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2 CapitalPress.com January 16, 2015 People & Places In search of the perfect sweet potato Scott Stoddard’s quest ‘like trying to rope a cloud’ Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate officer John Perry Chief operating officer By TIM HEARDEN Capital Press MERCED, Calif. — For 17 years, Scott Stoddard has been on a quest to find the perfect sweet potato. Stoddard, 45, a Universi- ty of California Cooperative Extension vegetable crop ad- viser, has done numerous field trials of new varieties in an effort to find the right combi- nation of color and storability. A predecessor, retired ad- viser Bob Scheuerman, spent more than 30 years trying to perfect sweet potato crops and helped develop the red- skinned Garnet variety that’s popular in grocery stores around Thanksgiving and at Christmas. “It’s sort of like trying to rope a cloud, it seems some- times,” Stoddard told the Capital Press. “It’s been very elusive.” Stoddard plants numer- ous plots in cooperating growers’ fields to test variet- ies developed in labs at Lou- isiana State University and North Carolina State Uni- versity, with which the UC has collaborated for more than 50 years. Often what works in a lab doesn’t play out in the field, he said. “The thing that makes these so difficult is that what really looks good in eval- uations and trials one year ends up not being a good va- riety,” he said. “The genetics on them are very squirrelly. They drift around a lot — more so than with other va- rieties. Just when you think you’ve got something that’s a nice, new cultivar, all of the sudden it’s no good any- more.” All the work on sweet potatoes is natural for the UC office in Merced Coun- ty, which is in the heart of the state’s prime sweet po- tato growing region. Nearly Capital Press Capital Press Managers Mike O’Brien .............................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Hannah Brause ...Audience Development Entire contents copyright © 2015 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. Courtesy of UCANR Scott Stoddard, a University of California Cooperative Extension vegetable crop adviser in Merced, Calif., holds several sweet potatoes. He has been involved in numerous tests of new varieties that attempt to capture the right attributes such as color. The commodity is popular during the fall and winter holidays. Western Innovator Scott Stoddard Age: 45 Occupation: University of California Cooperative Extension vegetable crop adviser Residence: Atwater, Calif. Family: Wife, Andrea; sons, Ben, 6, Miles, 9, and Gavin, 12 Website: http://cemerced.ucanr.edu/ 19,000 acres of sweet po- tatoes are grown in Merced County alone, bringing a value in 2013 of about $207 million, according to the Na- tional Agricultural Statistics Service. Sweet potatoes can be a healthful, sweet treat, as- suming the consumer doesn’t go overboard with butter or brown sugar. They’re sourc- es of Vitamins A, B-6, C and E as well as potassium and manganese. In California, sweet po- tato classes come in four colors — tan Jewell with or- ange flesh, light yellow Jer- sey with white flesh, purple Oriental with white flesh, and red Garnet with deep or- ange flesh, the UC explains on its website. Sweet pota- toes are harvested from July through October but they’re in demand year-round. Identifying lines with red and purple skin that grow and store well is a high pri- ority for the industry because the Garnet class dominates many markets in California, a UC essay notes. The red variety is in high demand in Los Angeles, the San Fran- cisco Bay area and Seattle markets, grower and Cali- fornia Sweetpotato Council vice president Jason Tucker said in the essay. Stoddard said many peo- ple in the West choose sweet potatoes in the same way they shop for peaches, look- ing for more red blush in the skin. “About 10 years ago at a meeting I did a survey of growers as to what issues, what things I should be working on,” he said. “One of the big ones that came up consistently is finding a new red. … That’s a major part of the market here in Cali- fornia, so I’ve tried to put a lot of emphasis into those results.” Stoddard tests about 10 to 20 new varieties each year, he said. “Of the 20 … I end up throwing away 80 percent of those,” he said. “There are only a few we go forward on that look promising.” The last new variety that enjoyed widespread commer- cial success was developed in the 1980s, when the Red Diana “came along by acci- dent,” Stoddard said. But the scientists keep trying. One variety that’s emerged from Stoddard’s fields six years ago is a pur- ple sweet potato with white flesh called Murasaki, which is now grown commercially. Stoddard has been work- ing at it since 1998, when he came to the Merced ex- tension office after having worked in private industry in Virginia. A Wyoming native, he studied soil science at the University of Wyoming and earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky. “I really like the practi- cal, applied side of exten- sion,” Stoddard said. “I like actually being in the field talking directly to growers. … The real hands-on, ap- plied nature of the job really appealed to me.” POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Toll free ............................. 