Tuber Talk

On site: Manitoba Potato Producer Days

Potatoes in Canada editor Bree Rody hits the floor at the 2025 Manitoba Potato Producer Days. Hear her chats with speakers, clips from the show and key takeaways as PIC h

Growing season reflections with Victoria Stamper and Vikram Bisht

Is it possible for anomalies to be the "new normal?" That might be something for growers to get used to – that's at least according to early/preliminary growing season r

PED control strategies with Dr. Marisol Quintanilla

Because of the nature of Potato Early Die complex, a control approach is more pragmatic than an elimination approach. Dr. Marisol Quintanilla picked up some tips from her

Manure, weed seeds, cover crops and yields with Judith Nyiraneza and Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill

Potato production in Northeastern North America can lead to stagnant yields and declining soil health. This is why practices such as cover cropping and the use of manure

Researching new diploid varieties with Bourlaye Fofana

Potato DNA is unique from human and most animal DNA, becuase they’re of tetraploid origin, meaning they have four copies of each chromosome in their DNA – two from each p

Spotting late blight with Ryan Barrett

For many potato producers, late blight is a well-known disease – either because they're unfortunate enough to have already experienced it, or they're from a region that h

May 2024 seasonal update with Victoria Stamper

The 2024 growing season has officially kicked off, and United Potato Growers of Canada general manager Victoria Stamper joins us to share an update on activity in each pr

Addressing mental health in P.E.I. farmers

Through her research, Dr. Meghan Cameron has discovered that eight in 10 farmers in P.E.I. are experiencing some level of anxiety or depression – a remarkably high number

Keeping track of aphid numbers in potato fields

Potato crops can be susceptible to aphids, as they migrate from the south and “look for anything green” when they arrive in Canada. In this episode of Tuber Talk, Manito

Irrigation and weed control for potato growers

Proper irrigation and weed control measures are key to kicking off the growing season for potato farmers. In this episode of Tuber Talk, Mike Wind, president of Windiana

Market outlook for the 2023 growing season

The past couple of years have been good for potato growers, so how is 2023 shaping up? In this episode of Tuber Talk, Potatoes in Canada editor Derek Clouthier chats wit

Understanding insecticides and how they work

Whether it’s a pest that chews or sucks, controlling insects in your field is a necessary part of life for potato growers. In this episode of Tuber Talk, Potatoes in Can

Advancing potato disease research in Alberta

A new project between the Potato Growers of Alberta and Results Driven Agriculture Research is working to establish a platform for rapid diagnosis for current and potenti

Highlighting soil health research on P.E.I.

Prince Edward Island might be Canada's potato capital, but growers on the Island aren't exempt from soil health challenges. In this episode of Tuber Talk, guest host Bree

A new crop for controlling wireworms

Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, are notoriously damaging to tubers. Found across Canada, the worms can survive in irregularly cold temperatures, making them an ev

Mechanical weed seed control with Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill

In 2011, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) scientists were researching ways to control European corn borer populations. In an effort to target the pest at its sourc

Black dot breakdown with Julie Pasche

Black dot has been called the silent, early yield robber and for good reason - the disease can often be mistaken for other diseases, and early infections can carry throug

Regional management strategies for Colorado potato beetle

Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is a devastating invasive insect pest of potato and other Solanaceae crops and can be found in potato-growing regions across Canada. The beet

An eye on the P.E.I. potato wart crisis

What should have been a banner year for Prince Edward Island potato growers quickly turned into a nightmare when potato wart was detected in two fields in October 2021. S

Updates from the University of Guelph's breeding program

Potatoes in Canada last spoke to Vanessa Currie, a potato breeding technician at the University of Guelph, at the 2021 Canadian Potato Summit, where she shared exciting n