PEI Potato News – Sept/Oct 2017
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September/October 2017 Volume 18, Issue 5 In This Issue: • Field Day Reports • Driving Sales • Concentrated Flow Publications Mail Agreement # 40011377 Mail Agreement Publications Analysis PLAN Automation is your Food Safety & Potato Inspection partner. Add an X-Ray Inspection System to your line and ensure that all dense embedded foreign bodies are detected and rejected. Avoid thousands of dollars in rework costs and lost production. Our X-Ray Inspection Systems will detect: • Needles, Nails & Staples • Other Ferrous, Non Ferrous and Stainless Steel Contaminants • Glass • Stones • High Density Plastics & Rubbers • Hollow Hearts Detected Contaminants Detected Hollow Hearts Packaging Automation Professionals EDUCATION, PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN CANADA (416) 479-0777 x102 BY PLAN AUTOMATION [email protected] Features 10th World Potato Congress - Cusco, Peru ...................................................... 6 Agriculture Ministers Reach Five-Year, $3Billion Partnership .......................... 8 2017 Field Day Reports .................................................................................... 9 Prince Edward Island Potato News is a Outstanding in the Field ................................................................................ 13 publication of the Prince Edward Island Driving Sales .................................................................................................. 14 Potato Board. It is published six times Recommended Practices for the Construction of Irrigation Ponds ............... 16 per year. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published Staffing Changes in Sustainable Agriculture Section Lead to New material, both editorial content and Progam Activities ...................................................................................... 18 advertising, no responsibility will be assumed by the publisher for Toe Taps, and Taters Fall Flavour Event.......................................................... 20 accuracy. Material contained in Prince Nutrition News from the Alliance for Potato Research and Education ......... 22 Edward Island Potato News may not be reprinted in any form without Mid Isle Farms Celebrates 35 Years ............................................................... 24 the express written permission of 2017 Entered Seed Acreage .......................................................................... 25 the Prince Edward Island Potato Board. Mailed under Canada Post Regular Departments Publications Mail Agreement Number 40011377. Chairman’s Message ........................................................................................ 4 Potato Board News .......................................................................................... 5 Prince Edward Island PEI Department of Agriculture Update ......................................................... 24 Potato Board UPGC Activity Update .................................................................................... 26 Chairman: Rodney Dingwell Vice-Chairman: Darryl Wallace Industry Updates ........................................................................................... 27 Secretary-Treasurer: Jason Hayden Upcoming Events ........................................................................................... 30 Directors: Mark MacMillan, John Hogg, Owen Ching, Harris Callaghan, David Cover: Maps and GIS tools can be used to help identify field areas that may benefit from Francis, Glen Rayner, Wayne Townshend, soil conservation tools such as a grassed waterway. Map provided by PEI Department Alex Docherty, Fulton Hamill, Ashton Perry of Agriculture and Forestry, Sustainable Agriculture Section. (Young Farmer Representative). Board Staff Greg Donald.............................General Manager Brenda Simmons.......Assist. General Manager Kendra Mills..........................Marketing Director Rob Morrison......................................Comptroller Mary Kay Sonier......................Seed Coordinator Editor, PEI Potato News Scott Howatt................Processing Coordinator Mark Phillips.........................Market Info. Officer Karen Martin...........................................Reception Debbie Hirst...............................IT Administrator Ryan Barrett................................Agronomy Lead and Research Coordinator Tel: 902-892-6551 Fax: 902-566-4914 Email: [email protected] Website: www.peipotato.org Fox Island Elite Seed Farm Matthew Ramsay.........................Farm Manager Eleanor Matthews...........................Lab Manager Tel: 902-853-2619 Fax: 902-853-3962 Please return undelivered copies to: PEI Potato Board, 90 Hillstrom Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI, C1E 2C6 September/October 2017 Prince Edward Island Potato News 3 Chairman’s Comments by Rodney Dingwell, PEI Potato Board Chairman Our main harvest season is quickly approaching as I write until December, 2019, so that’s this message. With a few days left in September, the rains welcome news. PMRA is now we usually receive this month were much less than normal, reviewing the input received and continued the trend of being extremely sporadic. The on Capture and a final decision dry season has been challenging but we’ll hope for the best will happen in the next three at harvest. I wish you all a safe and good harvest. months. Our industry was showcased in two recent events which We continue our efforts to work with provincial agriculture took place on Island potato farms. On August 26th, Melis and environment officials on environmental regulations. and John Visser hosted Outstanding in the Field (OITH) at Changes were made to the pesticide transportation and Victoria Potato Farms. This was the first time the event has storage regulations, and we have provided input on both been held in Atlantic Canada, and chef Emily Wells created pesticide records and buffer zones/headlands. We await a a beautiful meal featuring local ingredients, including lots response from officials on both issues. of potatoes, which was served to the participants right in In recognition of the reduction in farm numbers over time, the field. Toe Taps and Taters, a Fall Flavours event, was the Board is initiating a review of the governance structure hosted by Alex Docherty and Sherwood Produce at their of our industry. We have four districts, with three directors potato storage in Canoe Cove on September 8th. It was (one for seed, one for table and one for processing) elected also an amazing event, with people from across Canada to represent each district. We also have a Young Farmer and around the world in attendance. Both events took representative sitting on the Board in an observer role to a lot of time and effort on the part of the Vissers and the learn more about industry issues and governance. The Dochertys, and we commend them and everyone involved Board also has a number of very active committees, with in organizing the two events that helped share the story a great deal of grower engagement through that process and taste of potatoes with Islanders and visitors to our as well. A review of our structure was conducted a few beautiful province. years ago, and no changes were adopted by the Board of The federal government has announced a number of Directors at that time. It’s time to review it again, and we transformative tax proposals that may have severe negative welcome your thoughts re how best to govern our industry impacts for farmers, particularly for multi-generational going forward. Please contact your director and/or the farms. As the most significant tax changes in recent years, Board office with any suggestions you have on this or any these complex proposals will spell uncertainty for all family other issue. farm corporations — the proposed changes require further Fresh markets have been good for the past few years, and study and technical analysis. The PEI Potato Board, United the 2017/18 season is also off to a good start. Growers, Potato Growers of Canada and the Canadian Potato Council dealers and exporters are encouraged to work together will be sending letters before the October 2nd deadline for and with Board staff to obtain the best possible returns comments stating these corporate tax changes should be from the market again this year. taken off the table and reconsidered until the government has undertaken the necessary consultation such changes Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, require. November 17th in Charlottetown. We’re trying something new this year – the meeting itself will be held at Red Shores, The PEI Potato Board has been working on other issues and the reception and banquet that evening will be at the of importance to us all, including providing input on the Delta Prince Edward. There’s an interesting agenda for work that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency is the day, and we invite all farmers, industry members and doing through its ongoing re-evaluations of many crop government officials and staff to join us for both events. protectants. We’ve been told that input by farmers during these re-evaluations is very important, and we thank all As a final note, I’d like to thank all those who contributed those who took the time to respond to surveys circulated to the food aid donations for those who have been hurt by the Board and who submitted comments directly to so badly by the hurricanes this season. Your generosity is PMRA regarding issues. The comment period for Capture/ greatly appreciated for the support both here at home for