800-882-6789 Main line ........................... 503-364-4431 Fax ................................... 503-370-4383 Advertising Fax ................ 503-364-2692 News Staff N. California Tim Hearden .................... 530-605-3072 E Idaho John O’Connell ................. 208-421-4347 Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898 Boise Sean Ellis .......................... 208-914-8264 Central Washington Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099 E Washington Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923 Oregon Eric Mortenson ................ 503-412-8846 Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789 Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789 To Place Classified Ads Ad fax .............................. 503-364-2692 or ...................................... 503-370-4383 Telephone (toll free) .......... 866-435-2965 Online ......www.capitalpress.com/classifieds Subscriptions Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $3.75/month (direct with- drawal from bank or credit card account) Chores remain a natural part of the day By RYAN M. TAYLOR For the Capital Press T OWNER, N.D. — A friend of ours was visit- ing for a couple of days last week, so I extended the courtesy that I usually extend to our honored guests — the chance to help with chores. You know, get out in the cold and the wind, cut some twine off the hay bales, carry a few feed buckets. I sprinkled in some special “one-time” chores (a.k.a. the neglected things that I was waiting for some help to do) with the regular tasks. As the sun was setting, I told him we could call it a day and head to the house for a little hot brandy. I don’t know if he ap- preciated the chores as much as the hot brandy. For me, I Cowboy Logic Ryan Taylor know it’s the chores that make the hot brandy better, or the coffee or cocoa or hot cider or whatever’s warm and tickles your taste buds. Seasonal rhythms If there’s one thing to be said for life on a farm or a ranch, it’s that everything has a season and there’s a rhythm to things. I sometimes doubt my musical rhythm, but I know the rhythms of the ranch and I can keep the beat pretty decent. I love chores, I hate chores, I tolerate chores, I share my chores. But, love them or hate them, it doesn’t really mat- ter because, regardless, the chores will always be there. That steady presence is both what I appreciate and despise about chores. It’s the “to-do” on the list of things to do that never has to be listed. They’re just there. Value of chores They’re the foundation of the day to build from. First, get the chores done, and then tackle a bigger job or some special project, or go to town, or save the world. I appreciate the foundation. I can count on chores to give me a few hours of rote responsibility and do some thinking about the rest of the day. There’s a temptation to eliminate chores or get the time required for them down to zero, but I think that would be a mistake. When I get out of the tractor to cut the twine off the bales, it takes time, but it lets me see the cows a little more closely and see if they’re healthy and get- ting enough to eat. When I bucket the calves, and open the gate for them, I can see if one is getting a little droopy or needs a little extra care. I can see if the last one in has enough bunk space to get his fair share. Teaching foals, kids Most years, we have a foal on the ranch to wean and hal- ter break. Dad always remem- bered one of the first horses he got when he was a kid, a wild 2-year-old colt that hadn’t been touched and wasn’t hal- ter broke. Dad was about 12 and every day he’d lead that colt from the barn to the well north of the barn for a drink of water. By the end of the winter, the horse was plumb halter broke and not nearly so wild. A repetitive chore made for a good horse, and a re- sponsible kid. These days, I could turn on a hydrant and water our filly right in the barn, but I like to catch her, halter her, lead her to the well for a drink, give her some oats and brush her a little. They are chores that take some time, but it’s good for the horse, and, honestly, it’s good for me, too. I’ve already finished one chore today — I got this col- umn written. