06/27/08 Potatoes and sustainability at Washington Paterson field day

Farm and Ranch June 27, 2008 Carbon sequestration, reduced tillage and biofuel products are on the program at an annual field day featuring potatoes and rotational crops in Paterson, Washington. Jointly sponsored by USDA's Agricultural Research Service, WSU, AgriNorthwest and the Washington State Potato Commission, the event will provide field tours, research presentations and poster sessions on July 10th beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Paterson Research Farm off of Hwy 14. ARS scientist Hal Collins highlights some of the potato research. Collins: "We are looking at the use of reduced tillage in potato cropping systems. We are also looking at the use of different soil amendments and how they affect potato growth in relationship to soil fertility. And also a number of studies looking weeds and diseases." Collins says bioenergy crops and how they might fit into irrigated agricultural systems are also part of the field day. Collins: "Over the last six years we have had soybeans, safflower, canola, sunflowers, rapeseed. A new crop we are looking at this year is camelina." There is no charge for the field day and lunch will be provided. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.