Gregg Halverson Elected New NPPGA Chairman - The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association based in East Grand Forks, MN has elected Gregg Halverson (pictured) of Grand Forks, ND as its new Chairman. Halverson is President and CEO of Black Gold Farms, headquartered in Grand Forks, ND. Black Gold raises potatoes on 17,000 acres located in eleven different states.

NPPGA President Chuck Gunnerson says, “We are honored to have Gregg Halverson serving as Chairman of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association (NPPGA). His knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to the potato industry here in Minnesota and North Dakota. Gregg’s dedication and expertise will help guide the NPPGA into the next decade and we are pleased he has accepted the challenge.”

In a speech delivered to the members of the association on February 23rd, Halverson says his main task will be to help foster positive industry growth in the Northern Plains. “I promise, I will do my best to move our association and our industry forward. We must uncover growth possibilities in our industry. We need innovation in our industry and we need it now. In my mind, this innovation process will start with the people in this room.”

Halverson has been involved in leadership positions on the Research Committee of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, and is a past recipient of the NPPGA Meritorious Service Award. He has served on the Environmental Affairs Committee of the National Potato Council, and under his leadership, Black Gold received the 2009 National Potato Council’s “Environmental Stewardship” Award. Halverson was also honored at the World Potato Congress in New Zealand with the 2009 Industry Award.

Halverson replaces out-going Chairman Josh Heuchert of Hensel, ND. Other newly elected officers are Vice President Jeff Van Ray of Pingree, ND, and Secretary-Treasurer Carl Hoverson from Larimore, ND. All officers will serve one year terms.


Clemenson and Sokowinos Take Home MSA’s

Richard Clemenson was presented the 2010 NPPGA Meritorious Service Award for growers at the NPPGA Awards Banquet last week. Richard has a beautiful farm located six miles south of Hoople. Richard is the oldest of three children born to “Tip” and Irene Clemenson. His father is one of the Red River Valley’s pioneer potato growers. Richard attended high school in Park River, North Dakota and is a 1963 graduate of North Dakota State University. He received a degree in Agricultural Economics and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, an agricultural professional fraternity.

After college, Richard served in the Air National Guard. After this experience he came back to his home and began farming with his father. The partnership lasted until 1980 when his father retired.

Richard has been married to his lovely wife, Ruth, for over 40 years. They have three children, Kristen, Beth and Brad. They also have six grandchildren.

Richard’s daughter, Kristin, chose to return to the farm after she graduated from college. Kristin married Joe Sobolik in 1998 and he started working on the farm as well. Clemenson Sobolik Farm was formed in 2005 and Richard is now semi-retired but he continues to help out on the farm. They raise seed potatoes as well as wheat and soybeans.

Richard served as the NPPGA President from 1984-1985. His daughter Kristen also served as the NPPGA Chairman from 2003-2004. Richard spent a great deal of time involved with various industry organizations. He was active on the Potato Board and served on the Administrative Committee. He has served as a board member for the North Dakota Seed potato Growers Association. He has served as Director for the Nash Grain & Trading Elevator, the Walsh County Farm Bureau and is President of the Zion Lutheran Church Board.

Richard currently enjoys his leisure time with summers at there lake cabin in Devils lake, North Dakota and winter time is spent in Arizona.

Dr. Joe Sowokinos took home the NPPGA Meritorious Service Award for industry. Joe retired this past spring as a professor in the Horticultural Science Department at the University of Minnesota after a long and distinguished career serving the potato industry. Dr. Sowokinos conducted research involving metabolic regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in potato tubers. In the potato industry he is best known for cloning the anti-sweetening gene (designated UgpA) from the potato cultivar ‘Snowden.’ He has published over 70 scientific articles and several chapters on the regulation of carbon partitioning in tubers. He has developed a commercial method to measure the “chemical maturity” of potato tubers at harvest to assist processors in monitoring and maintaining the final color-quality of potato products.

Dr. Sowokinos has been working at the USDA Worksite in East Grand Forks, Minnesota since 1969. His colleague and good friend, Marty Glynn, has been at his side for all those years. “What does one say about a friend and colleague of over 40 years? I met Joe in 1966, when he was studying at UND for his PhD, and he was just as tenacious a researcher then as he is now. He has been a great benefit to both the local growers and the potato industry as a whole. “We, here at the USDA-ARS Potato Research Worksite, greatly appreciate his research and dedication to the industry and to our facility.” says Marty, “I am personally glad that he isn’t just retiring completely; he will still be around so we will be able to use his expertise. Joe and I, over the years, have had numerous meetings and discussions about equipment, personnel, and research planning. We have enjoyed many a golf game, and a long time ago I used to play handball with him. We’ve been friends for a long time and I want to wish him and Janice a great retirement.”

