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7
Potatoes Australia December 2016/January 2017
Editorial
W
elcome to the final edition
of
Potatoes Australia
for
2016. It has been an action-
packed year in the potato
industry and we look forward
to bringing readers even more
news, profiles, project updates
and R&D information in 2017.
In this edition, we speak to
Tasmanian industry leader
Darren Long, who has
recently introduced the Soil
First Tasmania initiative.
This social media-based
program is set to challenge
growers in the industry and
their way of thinking about
soil health (page 8).
Adelaide-based company
Arris will also coordinate the
Potato Industry Extension
Program over the next three
years, and will work closely
with growers and other industry
members to help deliver
extension activities (turn to page
10 for details). Meanwhile on
page 16,
The Front Line
reports
on a Tasmanian initiative to set
up trial traps across the eastern
states of Australia to better
detect the potential arrival of
Tomato-potato psyllid (TPP).
In addition, a joint
presentation at the 2016
Plant Biosecurity Cooperative
Research Centre’s Science
Exchange discussed the tools
and strategies the Australian
potato and vegetable industry
could implement to respond to a
pest incursion such as TPP. An
overview of this presentation is
provided on page 28.
This edition of
Potatoes
Australia
also delves into the
world of mini-tuber production
and the importance of
developing clean seed potatoes
on page 18, while Crookwell
Potato Growers’ Association
President Matthew Gay provides
an overview of the nationally-
endorsed Quality Assurance
program he helped to establish
for potato seed in New South
Wales (page 24).
Turning our attention to
the processing industry, the
Potato Processors Association
of Australia discusses the
management options for
Powdery scab, including what
appears to be a suppressive soil
found in New Zealand (page
27). We then head across to the
United States and speak with
Cornell University Associate
Professor Walter De Jong about
a recent research grant that will
better prepare the US potato
industry to fight the destructive
Golden nematode (page 30).
Our grower profile for this
edition is Queenslander Kerry
Hauser, who speaks about his
love for potato harvesting and
the on-farm challenges he faces
(page 22) while on page 12,
New South Wales young grower
Matt Grech shares his views on
the potato industry and discusses
his success with Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) practices.
Potatoes Australia
would like
to thank readers for their support
in 2016, and we wish you a
Merry Christmas and a safe and
happy New Year.
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16
Potatoes Australia
is always on the
lookout for local and international potato
R&D projects, leading growers and industry
news to profile in the magazine.
If you have a great idea for a potential article
or a letter to the editor, let us know!
or call 03 9882 0277.
SEND US YOUR STORY
IDEAS AND LETTERS!
Soil First Tasmania
The Front Line