Spudman November/December 2022 - 11

Worley Family Farms operates its own tissue culture lab and greenhouse.
said Mattive. " We're able to do that
through biologicals and through our
crop rotations. "
Not only that, but the farm can
grow a cover crop with 10 inches of
water or less. Whereas a crop of barley
may require 18-20 inches of water.
If possible, the rotations are
extended beyond what it was when
Mattive first started farming. From
barley and potatoes, or wheat
and potatoes, comes a three-year
rotation now. The cover crop blend
is different. And while Worley Family
Farms still grows a small amount of
barley, it also grows triticale, quinoa,
spinach, lettuce, oats, and some grains
for certified seed or malt.
" We're a lot more diverse than we
used to be in terms of our cropping
patterns, " said Mattive.
Potato varieties have also changed
over the years. Worley Family Farms
still grows a small amount of
Centennial Russet, a Colorado
variety released in 1977. Other than
that, " we probably aren't growing any
of the same varieties that we grew
20-30 years ago, " said Mattive.
Earlier season varieties, and the
seed fields, which are in the ground
about 85-90 days, can help reduce
water use. Aside from drought,
yield potential is what drives a lot
of the decision-making when it
comes to which varieties are selected,
as well as the percentage of No. 1
potatoes in grading due to the
operation having its own packing
shed. Disease-resistant varieties also
take priority. Potato virus Y (PVY) is
driving a lot of the changes, not only
in russets, but in all categories.
" That's our nemesis right now, "
said Mattive of PVY. " We're in a
very close-knit potato-growing
community, and as certified seed
potato growers, it's a challenge to
keep our fields clean. "
Markets also shift, and what was
once just russets and reds has now
grown to include multiple yellow
varieties, such as Colomba, Soraya
and Tessa, in addition to new russet
and red varieties, which make up the
roughly 20 varieties the farm grows
every year.
This year, the farm picked up
Caribou Russet, and is so far excited
about the results. As an earlier variety,
it not only helps with the growing
season, but could be a contender
to replace the Russet Norkotah.
Along with other unfavorable
characteristics, Russet Norkotah is
very susceptible to PVY.
Being next door to Colorado State
University's San Luis Valley Research
Center Agricultural Experiment
Station has had its perks, and Worley
Family Farms maintains a close
relationship with the potato breeding
program. The farm tries new varieties
when they're released, and has worked
closely with former potato breeder
David Holm and Samuel Essah,
professor and former director of
Potato Association of America with a
significant involvement in international
agriculture, hosting a variety of their
trials on the Worley farm.
Spudman * November/December 2022
11
Spudman November/December 2022

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