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to the Organic Broadcaster: IGL Farms: Certified
Organic Potatoes
Large-scale organic potato production is no easy challenge, and large acreage producers are rare. So rare, that a recent field day at the Igl farm outside of Antigo, WI, brought a farmer from as far away as Manitoba, Canada to learn about organic potato production. Marvin Dick from Manitoba explained that the 11.5 hours (one way) in the truck also gave him a welcome respite from the hard work of their large commercial potato operation, and that he was really enjoying the scenery too. Marvin joined 10 other guests, including Angela Hemauer, Wisconsin's 55th Alice in Dairyland, for the farm tour on a hot July day this summer, where the challenges and opportunities of organic potato production were discussed. The 200 acre Igl farm is in the middle of potato country northeast of Antigo, and the family has been growing potatoes there since the 1930's. Several generations of Igls have grown up on the family homestead, but Brian, returning to the farm from college, was the one who brought the ideas of modern day organics back with him. Starting with 20 certified acres in 1997, this year Brian and his dad Tom have planted 43 certified acres of potatoes (MOSA), with the remaining certified acreage in rotational crops and pasture. Most of our discussion on this field day concentrates on how to grow organic potatoes, but Brian is also a master at marketing. Identifying sufficient markets is one of the major first steps in any farm production operation, especially those exploring specialty organic crops. Brian has worked hard to develop a steady market for the Igl organic potatoes in Madison food co-ops and other stores. Last year Brian negotiated a contract with the University of Wisconsin food service, allowing him to ship several hundred pounds of baking potatoes to campus cafeteria kitchens. The Igls are also working with the UW food service in 2002, and continue to explore new ways to grow and process potatoes that meet the needs of this large institutional market. Brian identifies lack of a good delivery and supply mechanism as a major barrier in expanding his markets- there is high demand for his product, but cost effective transportation to those markets is an extremely limiting factor. The visitor group exchanges ideas about cooperative marketing systems, acknowledging the challenges of geography as a major hurdle to cost effective joint local marketing. Refocusing on organic potato production, off to the fields we go. Building soil health is the primary way to control pests and produce a quality organic product, and Brian and Tom use several methods to build their light Antigo Silt Loam soil. They work with Midwestern Bio-Ag Service (www.midwesternbioag.com) for nutrient consultation. Elements that Brian has identified as being key to soil health include: paying attention to soil biology, using rotations, chopping in oat straw and cutting and leaving clover and alfalfa to lay on the field and be reincorporated and using an organic starter in the soil from MidWestern Bio Ag. (for more on fertility, see sidebar) Brian went on to explain to the group some of the pest control methods he and his Dad have had success with over the years. He begins by saying that rotation and distance seem to be the best ways to control potato beetles and other pests. The Igls have a three-year rotation, planting either potato/oats+clover/alfalfa/potato or potato/soy(or) peas/oats/potato. As with other crop rotations, the different crops add nutrients back into the soil and help build tilth and break up disease and pest cycles. Brian has been very happy with a field peas rotation experiment, which we will get back to in a minute. Brian and his Dad have been forced by the weather and resiliency of potato pests to be very open to new production ideas, and their fields are a virtual testing ground for options in organic pest and disease control. We begin our tour in the south field, which Brian is not especially happy to be showing us. He explains that one of the most destructive and persistant pests, the Colorado potato beetle, is a large challenge in organic potato production, mainly because of it's adaptability. These beetles produce two generations a year and can develop complete immunities to treatments within 15 generations. Even conventional operations are challenged by this fast pace, and throw significant resources into developing new controls. Lack of resources for organic research turn each organic potato farmer into an on-farm researcher, with a lot of expensive trial and error and variable success. Adaptation can be at a very mico-population level, and so a successful control for one producer may not work for his or her neighbor 50 miles away. Brian and Tom's various attempts at control in this particular field this year were not bringing as much success as they had hoped, and the beetles had done a pretty good job of taking the top leaves off of about 20% of the plants in front of us. Brian emphasizes that keeping current potato fields at least ¼ mile from last year's potato planting is key to successful beetle control. The beetles go through several developmental stages, and will easily travel up to ¼ mile if potatoes are near. The field we are looking at was closer than ¼ mile to a field that had potatoes last year, and Brian believes that is why they are having so much trouble with it this year. Other insect controls the Igl's have used include garlic oil (which is very good in controlling leaf hoppers and general strengthening of the plants) and a mix of peppermint and clove oil (also as a general pest control). The control Brian is most excited about as we talk is using a flame weeder on young plants. Recent research done at Cornell University has indicated that the potato plants are very resilient to heat, and if a field is burned at 1000 degrees at 4.5 miles per hour, 80% of adult beetles and 30% of the egg masses will be destroyed. This should be done when the adult beetles are just emerging. Brian does not have a large flame rig yet, but is planning to purchase one soon. Later in our tour we visit a beautiful field of red and yellow potato varieties, ( Dark Red Norland, Yukon Gold and Goldrush Russet) which has no evidence of any beetle damage or other pests. Brian and Tom feel that this field's isolation from previous potato fields is a major factor in the high quality of the crop this year.
When asked about late blight, Brian and Tom state that they have rarely had blight problems, which is most likely due to careful management of soils and early applications of hydrogen peroxide with a high-pressure mist sprayer. Good coverage of the plants with the peroxide solution (1 liter of 35% H2O2 in 700 ml of clean, non-chlorinated water, applied at 1.5 pints in 30-60 gallons of water per acre), focusing on the undersides of leaves through the use of low nozzles, improves the overall health of the plants and will act as a deterrent to blight. Brian starts spraying early in the morning before the dew has gone off, once a week beginning when the plants are several inches tall.
Also included in the rotation are fields of white oats underseeded with clover. This is another good crop for the Igl's northern climate, and is an excellent crop to follow potatoes. Brian has had some success in exploring markets for feed-grade oats, where the white varieties will bring as much as $3.50 per bushel. Selling oats for horse feed has also been a good market. Brian notes that his hogs, cattle and chickens all thrive on a home-grown diet of oats and field peas, and that he doesn't like to grow corn and doesn't plan to ever do so. The Igls have no disease problems with their peas or oats, and these rotation crops are a nice balance to the more sensitive potato fields. We end our day looking at the complex array of equipment used in the potato world. We haven't had time to get into the complexities of potato planting, hilling and harvesting in our short tour, but it is obvious from the machinery that much of this is taken care of using specialized equipment. Seed cutters, planters, harvesters, washers and storage rooms make large-scale potato production a significant financial commitment for any grower. The Igls have customized and adapted almost all of their equipment, as they continue to refine their organic operation. Leaning against the well-worn walls in the washing and sorting room, surrounded by the cavernous cool, dark storage rooms, we inhale the complex aromas of garlic, cloves and peppermint that permeate the air. We have learned that organic potato production is no easy feat, but appreciate that the Igl's have become masters in their field. This field day, and five others throughout the summer of 2002, was organized by MOSES, the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services, and funded by the Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA), Organic Valley/CROPP, GrassWorks, Inc., and the Cavaliere Foundation. For more information on MOSES, visit the MOSES website at www.mosesorganic.org or contact MOSES at P.O. Box 339 Spring Valley WI 54767. 715-772-3153. Jody Padgham is the Education Director of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service.
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