Currently, Colorado potato beetles are not a pest in Australia. But if you’re interested in learning more, this factsheet by Plant Health Australia provides information on what the beetle is, what it looks like, what it can be confused with and how to protect your farm from the pest.

A three-year project in Tasmania was conducted on the potential benefits of using degradable polyethylene films in potato crops. This 2013 report found there was limited benefit to nitrogen fertiliser savings and yield but instead may allow for early harvest and some water saving.

This Hort Innovation report explores the genetics behind breeding new varieties of potatoes. The report looks into developing genetic analysis tools to improve cultivar selection and development. With a focus on improving resistance to potato cyst nematodes and potato virus Y this 2012 paper provides great insight into how new cultivars are chosen.

During the 1990s the SA processing potato industry expanded rapidly, developing a range of crop monitoring and management tools. This 2006 Hort Innovation report refines and brings these together, with specific information on plant nutrition, pest and disease management and irrigation.

This 2005 Hort Innovation study involved a survey of packers, supply chain monitoring and storage trials. Storage and transport temperatures ranged from 4C to ambient, with washed potatoes more likely to be cooled that brushed or dirty potatoes.

Soil insects are difficult to detect and can cause blemishes on potatoes that may reduce quality. This 2005 Hort Innovation report sets out guidelines on monitoring soil insects and potential management strategies that could be implemented.

This 2004 Best Practice guide for handling and storing seed potatoes includes information and checklists as well as reference information on critical times and temperatures and a troubleshooting guide.

This 2003 report proposes guidelines on site-specific nitrogen management using ‘real-time’ monitoring tools. By looking at plant, stem and tuber numbers, yield, tuber size and quality and previous paddock history the impact of nitrogen on a seed crop was determined.

This 2003 report found the most common cause of decay was identified as bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotivora). Calcium fertiliser levels and tuber calcium content was explored in this report alongside the importance of sourcing clean certified seed.

This 2003 paper by SA Research &Development Institute delves into the postharvest washing of potatoes to find where bacterial soft rot originates and where it develops. The report suggests some ways in which soft rot causing bacteria can be controlled in this process.

Read this 2002 report on herbicide use. The three year Australian study covers herbicide breakdown, residual herbicide effects on future crops and much more.

Between 1995-2001 specific gravity of potatoes from Koo Wee Rup declined substantially. Possible causes of specific gravity loss were explored in this report. Cultivars, crop production management and climate conditions were all investigated.

This 2001 report was the first study into the influence of crop rotations on disease and yields in the Australian potato industry. The report found that while there were some significant advantages to crop rotations there were still some disease issues that persisted.