May 2009 - $3.95 - Serving The National Potato Industry - www.potatogrower.com GROWER May 2009 - $3.95 - Serving The National Potato Industry - www.potatogrower.com published 13 times a year by Harris Publishing Inc. GROWER May 2009 - $3.95 - Serving The National Potato Industry - www.potatogrower.com Subscriptions: U.S. and Possessions $24.00 per year, International $44.00 per year. Copyright 2010 Harris Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Back issues available at $5 per copy. Limited quantities. Publisher not responsible for content of materials submitted. PRESIDENT Jason Harris VICE PRESIDENT Chuck Harris VICE PRESIDENT Ryan Harris VICE PRESIDENT Steve Janes TREASURER Clayton Ward SECRETARY Janet Chase Canadian Publisher’s Agreement No. 40606038, Customer No. 7004671. Mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho, and at additional mailing offices. Also Publishers of: Sugar Producer Mountain West Turf ADVERTISING Dave Alexander dave@potatogrower.com Rob Erickson rob.erickson@potatogrower.com GROUP SECRETARY Magdalene Mercado PRODUCTION Janet Chase Jim Donovan Dayne Dingman GRAPHIC ARTIST Angela Hardy MARKETING Robin Black CIRCULATION Yvonne Young Eula Endecott IT DEPARTMENT Chuck Harris Darrin Steffler ACCOUNTING Clayton Ward Laura Rafferty IDAHO GROWER SHIPPER ASSOCIATION Phone: 208-529-4400 www.idahoshippers.com IDAHO POTATO COMMISSION Phone: 208-334-2350 www.idahopotato.com NATIONAL POTATO COUNCIL Phone: 202-682-9456 www.nationalpotatocouncil.org Corporate Offices: HARRIS PUBLISHING INC. 360 B Street Idaho Falls, ID 83402 208-524-7000 Fax 208-522-5241 www.potatogrower.com POTATO GROWERS OF IDAHO Phone: 208-785-1110 www.potatogrowersofidaho.com SOUTHERN IDAHO POTATO COOPERATIVE Phone: 208-234-7472 Email: sidpco@msn.com UNITED POTATO GROWERS OF AMERICA Phone: 801-517-9000 www.unitedpotatosusa.com Printed in Idaho Falls, Idaho by Falls Printing dave@fallsprinting.com UNITED STATES POTATO BOARD Phone: 303-369-7783 www.uspotatoes.com CommuniCation has always been an essential part of being a grower. you’ve got a team of workers who need to understand what needs to be done in the short term in order to accomplish a successful and profitable crop in the long term. while advancing technology has been an indispensable part in changing the way we plant, grow and harvest, radio communication has been a much- overlooked technology that’s used basic science and physics to get a point across more quickly across greater physical distances, leaving, perhaps, the only uncharted territory in more effective communication to be mastering the language(s) themselves! Growing up, i noticed Dad installed Cbs in his pickup as well as most of the tractors, utilizing them to coordinate with the man discing a field hour after hour, or the truck drivers during harvest, to see if everything was going all right. Cbs were later replaced with Fm radio transmitters, which were eventually superseded by the irreplaceable but oft-cursed cell phone. where would we be without them? (Don’t answer that.) even though it appears that cell phones have replaced radio as an effective means of communication, i beg to differ. while becoming a certified ham radio operator (my call sign is Ke7Ghs), i learned that cell phones were invented with the help of ham operators. besides, the usPb industry Communications Department is now utilizing radio waves—commercial frequencies rather than amateur—by launching the “u.s. Potato update.” introduced in July, it reaches growers and the industry at large with the very latest news and analysis of the global- demand-building programs of the usPb. airing within the popular “Farm & Ranch Report,” produced by the northwest ag information network’s bob hoff, and broadcast every wednesday on 29 stations throughout washington, oregon and idaho, “u.s. Potato update” will reach the estimated 450,000-plus potato acres in the Pacific northwest. we’ve included the link to their story on usPb’s website, which includes a graph that shows all the local radio frequencies and broadcast times for the “u.s. Potato update.” Just go to PotatoGrower.com and click on “extras.” you’ll notice that the usPb is dominating quite a bit of the magazine this issue, but that’s because of how much they do! inside, you’ll also find a grower feature on andy Diercks of Coloma, wis., who’s in his sixth and final year on the board. (he’ll end his term at the annual meeting in march 2011). you’ll also read an article on the efforts the usPb seed task Force has made this year to market u.s. seed outside the united states—to places like brazil and nicaragua. Plus you’ll read their regular column—on using the right data to influence decision making—as well as the other regular columns you’ve come to expect. in addition, our cover feature is actually a guest column, written by retired Congressman larry Combest (R-tX), regarding the cuts that crop insurance has had to face year after year. it’s definitely something to think about. PG EDITORIAL Tyler J. Baum tbaum@potatogrower.com Nancy Sanchez nancy@potatogrower.com Dr. Phil Nolte, UI Potato Specialist pnolte@uidaho.edu Radio Updates PUBLISHER Jason Harris FROM THE FIELD by Tyler J. Baum, Editor www.potatogrower.com 5