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go catch that filly and lead her out for her morning drink. Calendar To submit items to the calendar, send an email with information to calendar@capitalpress.com JANUARY NATIONAL Jan. 28-31 — American Sheep Industry Association annual meet- ing, Nugget Resort and Casino, Sparks, Nev., www.sheepusa.org/ About_Events_Convention REGIONAL Jan. 26-29 — Washington-Or- egon Potato Conference, Three Rivers Convention Center and Toyota Center, Kennewick, Wash., www.potatoconference.com OREGON Jan. 17 — 2015 Lambing School, co-sponsored by the Or- egon Sheep Growers Association and Oregon State University Ex- tension, registration deadline Jan. 9, 541-673-0369 or email johnand- peggyfine@charter.net Jan. 21 — Oregon Ryegrass Growers Association annual meet- ing, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Linn County Fair and Expo Center, Albany, 503- 364-2944. Jan. 26 — Agricultural Safety and Pesticide Accreditation Work- shop, sponsored by the Central Oregon Safety and Health Associ- ation, Deschutes Farm Bureau and Helena Chemical Co., 1-5 p.m. Bend, $45 ($20 for Farm Bureau members), www.cosha.org Jan. 26-27 — Mid-Oregon Construction Safety Summit, The Riverhouse, Bend, www.cosha.org Jan. 27 — Oregon Blueber- ry Conference, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Jantzen Beach Red Lion Hotel, Portland, oregonblueberry.com/ conference Jan. 27-29 — Northwest Agri- cultural Show, Portland Expo Cen- ter, http://www.nwagshow.com/ Jan. 29 — Cattlemen’s Work- shop, 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m., Blue Mountain Conference Center, 404 12th St., La Grande, 541-562- 5129 WASHINGTON Jan. 20 — Agricultural Market- ing and Management Organiza- tion, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, sponsored by Washington Asso- ciation of Wheat Growers, 1-877- 740-2666, www.lcammo.org Jan. 26-29 — Washington-Or- egon Potato Conference, Three Rivers Convention Center and Toyota Center, Kennewick, Wash., www.potatoconference.com CALIFORNIA Jan. 16 — Young Almond and Walnut Orchards workshop, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Community and Senior Center, Woodland, 530-822-7515, http://cesutter.ucanr.edu/ IDAHO Jan. 16 — Family Foresters Workshop, Coeur d’Alene Inn, 208- 446-1680, http://www.uidaho.edu/ extension/forestry/content/calen- darofevents Jan. 20-22 — Idaho Ag Expo, Holt Arena, Idaho State University Jan. 21-22 — Idaho Potato Con- ference, Idaho State University stu- dent union, Pocatello, Jan. 21-23 — Idaho Horticulture Expo, Boise Centre on the Grove, inlagrow.org Jan. 30 — Organic conference of the use of cover crops to enhance soil fertility, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Herrett Center, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, sponsored by Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, University of Idaho and Oregon State University, preregistra- tion required by Jan. 26, www.pesti- cide.org or 503-312-1415 FEBRUARY NATIONAL Feb. 1-3 — American Sugarbeet Growers Association annual conven- tion, Long Beach, Calif., www.ameri- cansugarbeet.org Feb. 19-20 — Family Farm Alli- ance annual meeting, Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, 707- 998-9487 or ffameeting@aol.com OREGON Feb. 3 — Focus on Weed Man- agement pesticide applicator’s short course, 7:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m., $80, Building 19, Lane Community Col- lege, Eugene, 541-463-6103 Feb. 19-21 — Oregon Logging Conference, Lane County Fair- grounds and Convention Center, Eugene, 541-686-9191, www.ore- gonloggingconference.com Feb. 24-25 — Oregon Dairy Farmers Annual Convention, Salem Conference Center, www.dairyfarm- ersor.com/101-convention-general CALIFORNIA Feb. 5-7 — Sierra Cascade Logging Conference, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson, sierracas- cadeexpo.com/ Feb. 6 — Tehama Walnut Day, 8 a.m.-noon, Elks Lodge, Red Bluff, 530-822-7515, http://cesutter.ucanr. edu/ Feb. 6 — Glenn-Butte Walnut Day, 1-5 p.m., Silver Dollar Fair- grounds, Chico, 530-822-7515, http://cesutter.ucanr.edu/ Feb. 10-12 — World Ag Expo, International Agri-Center, Tulare, http://www.worldagexpo.com/ Feb. 25 — Sutter-Yuba-Colu- sa-Yolo-Solano-Sacramento Walnut Day, Veterans Hall, Yuba City, 530- 822-7515, http://cesutter.ucanr.edu WASHINGTON Feb. 3-5 — Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum, Spokane Convention Center, http://www.agshow. org/ag-expo-home.html MARCH OREGON March 16-17 — Oregon State Uni- versity Blueberry School, LaSells Stewart Center and CH2M Hill Alumni Center, OSU campus, Cor- vallis, http://osublueberryschool. org/ March 20-22 — Northwest Horse Fair & Expo, Linn County Fair and Expo Center, Albany, www. equinepromotions.net CALIFORNIA March 3 — Walnut (7-year-olds) No Pruning-Pruning Comparison Field Meeting, morning, Nickels Soil Lab, Arbuckle, 530-822-7515, http://ce- sutter.ucanr.edu 1 year U.S. ...................................$49.49 2 years U.S. .................................$89.89 1 year Canada .................................$275 1 year other countries ......... call for quote 1 year Internet only ............................$49 1 year 4-H, FFA students and teachers ....$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students & teachers .....$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. 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