01/13/06 2006 Washington Potato Conference

Farm and Ranch January 13, 2006 It's less than a month now until the 2006 and 45th annual Washington State Potato Conference in Moses Lake February 7th through the 9th. Karen Bonaudi, Assistant Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says the featured speaker, Lowell Catlett of New Mexico State University, is a futurist people say you can't afford to miss. Bonaudi: "He is going to be speaking on "Tomorrow's Agriculture; Six Trends You Can't Afford to Miss" at 11 a.m. on February 8th at the Big Bend Community College ATEK Conference Center." Don't worry if you happen to be at the trade show at the Ardell Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds at that time because Bonaudi says there will be a video link there of Catlett's keynote address. Of course there are potato production seminars and a highlight there is; Bonaudi: "And we actually this year are bringing up Doctor Jurgen Kroschel who is the senior scientist in entomology at the International Potato Center in Lima, Peru." Bonaudi says the says the Potato Bar February 8th at the trade show will feature a sampling of an as yet unnamed, unreleased potato. Bonaudi: "But people are going to get to sample this new baked potato. And it really is beautiful. It is a nice looking spud." General admission is $5 which gets you into everything except the Spouses Program and the Potato Industry Leadership banquet, which by the way kicks off recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Washington State Potato Commission. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.