Organic Potato Production at Idaho University Kimberly Research Farm: steep learning curve

The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and the University of Idaho hosted an organic production field day at the Kimberly research farm in mid-July.

At the Kimberly research farm, University of Idaho Researchers have dedicated an 11-acre field to study organic production of potatoes, beans and wheat. Weed and insect control were among the hot topics discussed by the approximately 90 farmers, consultants, researchers and agency people who attended the tour;but cover crops and crop rotation were also important.

Nora Olsen, University of Idaho potato specialist at Kimberly, said the objective of the organic field is to study the entire cropping system to examine issues growers will have to tackle as they transition from conventional to organic production.

During the organic production field day, visitors learned about Nora Olsen's study on the performance of 10 different potato varieties grown under certified organic conditions at the organic research site. Nora Olsen described the emergence rates and defoliation by Colorado potato beetles on the 10 different potato varieties.

University of Idaho potato specialist Nora Olsen explains organic potato research at Kimberly Farm (Courtesy of The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)