05/19/06 Greenhouse test to expand next winter

A group of Idaho potato seed growers put 30 seedlots into a Hagerman greenhouse last winter and by February 3rd they knew if their crop was 'clean.' The University of Idaho's Phil Nolte says the geothermal heat stimulated plant growth and that's a benefit to any grower. NOLTE "That gives him an advantage because someone else hasn't gotten to potential customers first. If in fact it's something that the grower is wanting to increase on his own farm and it doesn't make muster then he can replace it." Rather than taking seedlots to California, Florida or Hawaii Nolte says some of the testing could be done in the geothermal greenhouses near Hagerman which are normally idle December through February. Planting and growing costs doubled in the greenhouse and 30 seedlots were tested, each with 400 golf ball sized 'single drop' tubers. NOLTE "But the actual winter program is in excess of 800 seedlots, the entire amount of stuff that needs to be tested." Shoshone seed grower Mike Telford was one of the seven producers who took part in the greenhouse experiment which he says could consistently yield results one to two months ahead of California field testing. Growers have told Nolte that they'd like to see at least 200 seedlots in the greenhouse next winter. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott