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2 CapitalPress.com Friday, December 6, 2019 People & Places Aiding the fight against pink rot By BRAD CARLSON Capital Press Research by Jeff Miller and other scientists is pro- viding potato growers with more tools to use in con- trolling pink rot. The soil-borne disease is caused mainly by the patho- gen Phytophthora eryth- roseptica. It infects potato roots, stolons and tubers, and if not controlled can lead to significant losses in potato fields and in storage. Miller, principal in Miller Research near Rupert, Idaho, worked as a potato pathologist for two years at the University of Minnesota before serving in a similar position with the University of Idaho from 2001 to 2006. The next year, he took over the field and lab enterprise his father, Terry, also a sci- entist, founded in 1975. “When I came to UI, it was a huge problem in the state,” Jeff Miller said of pink rot, “primarily because growers had had great suc- cess using a certain chemi- cal to manage the disease.” But the pathogen was developing resistance to the fungicide, known generi- cally as Mefenoxam. “During my time at UI, I worked on trying to find alternative chemicals or even better farming prac- tices to manage the dis- ease,” Miller said. “When I left UI to come to Miller Research, I basically brought that with me. … It has been a great collab- orative project through the years.” EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER Established 1928 Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher Kevin Blodgett ........... Advertising Director Western Innovator JEFF MILLER Title: President and prin- cipal field investigator, Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho Education: Ph.D., M.S., in plant pathology, Washington State Univer- sity. B.S., Brigham Young University, botany with emphasis in biotechnol- ogy. Capital Press File Jeff Miller, of Miller Research in Rupert, Idaho, holds potato leaves with symptoms of early blight during a field day. Finding a new treatment for pink rot proved difficult. Miller kept working on it with scientists from UI, and Washington State, Oregon State and North Dakota State universities. Researchers experi- mented with a common, phosphorous-acid-based fungicide that was safe but relatively weak. They found that it, too, was inef- fective at controlling pink rot — until once mistak- enly applying about twice as much as intended. “We found that we were achieving control,” Miller said. “Typically, twofold use would cause problems. But the difference was that these phosphorous acids or phosphites are very safe.” The discovery meant growers who found the pathogen resisting Mefenoxam in their fields could instead use a phos- phite. Researchers would go on to determine ideal application rates and meth- ods — and to also find phosphites effective at reducing pink rot and late blight while potatoes are stored, if applied when they are going into storage. Recent work, funded by the Northwest Potato Research Consortium, addresses location-specific treatment. “So far, we are find- ing most of the pink rot in the Columbia Basin is still sensitive to Mefenoxam, and in Idaho it is a mixed bag; we have both fungi- cide-sensitive and fungi- cide-resistant isolates,” Miller said. “Once growers know they have Mefenox- am-resistant isolates in the field, then they can switch to the phosphites.” Other new research looks at pink rot suscepti- bility by potato variety. “We are evaluating new varieties, and looking at in-season and post-harvest management, to try to see what is the most effective management package to give you the most complete pink rot control approach from planting to storage,” Miller said. Age: 49 Family: Wife Shaura, four boys Hobbies: Reading, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, camping, Boy Scouts leadership, church activities SEATTLE (AP) — Wil- liam Ruckelshaus, who served as the first administra- tor of the U.S. Environmen- tal Protection Agency under President Richard Nixon, has died. He was 87. It was also Ruckelshaus who famously quit his job in the U.S. Justice Department rather than carry out Nixon’s order to fire the special prose- cutor investigating the Water- gate scandal. The EPA confirmed his death in a statement Wednesday. The lifelong Republican also served as acting director of the FBI. But his moment of fame came in 1973, when he was a deputy attorney general and joined his boss, Attorney General Elliot Richardson, in resigning rather than carrying out Nixon’s unlawful order to fire Watergate special prose- cutor Archibald Cox. After Richardson and Ruckelshaus resigned, Solic- itor General Robert Bork car- ried out the firing in what became known as the “Sat- urday Night Massacre” — prompting protests and out- rage around the country. “He was incorruptible,” longtime friend and Seattle philanthro- pist Martha Kongsgaard said Wednes- day of Ruck- elshaus. “It