Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6 24 POTATO GROWER National Potato Council’s EPA Summer Tour The National Potato Council organ- izes and sponsors the Policy Makers and Regulators Field Education Tour each year. The purpose of the tour is to offer EPA staff the opportunity to see potato production, discuss pesti- cide utilization, and interact with farmers outside the confines of Washington, D.C. Growers who host the tour provide employees at EPA firsthand feedback on their stewardship of pesticides and the process to bring potatoes from field to table. The tour typically takes place during the August Congressional recess. The NPC has a two-decades-long history of successful tours involving EPA staff members. The most recent tours have included Oregon’s Columbia Basin in 2013 and New Jersey in 2014. There were 12 EPA officials on the tour this year from EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, including members of the divisions that handle product registrations and reviews. The first stop was to visit Ewing Farm in Big Lake, Minnesota. Everone was able to see the fresh pack plant operating and see red and yellow potatoes being pack- aged. After this they went to the field to observe harvest on the Ewing farm. Following the tour, they went to the Sand Plain Research Farm in Becker, Minnesota. At the research farm the group learned about research being conducted to improve nitrogen and water management, Colorado Potato Beetle control, and nitrogen and fumigation effects on potato production and soil microbes. There were many good questions and much information shared. After the tour on Tuesday everyone headed to Park Rapids, Minnesota to have a beautiful Italian dinner at Necce’s Restaurant. Everyone got a chance to see the fields at the Sand Plain Research Farm in Becker, Minnesota.