Joseph Sowokinos was born on a small farm in Nebraska, close to St. Edward. He graduated from Wayne State University in Nebraska and earned his MSc and PhD in biochemistry at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in 1969 and he became a research assistant at the Horticulture Science Department at the University of Minnesota. In 1973 he became an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and in 1983 a full professor.

While at the University of Minnesota, Joe took two sabbaticals, one at the University of California-Davis in 1980 and the other at Cambridge, United Kingdom in 1993. Most recently Joe traveled to the World Potato Congress held in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he was a featured speaker.

Joe and his wife, Janice, were married in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1980, where they still reside today. They have two sons, Douglas, who lives in Burnsville, Minnesota and Frank, who lives in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Dr. Sowokinos has attained many awards and accolades throughout his long and distinguished career. Here are just a few of the many:

Honorary Life Membership in the Potato Association of America, 2006
American Journal of Potato Research Outstanding Paper Award, 2001
Bush Sabbatical Scholarship, 1993
North American Potato Researcher of the Year, 1992, awarded by the National Potato Council
ASAE 1987 Paper Award, Honorable Mention, 1987
NIH Training Grant Fellow, 1963-1969


NPPGA Meetings and Expo Draw Large Crowds - The Alerus Center proved to be a popular sight for this year’s events. Over 120 growers and industry people packed the meeting rooms for the Research and Reporting Conference hosted by ND/MN Extension Agronomist Nick David. We are already trying to secure larger meeting rooms for next year. The awards banquet and Potato Associates Social were also well attended drawing over 140 guests. Having everything under one roof surrounding the International Crop Expo proved to be very popular.


Plan and Prepare for Spring Flood Uncertainties - A combination of climate features—including a wet fall season and heavy, wet snowfalls all winter—have elevated the risk of spring flooding on many Minnesota watersheds. One obvious consequence of spring flooding in western and southern Minnesota counties would be delayed field working conditions in the agricultural landscape.

Saturated soils combined with a slower than normal onset to spring will likely delay suitable field working conditions in some areas. In addition, flooded roads and highways may present some problems in transporting seed and fertilizer as well as large farm implements. Expecting, and planning ahead for, these possibilities will help farmers cope with such problems.

On the plus side, stored soil moisture should be adequate to maintain crop health throughout any drier than normal periods that occur early in the growing season.
In the forecasts provided by the National Weather Service on February 19, virtually all points along the main stem of the Red River between North Dakota and Minnesota have more than a 50-percent chance of reaching major flood stage in March or April. Many of the Minnesota and North Dakota tributaries to the Red River have more than a 60-percent probability of at least reaching moderate flood stage. Many southern Minnesota communities along the Minnesota River Valley have more than a 50-percent probability for moderate flooding, including Montevideo, Granite Falls and Henderson. Many other smaller watersheds are likely to have minor or moderate spring flooding, including the
Cottonwood River at New Ulm and the Redwood River at Redwood Falls.

The biggest uncertainties are the forecasts for March and April temperature and precipitation. Fortunately, early March looks to be somewhat warmer and drier than normal. For the balance of spring, there is no forecast consensus. A higher flood risk would result from a dramatic warm-up, which would accelerate the melting and runoff of the snow pack over the top of frozen soil. If combined with significant rainfall, such a weather pattern would produce rapid rises in watershed flows.

Conversely, periodic freeze/thaw cycles combined with persistent dry weather would help alleviate the flood threat. Realistically, there is not a high probability that such a pattern will emerge, and as a consequence many communities are justifiably preparing to cope with spring floods.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regional Offices of the National Weather Service, along with the North-Center River Forecast Center (in Chanhassen) are providing daily updates and periodic summaries of the hydrologic outlooks.

Farmers can find climatology updates on the website of the Minnesota Climatology Working Group at http://climate.umn.edu/ and useful flood planning information on University of Minnesota Extension’s flood website at www.extension.umn.edu/flood.