UI RESEARCH: Milestones impacting a century of UI spud science
1890s
 FOUNDING. Idaho Board of Regents recognizes Idaho farmers need agricultural experiment stations. In 1892 the home station begins in Moscow (where it still is) along with research facilities in Grangeville, Idaho Falls, and Nampa.
EARLY EXPERIMENTS UI researchers send 600 seed potato packages to farmers in every county asking them to make test plantings and report results. Value is limited as researchers can’t control growing, harvesting, or evaluation methods.
1900s
IRRIGATION Soon after Idaho farmers begin directing strong Snake River flows to their own fields, they discover that irrigated land requires an entirely new type of farming. They bring problems to the UI Agricultural Experiment Station at Moscow.
19-teens
ABERDEEN R&E OPENS In 1912, Aberdeen Research & Extension Center opens with 15 acres for irrigated fields, 65 acres for dry farm crops. Residents help clear land and construct buildings. Two early potato experiments show some potato varieties produce greatest yields when cut in half and planted at up to 20 inches apart.
POTATO CELLAR In 1914 UI Aberdeen staffers build a potato cellar for $110 demonstrating to farmers that a cheap but effective storage cellar is possible on every farm growing potatoes, beets, or other perishable crops.
1920s
DISEASE UI plant pathologists study solutions to mosaic and leaf roll of potatoes. Other UI research and extension battles involve grasshoppers and the Colorado potato beetle.
1930s
SEED POTATO VIRUS TESTS In 1931 UI plant pathologists hope to produce disease-resistant potatoes to perform well in Idaho. They test potato seedstock. Potato health is determined by growing in a greenhouse a plant from a single eye of the tuber. Healthy tubers are returned to seed growers. That year 7,453 tubers are tested.
ALCOHOL FROM POTATOES Production of industrial (fuel) alcohol from farm crops is a major UI research project. UI scientists achieve yields 25 percent greater than other producers had obtained.
1940s
FARM WORKER SHORTAGE Farmers turn to UI Extension Service for help finding workers. Twin Falls’ Al Mylroie arranged for German soldiers in a prisoner of war camp to pick potatoes and sugar beets. They won high praise.
RESEARCH FUNDS GROW In 1949, the Idaho Legislature first appropriates $20,000 for potato research. Also this decade the Idaho Potato Commission raises more potato research funds from growers to support increased UI research. Both remain important partners to support Idaho agriculture.
MECHANIZED HARVESTING Owen K. Brown is UI extension’s first agricultural engineer. He helps Walter Sparks improve mechanized harvesting to minimize damage to fragile potatoes.
cessing industry gains a competitive advantage in international markets. This causes the Canadian industry to shrink and Idaho’s industry to expand.
PVMI In 2005 the Idaho, Oregon, and Washington potato commissions launch a new nonprofit corporation called the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI) to handle licensing and royalty collection on Tri-State potato varieties. It is developed as a grower-controlled alternative to university efforts to manage varieties and interact with industry in royalty collection. See more at http://www.pvmi.org/.
PROPRIETARY VARIETIES Potandon Produce, headquartered in Idaho Falls, begins marketing Klondike Rose, a proprietary variety with red skin and golden flesh. The potatoes are packaged under the Potandon label, the Green Giant label, the Kondike Rose label, and the Grown in Idaho seal. Additional proprietary varieties are expected to enter the market.
1950s
SEED
CERTIFICATION A complete certification program for Idaho seed potato production is developed—a great step forward because seedborne diseases cause growers heavy losses. Seed grown under controlled conditions results in four plants isolated. If any one shows a sign of disease, all four are destroyed. Healthy plants only are distributed. Idaho’s certified seed “is looked upon with envy by other states,” says then Dean James Kraus. Certified seed controls potato diseases including ringrot bacteria, stem nematodes, and mosaic disease.
TETONIA
R&E To equip the entire state with foundation seed, UI purchases 485 acres in Tetonia, which, at 6,200 foot elevation, is ideal for producing seed for potato, cereal, grass, and clover crops.
