NCERA205: Potato Research and Extension Program (was NCT-190)
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NCERA205: Potato Research and Extension Program (was NCT-190)
Duration: 10/01/2003 to 09/30/2008
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
The cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum is the most important vegetable crop and the fourth most important staple food crop in the world. The potato is also the highest volume vegetable crop in the North Central Region. Potato production in the North Central Region accounts for approximately 28% of the total US acreage at an estimated economic value of $453 million. The proximity of the North Central Region to metropolitan areas in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southern U.S. provides ample opportunities for marketing of fresh market potatoes from throughout the region. In addition, a large portion of potatoes produced in the North Central Region are processed into French fries, chips, hash browns and other potato products. Potato processing adds value to the economic contribution of the crop to the North Central Region.
Potatoes produce more food energy and protein than cereal grains and the lysine content of potato complements cereal based diets that are deficient in this amino acid. Potato is high yielding crop and grown commercially in all 50 states. United States potato farmers produce 22 million metric tons of potatoes annually on approximately 1.4 million acres, with a farm gate value of greater than $2.7 billion. The demand for potatoes is increasing as per capita consumption of potatoes (approximately 143 lbs.) in the United States is increasing.
Public research is the cornerstone of development of profitable potato management systems in the North Central Region as well as North America. Variety development has been an important part of this research as potato breeding programs in the North Central region have developed 5 of the top 10 varieties. The varieties developed include all market types; reds, russet, and round whites for chipping. In addition, pest management specialists have created effective integrated pest management systems (i.e. WISDOM) and resistance management strategies which have increased production despite pressures from pests such as early and late blight, Colorado potato beetle, and weeds.
Despite the research facilitated advances made in potato production systems, a number of production and environmental issues threaten the future of the industry. Pesticide resistance is a key issue for late and early blight, Colorado potato beetle, and other species. New viruses such as potato virus NTN and potato mop-top virus threaten the yield and quality of future crops. Varieties are needed with quality characteristics of the fresh market and processing industry and better adapted to pest pressures and climate of the North Central Region. The impact of potato production systems on water quality (nutrient and pesticide leaching) and the environment in general is being increasingly criticized. An NCR committee for potato production is critical for facilitating exchange of research ideas and results among potato related scientists and encouraging future research collaborations. The committee will be critical for improving the economic stability and minimizing the environmental impact of future potato production systems, especially since the number of public scientist working on potatoes is declining.
Objectives
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Provide a forum for multidisciplinary exchange and discussion of current research and extension topics in potato breeding, genetics, plant pathology, entomology, weed science, production, storage, physiology, and other potato related disciplines.
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Facilitate multidisciplinary research and extension collaboration on potato production systems among states within the North Central Region. This research will take advantage of the current strengths and expertise of each state's research program.
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Develop a format to disseminate research information to industry stakeholders
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Evaluation and development of production and pest management practices will be coordinated for advanced potato germplasm produced by breeding and genetics programs to enhance acceptance of new varieties
- Results of research on newly released potato varieties will be summarized and distributed in potato profiles. These profiles will provide variety specific management recommendations for production and storage practices, herbicide tolerance, desiccation, and disease and insect management. <ul><li>template to be developed by April, 2003 <li>1 profile completed by April, 2003</ul>
- Provide a forum for multidisciplinary idea exchange and discussion of current research topics and offer training opportunity to graduate students. Potential discussion topics include: <ul><li>early blight resistance to strobilurin family of fungicides <li>aphid monitoring in the North Central Region <li>storage losses in potatoes of the North Central Region <li>color management on red potato varieties <li>quantifying impact of climate on potato quality <li>update/development of a regional potato production guide <li>management and prevention of metribuzin contamination of groundwater <li>ground/surface water quality in potato production regions <li>profitability of potato production systems - loss of potato farmers</ul>
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
To meet the demands of a diverse potato
industry and accommodate the diversity of scientific disciplines. A meeting
format will be developed to facilitate development of educational materials
that are valuable to industry clientele.
The meeting may be divided into general assembly for keynote
presentations. Workshop breakout
sessions will be used to provide enhanced detail in certain subject areas.
Since, it is our hope that this annual
meeting could meet the needs of industry in multiple time will be spent assessing industry needs and feedback from commodity organizations and processing industries. The second component of this meeting format is that the meeting site will rotate to different states within the North Central region so that the travel to the meeting will be advantageous for a different subset of industry each year. We envision a 4-5 year rotation cycle.Meeting will be held in WI during 2003.
Organization/Governance
Chair: The chair of the committee is responsible for organizing the meeting agenda, conducting the meeting and assuring that task assigments are completed. Normally, the chair is elected for at least a two-year term, to provide continuity. Chairs are eligible for reelection.
Chair-elect: The chair-elect normally succeeds the chair, and is expected to support the chair by carrying out duties assigned by the chair. The chair-elect serves as the chair in the absence of the elected chair. Normally the chair-elect is elected for at least two years. The chair-elect is eligible for reelection.
Secretary: The secretary is responsible for the distribution of documents prior to the meeting. The secretary is also responsible for keeping records on decisions made at meetings (a.k.a. keeping the minutes), maintaining an updated roster of participants (as a list server), and assisting in the preparation of the accomplishments report (i.e., the SAES-422). The secretary normally succeds the chair-elect. Secretaries are eligible for reelection.
Members: In addition to carrying out the agreed research collaboration, research coordination information exchange, or advisory activities, project members are responsible for reporting progress, contributing to the ongoing prgoress of the activity, and communicating their accomplishments to the committee's members and their respective employing institutions.
Literature Cited
Anonymous. 2002. Analysis of potato mop top viurs in Maine. Special Report. Potato Assoc. of Amer. 20 pp.
DiFonzo, C.D., D.W. Ragsdale, E.B. Radcliffe, N.C. Gudmestad, G.A. Secor. 1997. Seasonal abundance of aphid vectors of potato virus Y in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota
Haynes, K.G., D.H. Lambert, B.J. Christ, D.P. Weingartner, D.S. Douches, J.E. Backlund, G. Secor, W. Fry, and W. Stevenson. 1998. Phenotypic stability of resistance to late blight in potato clones evaluated at eight sites in the United States. Am. J. Potato Res. 75:211-217.
Marshall-Farrar, K.D., M. McGrath, R.V. James, and W.R. Stevenson. 1998. Characterization of Phytopthora infestans in Wisconsin from 1993 - 1995. Plant Dis. 82:434-436.
Olson, E.R., G.P. Dively, and J.O. Nelson. 2000. Baseline susceptibility to imidacloprid and cross resistance patterns in Colorado potato beetle (Coleopter: Chrysomilidae) populations. J. Econ. Entomol. 93:447-458.
Stevenson, W.R., D. Curwen, K.A. Kelling, J.A. Wyman, L.K. Binning, and T.R. Connell. 1994. Wisconsin's IPM program for potato: the developmental process. HortTechnology. 4:90-95.