b'Andys Advice:Small-scale PotatoProduction in ArgentinaBy Andy Robinson, Extension Potato Agronomist, NDSU/UMNestablishedareaofpotatoproduction Potato production in Hilario Ascasubi isandhasprocessingplantsandlarge focusedonthefreshpotatomarket.potato fields with pivots like we see in Potato tubers are commonly sold in 44-North America. It was fun to see success- poundbags.Mostfarmershadsmallful potato production. While in Balcarce fieldsthatrangedfrom1to40acreswevisitedalargeINTAfacilitywhich (some of the potato fields were a pathol-has a group dedicated to potato, include ogists dreamGary was excited to see sopotatobreeding,Extensionandother manydifferentdiseases!).Whiteandresearchers. We also visited a small start- yellow-fleshed potatoes were most com-up chip factory, called Gauchitas.mon. The common varieties they weregrowingwereSpunta,Astrix,AtlanticAfterseeingBalcarce,wedrovefive and Kennebec. hours to Hilario Ascasubi, where we sawa stark difference in potato production. FieldsareirrigatedbyacanalsystemIntheUS,wehavetheUSDA.In This is where we spent the majority of withthewateroriginatingfromtheArgentina,theyhaveINTAthe our time, and was the most rural area we Andesmountains.ThefirstvisitsweNationalAgriculturalTechnology visited on our journey. The first night, a made,wedrovethroughapastureInstitute.Ivebeendiscussingpotato bigwindandrainstormkeptusup, where cattle were grazing to get to theproduction(throughemail)withthe causing the tin roof to flap and bang in field. The first thing I noticed was irriga-ExtensionpersonnelinArgentinaat thewindandallowraintocomein tionbysiphontube,whichremindedINTAforaboutthreeyears.Inearly throughtheceiling.Despitetherain, me of the farm I grew up on. Where IFebruary, I made a trip to Argentina to overthenextfewdayswehadthe grew up in Idaho, we irrigated most allfurther help out with the INTA potato opportunity to get to know many of the our crops with siphon tubes. This is cer-Extensioneffort.Forthistrip,Gary staffattheINTAofficethereand tainly not a common practice for potatoSecorandVivianRiverajoinedme.It learned about what they were involved productioninNorthAmericathough.was quite the experience meeting farm- in, specifically in regard to potato pro- Aswewalkedthroughthefieldweers who only had a few years experi- duction. It was a much smaller facility noticed nematode damage, soft rot fromence with potato production and who than the INTA facility in Balcarce. Since too much water (it had been raining awantedtolearnmoreandhowthey it has been a few decades since potatoes lot prior to our visit) and PVY. Overall,could improve. This article will provide were last produced in this area, it was a the crop looked like it was coming alongalittleinsighttowhatwesawand newcroptomostfarmerswhenthey well. observedforpotatoproductionin began growing them again about 5 yearsArgentina.ago. Extension agents at Ascasubi were On another farm we visited, they wereworking diligently to test varieties and focusedongrowingonionsandpota-After arriving in Buenos Aires, we were other aspects of potato growth. Research toes for the local market. They rentedtaken on a quick driving tour of the city was mostly conducted with growers and land and produced onions and potatoesand then traveled by car for four hours a few trials at the limited space at the inthesamefield.Wegottoseehowto Balcarce. The area of Balcarce is an INTA research site. theystoredonionstemporarilyinthe18 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2020'