1960s
JOE
MARSHALL POTATO RESEARCH CENTER Known as “Idaho’s potato king” for his brilliant and untiring efforts to promote Idaho’s healthy potato industry, Joe Marshall is honored in 1966 when UI’s $375,000 research center in Aberdeen is named for him. It has laboratories, growth chambers, and controlled environment storage.
SPRINKLERS
VS. IRRIGATION Potatoes grow well either way, says Aberdeen’s Galen McMaster, though sprinklers are more efficient.
1970s
INTERNATIONAL
MARKETS Idaho agriculture first becomes a billion-dollar industry in 1973 as crops move to a global market.
TISSUE TESTING UI soils specialists help potato producers learn how to use tissue testing as a way to monitor a potato crop’s nutrient needs.
WATER
EFFICIENCY Raymond Miller, director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station,
places priority on water use efficiency, since 50 percent of all water use is
for agricultural crops. Twin goal is to develop plants that grow better with
less water.
STORAGE
BREATHROUGH UI’s Walter Sparks, Aberdeen scientist for more than 40 years, wins
national recognition for his experiments and breakthroughs—controlling temperature,
humidity, and air circulation—in extending life of potatoes in storage to 12
months for both fresh and processed potatoes—a huge economic benefit.
1980s
TRI-STATE
POTATO VARIETY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM University of Idaho potato scientists join forces with potato scientists from Oregon State University, Washington State University, and USDA Agricultural Research Service draw on plant genetics, agronomy, and other scientific disciplines to breed new, improved spuds. By 2003 Tri-State had released 18 new potato varieties credited with safeguarding the Tri-State region against crop diseases and foreign competition.
FROZEN
POTATOES Frozen potato products see tremendous growth from 1975 to 1985. Frozen
French fries dominate the foodservice market and Idaho/s J.R. Simplot supplies
McDonald’s and other major chains. UI helps through variety development and finding
uses for potato waste products as livestock feed.
VARIETY
DEVELOPMENT New Lemhi potato variety developed at Aberdeen out-yields the old
Russet Burbank, but is susceptible to bruising.
1990s
INTERNATIONAL
MARKETS While domestic sales of frozen French fries slow, Simplot looks abroad
for products including curly cuts and, more recently, frozen mashed potatoes.
The Simplot Food Group has its own sales offices in some Asian countries and
sells in others through trading companies. Overseas expansion of McDonald’s also
benefits Simplot’s export business.
CHINA
MARKET OPENS Economists at the University of Idaho predict that China will become
an important customer for frozen processed potatoes. Rapid growth in exports
to China follows.
CANADIAN
COMPETITION The value of the US dollar strengthens and the Canadian dollar weakens,
giving the Canadian industry a competitive advantage. The frozen potato processing
industry in Canada expands and gives serious competition to the Idaho industry.
2000 TO PRESENT
POTATO
PRODUCTION SYTEMS A comprehensive 426-page book by that title, written by scientists
and educators from the UI Center for Potato Research and Education, is published
in 2003. Co-editors are Jeff Stark and Steve Love. The book sells internationally.
INTERNATIONAL
MARKETS Due to the decline in the value of the US dollar and the increased value
of the Canadian dollar, the Idaho frozen potato processing industry gains a competitive
advantage in international markets. This causes the Canadian industry to shrink
and Idaho’s industry to expand.
PVMI In
2005 the Idaho, Oregon, and Washington potato commissions launch a new nonprofit
corporation called the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI) to handle licensing
and royalty collection on Tri-State potato varieties. It is developed as a grower-controlled
alternative to university efforts to manage varieties and interact with industry
in royalty collection. See more at http://www.pvmi.org/.
PROPRIETARY
VARIETIES Potandon Produce, headquartered in Idaho Falls, begins marketing Klondike
Rose, a proprietary variety with red skin and golden flesh. The potatoes are
packaged under the Potandon label, the Green Giant label, the Kondike Rose label,
and the Grown in Idaho seal. Additional proprietary varieties are expected to
enter the market.
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