Webinar recording available here
Date: Thursday, 15th August 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am AEST
Location: Online via. Zoom
Registration: Click here to register, Registrants will receive the recording
About the Webinar
Join us for an insightful webinar where we delve into the crucial aspects of cultural management to prevent seed potato crops from diseases. Gain a comprehensive overview and essential fundamentals from international industry expert plant pathologist, Dr. Amy Charkowski of Colorado State University, and local industry seed potato production expert, Frank Mulcahy.
There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and have discussions. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and optimise your potato production practices.
Meet the Presenters
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Professor of Plant Pathology and the Research Associate Dean, Colorado State University
From 2001-2016, she served as a faculty member in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and as the administrative director of the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program. She earned her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Charkowski’s research is mainly on plant pathogens that affect seed potato production or trade, including potato viruses, Spongospora subterranea, and soft rot bacterial pathogens of potato. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in IPM and plant pathology. She served as department head of Agricultural Biology from 2016-2023 and during this time the department doubled its research expenditures, and developed an undergraduate major in Agricultural Biology, a minor in Agricultural Data Science, and an online Masters in Pest Management.
Read about her research here.
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Manager, Spud Doctor
Born into a fine wool farming family in Tasmania, Frank began his horticultural career as an extension officer at the Forthside Vegetable Research Station. This was followed by six years managing seed potato certification in Tasmania before moving on to working with Simplot seed potato producers. During this time, adjustments to planting and harvesting dates resulted in seed with enhanced vigour, and significant recovery of seed previously rejected due to common scab.
Frank then joined Australian biotechnology company Technico to assist with the global rollout of TECHNITUBER™ derived tubers in locations compromised by low vigour seed. He is a recognised expert in this field, having helped develop accreditation guidelines for tissue culture laboratories.
After re-joining Simplot, where he spent a further 12 years, he is now an independent adviser based in Tasmania. Frank has extensive experience in in seed potato certification and seed production.
His goal is to continue to support the development of systems and management strategies that keep Australia's potato and vegetable farmers and industry participants competitive and respected.