Eugenia Banks

Sep 17, 2024 | spudsmart.com | Eugenia Banks |Mark VanOostrum

The following is an article submitted by Eugenia Banks, edited by Mark Van Oostrum, on best management practices for managing storage rots in potatoes. This information will be incredibly helpful if you come across diseased potatoes during dig tests. Pre-Harvest Preparation:Test Digs: Identify safe areas for digging and areas requiring caution. Mature Skin Set: Ensure potatoes have mature skins before harvest, waiting at least 3 weeks post-topkill for thin-skinned varieties.

Sep 3, 2024 | spudsmart.com | Eugenia Banks

The potato person who said many years ago “A Potato Storage Is Not A Hospital” was absolutely right. Diseased or bruised tubers do not get better in storage. Tubers bruised at harvest are easily invaded by soft rot or Fusarium dry rot, which can cause serious economic losses in storage. Harvest management, in large part, is bruise management. Bruising also affects tuber quality significantly.

Aug 27, 2024 | spudsmart.com | Eugenia Banks

From Eugenia Banks and the Ontario Potato Board:The 2024 Ontario Potato Field Day was a superb event. The attendance of 300+ guests exceeded expectations.  It was the largest number of attendees we have ever had. They enjoyed the fantastic display of HJV Equipment;  as per growers’ opinion, it is probably the best in NA!  As expected, the mobile trailer washer got lots of attention. It was nice to see HJV Equipment staff mingling with growers discussing the finer points of the machinery on display.

Oct 30, 2023 | spudsmart.com | Eugenia Banks

Common scab is one of the oldest bacterial diseases of potatoes. It has been known for more than 100 years and still limits potato production worldwide because of the lack of consistent control. Scab doesn’t affect yields, but the corky lesions on the skin, both superficial and pitted, will reduce the quality and marketability of the crop. Common scab is caused by Streptomyces bacteria in the soil. Most species of Streptomyces are non-pathogenic but there are a few that have pathogens.

Aug 14, 2023 | spudsmart.com | Eugenia Banks

Potato plants can be injured when exposed to high concentrations of various air pollutants. Injury can range from visible markings on the foliage to the death of the plant. Growth and yield can also be reduced. The development and severity of injury depends mainly on the concentration of the pollutants in the atmosphere. Crop injury can occur over large areas. The following environmental conditions are conducive to a build-up of injurious levels of pollutants.