07/07/06 Famous Potatoes field day

Eastern Idaho potato and small grain producers might want to take in the University of Idaho field day near Blackfoot on July 18th. Field day coordinator Bryan Hopkins has lined up displays and demonstrations of the latest Spudnik planting, hilling, cultivating, harvesting and handling equipment. Hopkins and others will be able to show growers the results of their field work. HOPKINS "For the first time we're comparing nearly two dozen soil conditioning products. That's never been done to my knowledge. That's going to be exciting. There seems to be a tremendous amount of grower interest in that and so they'll be able to actually look and see how that's going." There will be new potato varieties to see and talk about as well as information on pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Hopkins says there are plenty of new things in the fields. HOPKINS "We tend to focus on the old nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium but there are some new micro- nutrient products that are designed to help spread the micro-nutrients more evenly across the field and enhance their solubility and availability." The field day on the 18th begins at 9 am, ends at 2 pm and with steak, potatoes and all the fixings you get what's billed as the 'best field day lunch in the world.' Meal is free but contact Hopkins at 529-8376 to reserve a place. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott