By Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist (208/364-4010 in Boise)
POCATELLO, Idaho–The University of Idaho College of Agriculture will host its 32nd annual Potato School Jan. 19 and 20 in Pocatello.
Offering 12 seminars and 16 workshops to growers and industry representatives from throughout the nation and world, the University of Idaho Potato School will be held at Idaho State University’s Student Union Building.
Highlighting this year’s school will be seminars on the impacts of technology–specifically, genetically modified crops and precision agriculture--on the potato industry, as well as updates on disease management, including early blight, late blight, pink rot, silver scurf, potato leafroll virus and storage disinfection. Other seminars will address the current potato market, partnerships between the University of Idaho and Idaho agriculture, and strain selection in potatoes.
In-depth workshops are slated on foliar, field, storage and tuber diseases and on weed, insect and nematode management. Other workshops will cover the technical and water rights aspects of ground-water and surface-water interactions, planter performance, irrigation and storage management, precision fertilization, organic production, new varieties, tax-reduction strategies, production costs, land lease equitability and the economic impacts of production decisions.
Pesticide Applicator Recertification and Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available during the conference.
The Potato School will begin at 8 a.m. Jan. 19 and conclude at 3 p.m. Jan. 20. Pre-registration by Jan. 7, which is strongly encouraged, is $15 for in-state registrants and $75 for out-of state registrants. At the door, in-state residents will pay $20 and out-of-state residents $90. Proceedings will be available for an additional $15.
For more information, contact Jim Hughes or Maureen Briscoe at (208) 529-8376 in Idaho Falls or check out the Potato School web site at www.if.uidaho.edu/CoAg/Potato.html.