was very dis- William appointing Ruckelshaus for him to see this hap- pening again in our country, and maybe on a larger scale. Deep decency in the face of corruption is needed now more than ever.” Ruckelshaus’ civic ser- vice and business career spanned decades and U.S. coasts, marked by stints at the EPA under Nixon and Ronald Reagan, a lost bid for the U.S. Senate in 1968 and top positions at Weyerhae- user Co. and Browning Fer- ris Industries. Ruckelshaus spent much of his life focused on air and water pollution and other environmental issues. As a young Indiana state attor- ney general, he sought court orders to prevent indus- tries and cities from pollut- ing waters, and in his later years, he was the Pacific Northwest’s most high-pro- file advocate for cleaning up Puget Sound in Washington state. As the first EPA admin- istrator from 1970 to 1973, he won praise for pushing automakers to tighten con- trols on air pollution. Shortly after taking over the agency, he ordered the mayors of Detroit, Atlanta and Cleve- land to stop polluting waters and took actions against U.S. Steel and dozens of other water polluters. Reagan asked him back to the EPA in 1983 to help restore public trust to the scandal-plagued agency. His wife, Jill, likened his return to a “self-inflicted Heim- lich maneuver,” but Ruck- elshaus said he accepted the job because he thought he could right the ship, help staff refocus on their work and re-establish the EPA’s credibility. Several thousand EPA employees greeted his return with thunderous applause. One sign read, “How do you spell relief? Ruckelshaus.” Reflecting on his long career of public service and private enterprise in 2001, Ruckelshaus ranked his time at the EPA as one of the most fulfilling and challenging. “At EPA, you worked for a cause that is beyond self-in- terest and larger than the goals people normally pur- sue,” he said in an EPA oral history interview. “You’re not there for the money, you’re there for something beyond yourself.” Ruckelshaus was born in 1932 in Indianapolis to a line of politically active lawyers. His grandfather had been the Indiana chairman of the Republican Party in 1900, and his father was the plat- form committee chairman at five Republican conventions. He told The Los Angeles Times in 1971 that his per- sonal interest in nature and conservation was rooted in his childhood when his father took him fishing in northern Michigan. Between his stints at the EPA, Ruckelshaus moved his family and five children to the Seattle area, where he had spent two years out of high school as an army drill sergeant at the Fort Lewis. He graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He met his wife on a blind date set up by her Sun- day school teacher. It took place at his aunt and uncle’s house in Indianapolis, where they both grew up. In the Northwest, Ruck- elshaus led federal efforts to recover Chinook salmon and steered an ambitious state ini- tiative to clean up and restore Puget Sound, where salmon and orcas are in danger. His focus on a collabora- Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2019 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Circulation ...........................800-781-3214 Some growers recently have asked if they must wait 48 hours to resume irrigation after applying phosphites. “We are still doing the research, but so far that does not appear to be the case,” Miller said. “It prob- ably needs about six hours (to absorb). This research is ongoing, so we may refine this recommenda- tion. But they don’t have to worry about having to keep the pivots off for too long.” William Ruckelshaus, first head of EPA, dies at 87 By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor tive science-based process helped set the course for the Puget Sound Partnership, the state agency charged with cleaning up the inland waters by 2020. His daughter, Mary Ruck- elshaus, served as the agen- cy’s chief scientist at the same time her father led the leadership council that over- saw it. Denis Hayes, who coor- dinated the first Earth Day in 1970, once called Ruck- elshaus “a Republican envi- ronmental hero,” and for- mer Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire described him as “big as the great outdoors.” Ruckelshaus served on the boards of directors of sev- eral major corporations. He was senior vice president for law and corporate affairs at the Weyerhaeuser Co., before returning to the EPA for his second term. At the time, some environmentalists crit- icized his close ties to some of the industries that the EPA regulated. He was CEO of Brown- ing-Ferris Industries Inc. from 1988 to 1995 and served as chairman from 1995 to 1999. He was also a strategic director of Madrona Venture Group in Seattle, an early backer of companies such as Amazon. Email ........... 