Optimizing Seed Spacing and Planting Depth in Three Commercial Chip Processing Varieties to Maximize Profitability,

As Senior Potato Specialist and Leader of the Potato Outreach Program (POP), Chris Long (left) serves as the liaison between the Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Department at Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission (MPIC). As Program Lead of the POP, Long works to cultivate the potato industry through applied collaborative research. This is achieved through on-farm research and demonstration trials, grower focused informational meetings, and industry directed publications. The Potato Outreach Program’s responsibilities include conducting on-farm variety trials, coordinating research with faculty, agri-businesses and potato growers to achieve the application of newly developed technology. The Potato Specialist serves as a program advisor for the annual research farm field day at the Montcalm Research Center. Long also serves as the coordinator of the B. F. Cargill Demonstration Storage, and coordinator of the MPIC Annual Research Report. Long is an Ex-officio Board member of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission and Michigan Seed Potato Association. As the Potato Specialist, Long serves on the following industry related MPIC committees: Storage and Handling Committee, Research Committee, and the Variety Release Committee. The POP also conducts the national, SNAC-International and National Fry Processing Trials in Michigan. Long is a program manager for the Potatoes USA National Chip Variety Trial Program (NCVTP) and is a technical advisor to SNAC-International on potato production topics.

 

Steve Whittington (right) is a Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Educator located in Montcalm County, Michigan. He has experience in production agriculture, farm business management, and has a passion for agricultural economics. He covers the west-central region of Michigan focusing on a large variety of commodities including corn, soybean, wheat, potatoes, dry beans, vegetables, and forages. Steve has bachelor's in international relations and a master’s in agriculture business from Kansas State University. Steve enjoys agronomic work and working with producers and agribusiness professionals to help them successfully produce crops in an economically profitable and environmentally sustainable manner.”