News on Crop Protection from Northern America

Potato Expo 2018 will feature live streaming Potato TV 'The Eye'

September 23, 2017

Potato Expo 2018 goes live with streaming potato TV 'The Eye'.

Potato Expo 2018 announces live streaming Potato TV throughout the event. Voting for the presentations on the Innovation Hub 'Main Stage' is now open.

August 31, 2017

Potato growers host farm tour for EPA staffers

The National Potato Council (NPC) led a delegation of 6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff on a tour of Idaho potato fields during the week of August 14.

August 29, 2017

Potatoes look good in North Dakota, Minnesota

Red River Valley potato growers generally have avoided drought and deluge this growing season. That bodes well for the soon-to-begin 2017 harvest.

August 05, 2017

New Wisconsin State laws force potato growers to apply best practices

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed two new measures involving the potato industry last Wednesday. One law makes use of certified seed potatoes mandatory, the other enforces a faster response to the presence of late blight

July 03, 2017

University of Idaho reports light potato psyllid pressure

Pressure from the tiny, winged insects that spread zebra chip disease in potatoes has been light in Idaho this season, emboldening some Idaho farmers to scale back on their pesticide programs.

June 27, 2017

To protect crops, farmers could promote potato beetle cannibalism

UMaine scientists say farmers could try to protect their potato crop by utilizing agricultural practices — including crop rotations and push-pull strategies — to create field conditions that favor Colorado potato beetle cannibalism.

May 07, 2017

Dicamba drift a new danger for potato growers

Soybean producers are gearing up to plant soybeans that are tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba herbicides. Potato growers should be aware that both glyphosate and dicamba drift can cause irreparable damage in neighbouring potato crops

April 02, 2017

Neonicotinoid insecticides losing efficiency in potato psyllid control

The potato industry may be losing a mainstay in the battle against psyllids, according to a recent Texas A&M AgriLife Research study.

February 07, 2017

Potato growers in Maine apply soil fumigation in a trial of McCain Foods

French Fry manufacturer McCain Foods has started trials examining soil fumigation with several of its potato growers in Maine (United States) and New Brunswick (Canada).

December 14, 2016

Monsanto Shareowners Approve Merger with Bayer

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) announced that at a special meeting of shareowners held on December 13, shareowners of the company approved the merger of Monsanto with a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer Aktiengesellschaft.

NEPG estimate for the 2016 potato harvest|: More acres, less production, uncertainty

September 21, 2016

NEPG estimate for the 2016 potato harvest: More acres, less production and a lot of uncertainty

The North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) expect in the 5 covered countries (NL, B, FR, GB, DE) a lower production of potatoes (seed and potatoes.for starch production not included) compared to last season.

August 11, 2016

Potato Psyllid Alert for North Dakota

Potato psyllids have been reported in specific fields in western and central North Dakota. At this point populations are not widespread.

July 02, 2016

Colorado Potato Beetles are munching on in the Red River Valley

According to the University of Minnesota Extension 'Spudbug' Newsletter, it is shaping up to be a Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) year in the Red River Valley.

June 16, 2016

Potato Farming on Prince Edward Island: Trying Something New

For years, PEI potato farmer Robert Green has been growing barley and canola in rotation with potatoes. This season, he’s decided to try something new.

April 25, 2016

Growing Insecticide Resistance of Potato Psyllids investigated at AgriLife Research

Entomologist Ada Szczepaniec at Texas A&M AgriLife Research is addressing the concern of growing resistance of potato psyllids to the neonicotinoid classification of insecticides.

March 21, 2016

Maine potato growers concerned about losing Imidacloprid

Potato growers in Maine are cautiously watching the actions of the EPA as it reviews federal regulations for a popular insecticide (Imidacloprid - an effective insecticide against the Colorado potato beetle) that can be harmful to bees.

March 21, 2016

AAFC invented wireworm trap 'could be a major breakthrough'

A wireworm trap invented at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on PEI 'could be a major breakthrough'

March 10, 2016

EPA Approves Federal Potato Registration for non-fumigant nematicide Velum® Prime

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted federal registration of the new, non-fumigant nematicide Velum® Prime offered by Bayer CropScience's for use on potatoes.