April 2020 - 16

Seed potato farmer Keith Jorgensen learns about an
optical sorter from Max Elliott, a representative for
Tomra Sorting Inc.
Josh Bair, product specialist with AGCO, describes
the benefits of a webbed tractor to Clark Hamilton,
chairman of the Idaho Wheat Commission.
The ag expo attracted about 200 exhibitors and hundreds of farmers from throughout
the U.S., Canada and Europe. Photos: Dianna Troyer
Labor-savers, high-tech
highlight Idaho ag show
By Dianna Troyer
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
C
16
onfronted with labor shortages,
potato farmers were relieved to
learn of the newest automated
innovations to help them operate at
peak efficiency. About 200 exhibitors
showed their products at the 41st
Eastern Idaho Ag Expo, hosted at Idaho
State University in Pocatello in January.
The number of farmers and exhibitors
at the expo impressed Travis Blacker,
industry relations director for the Idaho
Potato Commission.
" People from Canada, Mexico, Japan,
Europe and throughout the U.S. came, "
he said. " Potato prices are the best
Spudman.com
they've been in a few years, so people
are optimistic about this year and next
year, too. "
Several booths attracted farmers who
were interested in labor-saving devices
and equipment. A new sturdy sensor
can be buried with a potato and provide
real-time information to growers about
what the tuber needs for maximum
growth. An optical sorter can be used in
fields - not just packing plants. Using
a vacuum chamber, a separator gets rid
of dirt clods and debris while processing
5,000 cwt of potatoes hourly.
Growers were captivated with the Soil
Tech Wireless, a sturdy lemon-yellow
plastic sensor resembling an 8-inch
thermos. Buried at the same depth
as potatoes, it transmits information
about soil temperature, moisture, and
humidity. In the fall, it can be dug up and
provide data about bruising. In storage,
it continues to provide information.
" It's programmed with the NRCS
soil data and GPS software, so it
knows what type of soil it's buried in, "
explained Ehsan Soltan, chief executive
officer of Soil Tech and a manufacturing
designer. He has been developing
the Soil Tech for about two years in
collaboration with potato farmers in
southeastern Idaho.
" Based on the information it transmits,
you can irrigate in real time, " Soltan said.
Brad Nielson, agronomist for Walters
Produce in Sugar City, Idaho, said,

http://www.Spudman.com

April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020

April 2020 - 1
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-november-december-2023
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-november-december-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2020
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2019
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