Potato Grower

54 POTATO GROWER | JANUARY 2022 MAINE Eric Hitchcock Seed Certification Program Manager Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry The 2021 growing season was much less challenging in Maine than what growers experienced in 2020. Seed acreage was up almost 10 percent from last year, and rain events were more plentiful and much more normal than the prolonged dry periods that plagued Maine the past several years. This led to significantly higher yields for growers in most cases. Overall, the 2021 crop appears to be healthy with low to moderate disease levels. As of Sept. 9, 2021, the certification program has 10,168 acres field certified from 90 farms. The top five varieties by acreage field-certified in Maine for 2021 are: 1. Caribou Russet (PVP): 1,259 acres 2. Russet Burbank (MT strain): 914 acres 3. Atlantic: 808 acres 4. Snowden: 686 acres 5. Lamoka (PVP): 654 acres Inspectors are now performing PCN soil sampling and are in preparation for laboratory PVY post-harvest testing. All samples will be ELISA post-harvest tested at the certification laboratory in Presque Isle, Maine. Growers fill formerly empty airplane hangars at Loring Air Force Base with surplus potatoes. Photo courtesy Hannah Catlin/ Aroostook Republican MONTANA Nina Zidack Director Montana State University Seed Potato Certification Program The 2021 season marked the 100th certified seed potato crop in Montana. The 2021 Montana seed potato harvest was completed at a record pace by the second week of October with very good quality, average yields, and no frost damage. The growing season was very challenging throughout the West with high temperatures in June and July. Cooler August temperatures allowed for adequate bulking and better yields than originally expected. Disease pressure from PVY and all foliar pathogens was very low during the growing season. Throughout the state, 10,930 acres representing 84 varieties were grown in 2021. Russet Burbank is the most widely grown variety at 3,713 acres, and has held steady over the past five years. Umatilla Russet has the second-highest acreage at 1,410, representing a decrease of 21% since 2017. The strongest mover in Montana's portfolio is Clearwater Russet, which is a close third to Umatilla, and has increased 99% from 697 acres in 2017. Ranger Russet was edged out by Clearwater to become the fourth-place variety, and has been relatively steady over the past five years, with a 2021 total of 1,204 acres. The fifth-most widely grown variety is Alturas at 693 acres. Russet Norkotah TX(278) is the most widely grown Norkotah selection at 581 acres and has held very steady over the past five years. Russet Norkotah TX(296) has increased substantially from 76 acres in 2017 to 276 acres in 2021. Russet Norkotah CO(3) is holding steady at 252 acres, and Russet Norkotah TX(112) is increasing very rapidly from a mere seven acres in 2017 to 195 acres in 2021. The other variety on the rise is Ivory Russet, which has expanded from 17 to 252 acres in five years. Dark Red Norland is the highest-acreage red variety at 94 acres. Snowden and Lamoka at 80 and 46 acres, respectively, are the main chip varieties grown in Montana. Montana is performing its post-harvest test on Oahu, Hawaii, with planting in November and visual inspections and leaf testing late December through mid-January. In addition to the field inspections and leaf testing, Montana growers submit duplicate samples of Generation 1 and Generation 2 seed lots for direct tuber testing using PCR. This delivers early information to the growers on suitability of lots for recertification, as well as a backup to the field sample in the event of complications in the field. Certified seed potatoes growing at Foth Farms near Toston, Montana

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