Registration: Click here to register
[Please register as numbers are required for catering]
Join the PotatoLink team for a workshop on seed storage and seed diseases, where experts will share practices and strategies to ensure healthy seed management for a successful potato harvest.
Topics:
1. Presented by Dr Jenny Ekman
Learn about best practices for seed storage and its crucial role in preserving seed quality and viability.
Learn practical tips and techniques to optimise storage conditions and mitigate risks.
2. Presented by David Tooke
What to consider when purchasing seed potatoes, with his topic of ‘Seed Quality – do you know what you are buying?’
3. Presented by Wossen Mengesha
Hear about the DPIRD PREDICTA Pt project, a tool to assist growers in predicting and managing potato diseases. Gain insights into how this innovative technology can enhance your disease management practices.
4. Presented by Simon Moltoni
Learn about potato biosecurity and how to implement measures to safeguard your crops from invasive pests and diseases.
International Day of Potato (30 May)
Following the talks, join us for a visit to Coldahold Cold Storage.
The event will begin with a lunch and following the event there will be drinks and an opportunity to continue talking with fellow growers and presenters.
For more information, please contact: Rachel Lancaster | 0428 771 937 | rachel@eatswa.com.au
Meet the host:
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Rachel has worked in research and extension with WA horticultural businesses for more than 28 years. After many years with the WA Department of Agriculture, in 2016 she left to become principal of EATS (Environmental and Agricultural Testing Services) as well as consulting privately on a wide range of research projects. As a result, Rachel has investigated plant nutrition, disease, insect and weed management and efficient crop irrigation. With skills in implementing and analysing trials as well as working with growers
Meet the speakers:
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Dr Ekman has more than 20 years’ horticultural research experience. She is a postharvest physiologist and communicator who works to maximise produce freshness and value while minimising supply chain losses. She is passionate about applying science to improve commercial and consumer outcomes.
Dr Ekman has excellent writing and communication skills and is an effective translator of scientific language into information readily understood and used by growers. You can read her work in the PotatoLink magazine where she delivers the technical content found inside the pages.
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David has worked in the potato sector for 24 years including 10 years assisting with research into nutrition and diseases for ware, processing and seed potatoes, 9 years as field inspector for Seed Certification and 5 years as Senior Certification Officer for the Seed Potato Scheme.
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Wossen’s research is focussed on vegetable pathology and he is currently conducting trials aimed at providing prescriptive solutions for growers in WA. He completed his PhD at University of Tasmania in 2017 where he evaluated the effectiveness of compost extracts from variable substrates as microbial mediated disease management against bacterial wilt and leaf spot of potatoes.
He spent few years as soil and plant health diagnostic scientist in a commercial laboratory in Victoria. Wossen is currently evaluating the relationship of incidence of range of potato tuber blemish diseases with pre-planting soil and peel DNA of major pathogens across different soil types and regions in WA by utilising SARDI’s PREDICTA Pt system. If its usefulness is demonstrated under WA conditions, this test may provide additional information that growers can incorporate as part of their decision-making process for potato crop management.
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WA Potatoes is the peak industry body, representing potato growers across the state of Western Australia.
The Association represents around 100 growers and provides the following services to industry:
Advocacy and Representation
Research and Development
Marketing and Promotion
Communications, including regular Grower Updates