Texas Potato Field Day slated for July 22 in Springlake
Attendees will have opportunity to explore 145 potato cultivars and advanced breeding lines
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program, Barrett Potato Farms and Springlake Potatoes Inc. will host the annual Texas Potato Field Day on July 22 in Springlake.
Participants will meet at 10 a.m. at Springlake Potatoes Inc., U.S. Highway 385, before traveling to the field. The event is free, and no preregistration is required.
The field day provides growers, industry partners, researchers and stakeholders the opportunity to view and learn about the latest potato varieties developed by the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program and several other national partners.
On the agenda
At the research plots, attendees will have the opportunity to explore approximately 145 potato cultivars and advanced breeding lines.
“The field tour will showcase a diverse collection of market classes, including russets, chippers, reds, yellows, purples, small potatoes and fingerlings,” said Isabel Vales, Ph.D., AgriLife Research potato breeder and associate professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
“Many of these selections feature enhanced heat tolerance and carry valuable disease-resistance traits, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop potato varieties adapted to challenging growing environments and evolving industry needs.”
Vales will give an update on the breeding program and discuss advanced clones. Bruce Barrett, from Barrett Potato Farms, and other growers will provide an overview of their growing season thus far.
For more information, contact Vales at [email protected]; Douglas Scheuring, senior research associate, Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, at 979-324-2564; Jeffrey Koym, Senior Research Associate, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock, at 806-777-2412; or Barrett at 806-893-2040.
