September-October 2015 Volume 16, Issue 5 In This Issue: • PEI Potato Social • Fall Research Tours • Social Media Update Publications Mail Agreement # 40011377 Mail Agreement Publications YOU’LL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO PROTECT YOUR POTATOES FROM BLIGHT. SO WILL WE. Manzate Pro-Stick fungicide. Formulated to spray better, stick better and work better. Looking for advanced technology in the fight against early and late blight in potatoes? Look no further than Manzate® Pro-StickTM from UPI. The unique formulation technology of Manzate Pro-Stick delivers uniform product coverage to the treatment area, providing superior, long-lasting disease control potato growers, like you, have come to trust. A multi-site protectant fungicide, Manzate Pro-Stick has very low risk to resistance, an important factor to consider in today’s disease management programs. There is simply no imitation to Manzate Pro-stick when it comes to getting added security from blight. To learn more, contact your local UPI distributor or sales representative. Built for where crop protection is going. Always read and follow label directions and precautions. Manzate® and UPI logo are trademarks of United Phosphorus, Inc. ©February, 2013. United Phosphorus, Inc., 630 Freedom Business Center, King of Prussia, PA 19406. www.upi-usa.com. Features PEI Potato Social! ................................................................................................................................9 Prince Edward Island Potato News is a Soil Conservation: Accessing Resources to Prevent Soil Erosion on Island Farms .. 12 publication of the Prince Edward Island Potato PEI Potatoes on Social Media ...................................................................................................... 14 Board. It is published six times per year. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of Fall Research Tours .......................................................................................................................... 16 published material, both editorial content and advertising, no responsibility will be assumed Pesticide Sales Data: Putting Data into Context ................................................................. 18 by the publisher for accuracy. Material Entered Seed Acreage ................................................................................................................... 21 contained in Prince Edward Island Potato News may not be reprinted in any form without United Potato Growers of Canada Update ............................................................................. 22 the express written permission of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board. Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Regular Departments Number 40011377. Chairman’s Message ..........................................................................................................................5 Prince Edward Island Potato Board Potato Board News ............................................................................................................................6 Chairman: Alex Docherty Update from PEI Department of Agriculture & Fisheries .................................................. 20 Vice-Chairman: Darryl Wallace Industry Updates ............................................................................................................................. 23 Secretary-Treasurer: Charles Murphy Upcoming Events ............................................................................................................................ 26 Directors: Don Godfrey, John Hogg, Owen Ching, Rodney Dingwell, Irwin Jay, Cover: A photo of part of the crowd at the PEI Potato Social held on August 9th. In the Gary Linkletter, Kirk Shea, David Francis, Glen Rayner, Ian Drake (Young Farmer background is a transfer truck wrapped with potato imaging as part of a Canada’s Food Representative). Island initiative. Read more about the Potato Social on page 9. 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 Ann Marie White.................Executive Assistant Debbie Hirst-McDonald.........IT Administrator Ryan Barrett.....................Communications 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 Borden Inspection Station Barry Bassett..........................................Supervisor Tel: 902-437-2297 Fax: 902-437-2299 Please return undelivered copies to: PEI Potato Board, 90 Hillstrom Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI, C1E 2C6 September-October 2015 Prince Edward Island Potato News 3 THANK YOU! The Prince Edward Island Potato Board wishes to thank all individuals, farms, and other businesses that contributed to the reward fund created to encourage members of the public to share information related to the potato tampering investigation earlier this year. The response to our call for contributions was fast and extremely generous. In addition to the names listed below, we received contributions from an additional 50 individuals or businesses that did not wish to be publically recognized. While the creation and promotion of this reward has not yet resulted in the arrest of the individual(s) who are responsible for this crime, a reward for up to $100,000 will remain in effect until October 31st, 2015. Dawson Produce Ltd. McKenna Bros (1989) Ltd. Bedeque Farms Ltd. Garden Isle Farms Mull na Beinne Farms Ching Bros Inc. Cavendish Farms Peter Boswall & Sandra MacKinnon Owen Ching Michael Delaney Durabelt Inc. Lewis Potato Packers Ltd. Phillips Agri-Service FJ Shea & Son Ltd. Fairhaven Farms De La Tour Co-op PEI Bag Co. Ltd. Bluefield Acres Inc. Modhaicdh Farms Ltd. BJ’s Truck Centre Maritime Potato Inc. Skyeview Farms Mid-Isle Farms Middleton Farms Ltd. Kevin MacIsaac East Point Potato (2009) Inc. David, Vicki & Brett Francis Albert E. Waugh & Sons Ltd. Technology Crops International Wallace Family Farm Ltd. Wallace Properties Ltd. Williams Family Farms Ltd. Triple M Farms Monaghan Farms Ltd. Eric C Robinson Ltd. Green Meadow Farms Inc. PEI Agromart MRSB Group & Llink Consulting Island Lime Linkletter Farms Ltd. Birch Farms Ltd. Keir’s Overhead Doors Kevin & Hazel Birch Country View Farms Ltd. Good Equipment Ltd. Brendel Farms Ltd. MacFadyen Farms Ltd. MacAulay Farms Inc. Shore Lane Farms Kensington Ag Services Ltd. Tyler Wright Green Diamond Equipment Dale & Ronnie Rennie West Isle Enterprises Ltd. Cameron Farms Ltd. Peak of the Market 4 Prince Edward Island Potato News September-October 2015 Chairman’s Comments by Alex Docherty, PEI Potato Board Chairman As I write this report on a beautiful and warm day, I with provincial officials am reflecting on the summer that is now behind us. The on enforcement of growing season was definitely challenging but at the end regulations. We have been of the day, it looks like we are going to have a high quality encouraging them to use crop with yield yet to be determined. clarification and education Since my last report, a Board meeting was held on on the specifics of regulations as the first steps when non- June 24 where it was suggested that our industry hold compliance issues are seen and leave formal charges and a “Thank You” barbeque for Islanders, as a way to say fines for those who knowingly cause environmental harm thanks for supporting us. This was a great idea and your and repeat offences. Board took little time to agree to make the Potato Social During the summer I spent two days in court watching happen. For those who attended the social, you saw the four families see their lives turned upside down by a overwhelming attendance and for those who couldn’t charge that the court system recognized was wrong and make it, you would have been very proud. A huge thank the judge agreed should never have been made in the you to the Curley Family for hosting this event. Without first place. What I don’t understand is how the Provincial the significant input from Terry, Derrick, their families and Government can continue to follow a process that drags staff, the barbeque would not have been so successful. As people through the courts rather than work with them well, I want to thank the Board staff for their assistance. to make real changes that will improve the environment What was an easy decision for the Board Members to for all Islanders. Although your Board has been working make became an enormous task for the Board staff. with the government to improve relationships with our Thanks to contributions of Board staff, the Curleys and industry, progress has been far slower than I expected. many volunteers, I believe this has been one of the most As your Chair, I remain both committed to resolving the effective events in our industry’s history. issues we are having with Government and hopeful that The August 15, 2015 deadline for tips that are eligible this most recent case will have an effect on their spoken for the $500,000 reward for information on the potato intent to make positive changes. tampering came and went with no success