08/31/06 The Spud Book

It's the most complete guide to potato production ever put together and it was a hot seller at last week's World Potato Congress. The University of Idaho's Steve Love played a major role in assembling the 426 pages that went to the publisher in 2003. LOVE "We got all of the potato researchers and specialists from the University of Idaho and passed out assignments and people were very cooperative and authored parts of the book." Working with Jeff Stark who came up with the idea in the mid 1990's, Love assembled more than 400 photos, all types of data and information , everything from field preparation to storage to potato marketing. LOVE "It's designed specifically for potato production in Idaho and of course the rest of the Northwest is similar so it will have direct application there but it'll be a book that people anywhere they grow potatoes they will want it." It still costs $89.95 soft cover, $110 hard cover, plus shipping and sales tax. Since the book came out three years ago there are several new potato publications, eleven in all, that are available as supplements to the Potato Production Systems book. You can get your copy through the University of Idaho website or call 885-7982 to order by phone. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott