12/26/08 Potato group develops mobile chemigation training unit

Farm and Ranch December 26, 2008 Thanks to a nearly 30-thousand dollar federal grant channeled through the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the Washington State Potato Commission has developed a mobile chemigaton training unit. Potato Commission assistant executive director Karen Bonaudi explains what the unit will do. Bonaudi: "What this unit does is teach farm workers, or farmers themselves, how to connect the tank that has the crop protection chemical in it to an overhead sprinkler system. That is the most efficient and safest way to apply these chemicals." Bonaudi says that in addition to the grant money about another 20-thousand dollars has been invested in the trailer and equipment that will be used to take the training unit to the different sites where it will be demonstrated. One stop is already on the schedule. Bonaudi: "The chemigation training unit is going to be displayed at the Potato Conference down in Kennewick at the Three Rivers Convention Center next January during the Potato Conference. The conference dates are January 26th through 28th. The unit will be there and it is really drop dead gorgeous to look at." Bonaudi is referring to a wrap on the unit which has photos, explanations of what it is, and the sponsors who made it happen. 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.