J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 14 POTATO GROWER After a long winter and wet spring, the potato crop was planted at an average pace in North Dakota and Minnesota. However, emergence was slower than normal because of the cooler tempera- tures in May. High hopes for a good crop continue as the 2019 growing sea- son progresses. Research trials have been planted across Minnesota and North Dakota with the focus of solving questions and improving potato pro- duction in our region. This article will highlight the potato research being conducted in potatoes. A number of potato research projects are being conducted by the excellent researchers in North Dakota and Minnesota. The researchers are focused on current and future issues affecting potato growers in North Dakota and Minnesota. However, the findings of these research projects are often far greater that our region because the results are often used throughout the United States and other countries. We thank all the grower cooperators for allowing research to be conducted on their farms, industry partners and the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, and Minnesota Area II Research and Promotion Council for their support of the important research. Projects are funded by many sources, including the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, Minnesota Area II Research and Promotion Council, through state and federal grants and the potato industry. If there are any questions or if there is something you feel needs to be studied, please let us know. We look forward to seeing you at the NPPGA Field Day at Larimore, Inkster, and Hoople, North Dakota on Thursday, Aug 22, 2019. More infor- mation on the field days can be found at z.umn.edu/spud or nppga.org. Keep updated on potatoes by following Andy Robinson@spudology and www.ag. ndsu .edu/potatoextension. The NDAWN Potato Blight app is the key source for blight notifications and can be downloaded at iTunes or Google play store. Thank you to all those who help make the research tests possible. This includes farms hosting research trials, seed growers who donate seed, compa- nies that donate products and all other who assist. NDSU/UMN Potato Exten sion Agronomist Dr. Andy Robinson, NDSU/UMN The Extension agronomy team, includ- ing technical assistance from Eric 2019 Potato Field Research In by Dr. Andy Robinson, NDSU/UMN Potato Extension Agronomist