CARIBOU – The 25th annual Maine Potato Conference will be held Jan. 20-21 at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. Presentations on insects, disease, and weed pests of potatoes, as well as agronomy, varieties, safety and other timely topics are scheduled.
The associated trade show, sponsored by the Central Aroostook Young Farmers, will feature local and national representatives prepared to discuss their products and services.
“Over two dozen exhibitors have display booths with the latest in storage technology, agricultural chemistry, machinery and crop insurance, just to name a few,” said Dr. Steven B. Johnson, crops specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. “This is always a good source of information.”
Credits will be available for those holding a valid pesticide applicator license or CCA license. Details on credits available can be obtained 24 hours a day by calling 760-9ipm.
The schedule for the two-day conference is as follows:
Moderator: Scott Keirstead, Past President, ACEA
8:30 a.m. Welcome
8:40 a.m. Aphid Control after Monitor, James Dwyer, Crops Specialist, UMCE
9 a.m. Upcoming Changes in Irrigation Policy, Tim Hobbs, MPB
9:20 a.m. Storage Management in Difficult Situations, Steve Belyea, Storage Engineer, PMIF, MDAF&RR
9:40 a.m. Color Issues in Difficult Storage Situations, John Walsh, Potato Storage Specialist, McCain Foods Canada
10 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Legislation and Changes in Federal Agricultural Policy, Donavon Todd, State Director, FSA
10:50 a.m. Weed Control Issues, Dr. John Jemison, Water Quality and Soils Specialist, UMCE
11:10 a.m. Issues with In-Furrow Insecticides, James Dwyer, Crops Specialist, UMCE
11:30 a.m. Lessons and Observations from a Sabbatical Leave in Japan, Dr. Andrei Alyokhin, Professor of Applied Entomology, MAFES
11:50 a.m. Adjourn for Lunch – On your own
Moderator: Dr. Jim Dill, Pest Management Specialist, UMCE
1:20 p.m. Grain Diseases and Issues in 2009, Dr. Dave Lambert, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, UM
1:40 p.m. Stress – A Quick Overview Signs and Symptoms: When to Act, Ralph McPherson, LCSW, Aroostook Medical Center, AHC Division
2 p.m. Update on the Crop Insurance Program, Pat Maher, Crop Insurance Coordinator, UMCE
2:20 p.m. Break
2:50 p.m. Understanding the Maine Soil Test Report, Dr. John Jemison, Water Quality and Soils Specialist, UMCE
3:10 p.m. Understanding the Maine Fertilizer Sample Results, Dr. Steven B. Johnson, Crops Specialist, UMCE
3:30 p.m. Controlling Soil-Borne Potato Pathogens through Rotation, Cover Crops, and Amendments, Dr. Robert Larkin, Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, NEPS&WL
3:50 p.m. Wrap up
4 p.m. Adjourn
Moderator: Jon McCrum, CAYF
8:30 a.m. Welcome
8:40 a.m. Changes in Late Blight Control Tactics, Dr. Steven B. Johnson, Crops Specialist, UMCE
9 a.m. Bioterrorism: A Real or Perceived Threat, James Dwyer, Crops Specialist, UMCE
9:20 a.m. Occurrence and Distribution of Phytophthora infestans in Maine, Dr. Modesto Olanya, Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, NEPS&WL
9:40 a.m. Late Blight: What Happened in 2009, Dr. James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, UMCE
10 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Nitrogen Catch Crops, Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, Research Leader and Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, NEPS&WL
10:50 a.m. Update on PCN/GN from a Regulatory Perspective, Terry Bourgoin, Export Certification Specialist, USDA-APHIS
11:10 a.m. Hilling – Looking Back at Ten Years of Learning, Gilles Moreau, McCain Foods, Canada
11:30 a.m. One-Pass Hilling Discussion, Grower Panel: S. Doyen, S. Irving, D. LaJoie, A. Moir
11:50 a.m. Adjourn for Lunch – On your own
Moderator: Randy Smith, Superintendent, Aroostook Farm
1:20 p.m. Activities of the US Potato Board Update, Tom Qualey, President, US Potato Board
1:40 p.m. Cost of Potato Production in Maine, Don Flannery, Executive Director, MPB
2 p.m. Farm Energy Concerns are Here to Stay, Andrew Plant, Educator, UMCE
2:20 p.m. Potato Breeding Program and Variety Development Update, Dr. Gregory Porter, Professor of Agronomy, UM
2:50 p.m. Update from the Porter Farm, George McLaughlin, Agricultural Engineer, MPB
3:10 p.m. 2009 Florida Test Results, Bob Batteese, Director of Plant Industry, MDAF&RR
3:30 p.m. Wrap up
3:40 p.m. Adjourn
A complete conference schedule is available by clicking on the winter potato conference link at: http://www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/.
