Potatoes are grown all across NYS, though the largest farms tend to be located in Western NY, the Finger Lakes Region and on Long Island, on deep, fertile, light- to medium-textured mineral soils, and on muck (organic) soils. Potatoes are grown on small, medium and large farms, for retail, wholesale (east of the Mississippi) and organic markets, for both fresh market and processing into chips, and for certified seed potatoes. Most growers store some of their crop for winter sales. Varieties include round whites, red-skinned potatoes, yellows, and a smaller acreage of a wide variety of specialty types, such as those with blue or red skin and flesh, fingerlings, etc. Potatoes are one of the highest value vegetables in NY, grown on about 17,100 acres, with an average value of about $74.4 million recently.

Potatoes have many serious insect and disease pests. Late blight can be a devastating disease, capable of completely destroying an unprotected crop within 3 weeks in wet weather, and rotting the tubers. Late blight was the major cause of the Irish Potato Famine. It also affects tomatoes. New, more virulent strains of late blight fungus began showing up 20 years ago and the disease has been harder to predict and control ever since. Early blight is a common fungal disease on both potatoes and tomatoes which survives over-winter in the soil. Colorado potato beetles can cause serious defoliation if crops are not rotated up to a quarter mile from where they, tomatoes or eggplant were previously planted. They can rapidly become resistant to commonly used insecticides. Tiny, sucking leafhoppers move up from the south each June on weather systems, and can cause severe leaf burn and yield reduction. Aphids can also be a production problem as well as carrying viral diseases that can affect potatoes grown from saved seed. 


More Potatoes Content

Farm Financial Education for Women - Annies Project

November 12 - January 14, 2019
9:00am to 2:00pm
Kingston, NY

This 4-part series is designed for women who are farm owners or farm managers, or who anticipate moving into a decision-making position on a farm.  The program runs from November through January.

Certificates will be awarded from Annie's Project to those who complete all sessions and who have applied to have the program qualify for FSA borrower training.

Reduced Tillage on Muck Soils: Results and Farmer Discussion from 2018 Trials

December 13, 2018
10:15am-12:00pm
Pine Island, NY

Join Ethan Grundberg and Chuck Bornt of CCE ENYCHP on Thursday, December 13th for a review and discussion of the 2018 reduced tillage trials on muck soils. They will cover cover crops used, equipment, cultural practices and the goals and results of the trials. 

The Heirloom Orchard: A Three-Day Series on Estate Orchard Management

December 15, 2018
5:00PM-8:00PM
Highland, NY

Join Peter Jentsch & Dr. Srdan Acimovic, homeowners and management professionals for a three-week series, each evening discussion and workshop focusing on 3 hours devoted to establishing
and maintaining new or existing estate orchards using 3 with apple and cider tastings, hands-on experience in our research orchards. Dec 8th, 15th, 22nd.

ENYCHP Fruit and Vegetable Conference Feb 19-22

Join us for the 2nd Annual Eastern NY Fruit and Vegetable Conference! This year we will be expanding our conference to include a third day and many exciting new sessions. Speakers, topic details, and registration information will be available soon. Mark your calendars, and don't miss this great line-up!

Resources from CCE ENYCHP!

We are developing new ways to connect with the CCE ENYCHP team this year! We have a Youtube page located at this link. Check out videos on Table Grape Production, Pest Updates and the 20 Minute Ag Manager - in 4 Minutes series. 
The text alerts will be reserved for important crop alerts that could impact management decisions immediately. For instance, if there were an outbreak of Late Blight in the area, this would be transmitted to vegetable growers.

Farmers can choose the crop for which they wish to receive updates. Additionally they can request that Ag Business Alerts be sent to them. These alerts might include due dates for crop insurance deadlines, market opportunities etc.

Text alerts are easy to access. Just click on the link below and fill out a very short registration form. It takes just seconds to do - access to important information has never been so easy!!