MARCH 2023 Issue 3 | Volume 61 COLUMNS 4 Editor's Letter 38 Potatoes USA 39 United Potato Growers of America 40 Idaho Potato Commission 8 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 8 Soil health and potato farming Research is underway to unlock the mysteries of soil health and its effects on potatoes 12 Going ballistic: Alternative weed management with projectile abrasives A low-cost, nontoxic way to eliminate broadleaf weeds 16 Mystery symptoms after heavy rains Unpredictable excess rainfall can push herbicides too far down in the soil 20 The quest for a definition Plant biostimulants benefit soil health and are correlated with improved yields. How do we get them into the hands of more farmers? 6 Spudman * March 2023 30 Water woes in Idaho Drought is complicating the Idaho Water Agreement, putting senior and junior water rights holders at odds 36 USDA:SCRI Potato Soil Health Project A national team is developing soil health practices specifically for potato cropping systems Corn cob and walnut shell grit is being tested for weed control. Photo: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT https://spudman.com/ 26 Reducing nitrogen to improve soil and plant health Could too much N be causing problems in potato fields? Advancing Eco Agriculture says yes. 42 Calendar 42 Advertiser Index ON THE COVER 12 41 National Potato Councilhttps://www.spudman.com/