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Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main office or news staff member closest to you, send the information to newsroom@capitalpress.com or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. Include a contact telephone number. Letters to the Editor: Send your comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or CALENDAR Submit upcoming ag-related events on www.capitalpress.com or by email to newsroom@capital- press.com. SUNDAY- WEDNESDAY DEC. 8-11 California Farm Bureau Fed- eration 101st Annual Meeting: Portola Hotel and Spa, Two Portola Plaza, Monterey, Calif. Join fellow farmers and ranchers as we discuss and develop policy, recognize the county Farm Bureaus at the core of our grassroots structure and indi- vidual members who have demon- strated that working together during this past year is how we will continue “Building Our Future.” Con- tact: https://cfbf.com/am2019 TUESDAY, DEC. 10 Changing Hands: A Free Suc- cession Planning Workshop. 1-4 p.m. at Salishan Resort in Gleneden Beach, in conjunction with the Oregon Farm Bureau Con- vention. RSVP to Nellie McAdams, nellie@oregonagtrust.org, 971-409- 6806. Happy hour to follow. University of Idaho Snake River Sugar Beet Conference: Best Western Plus Burley Inn & Conven- tion Center, 800 N. Overland Ave., Burley, Idaho. This is the annual sugar beet growers’ conference. Contact: Erick Wenninger, 208 423- 6677, erikw@uidaho.edu TUESDAY-THURSDAY DEC. 10-12 Oregon Farm Bureau Annual Meeting: Salishan Resort, 7760 North Highway 101, Gleneden Beach, Ore. Members of the Ore- gon Farm Bureau meet once a year for grassroots discussions on issues important to agriculture. Contact: tiffany@oregonfb.org, https://ore- gonfb.org/ THURSDAY-FRIDAY JAN. 9-10 Oregon Mint Growers Annual Meeting: 8 a.m. Salishan Resort, 7760 North Highway 101, Gleneden Beach, Ore. Make your plans to attend the 71st annual meeting, where you’ll hear the latest on the mint industry. Contact: http://ore- gonmint.org, 503-364-2944 WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY JAN. 15-17 Northwest Agricultural Show: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednes- day, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday. Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem, Ore. The 50th edition of the Northwest Ag Show will feature over 120 exhibitors and partners and seminars and workshops cov- ering a variety of topics important to farmers and ranchers. Admis- sion on Wednesday and Thursday is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Admission on Friday is free, cour- tesy of the Oregon Ag in the Classroom Foundation. Contact: 503-364-4431 http://northwestag- show.com FRIDAY, JAN. 17 SAIF Agri-Business Banquet: 6 p.m. Salem Convention Cen- ter, 200 Commercial St. SE, Salem, Ore. The SAIF Agri-Business Ban- quet is a celebration of the agricul- tural community and its impact on the mid-Willamette Valley. This year, Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley Vineyards is the featured speaker. https://salemchamber.org/events/ saif-agribusiness-banquet/ SATURDAY, JAN. 18 Oregon Dairy Princess Ambas- sador Contest: 5:30 p.m. Salem Convention Center, 200 Commercial St. SE, Salem, Ore. Join the excite- ment as the county dairy princess ambassadors demonstrate their dairy knowledge and public speak- ing and communications skills. Online: https://oregondairywomen. com/events/ FRIDAY-WEDNESDAY JAN. 17-22 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Trade Show: Aus- tin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, Texas. This is your opportunity to help set the agenda for the leading voice of agriculture. Participate in educational work- shops to advance your leadership skills, expand your business acu- men and gain deep insight into the trends and realities impacting food production. Contact: https://annual- convention.fb.org/ SUNDAY-TUESDAY JAN. 19-21 NFU Women’s Conference: Cat- amaran Resort Hotel and Spa, 3999 Mission Blvd., San Diego, Calif. This conference will not only prepare attendees for success in agriculture, but it will also provide them with their own network of women farm- ers and ranchers they can reach out to throughout the year. Con- tact: Hannah Packman, hpackman@ nfudc.org, 202-554-1600. https:// nfu.org/womensconference/ MONDAY, FEB. 3 Oregon Blueberry Confer- ence: 8 a.m. Salem Convention Cen- ter, 200 Commercial St. SE, Salem, Ore. This is the Oregon blueberry industry’s annual meeting and fea- tures a variety of presentations and other informational sessions. Con- tact: http://oregonblueberry.com 503-364-2944 TUESDAY- THURSDAY, FEB. 4-6 Spokane Ag Expo and North- west Farm Forum: 9 a.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W Spo- kane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash. Spokane’s annual celebration of all things agricultural, with a large ag equipment show and full sched- ule of presentations that will be of interest to all ranchers and farmers. Online: www.agshow.org TUESDAY- THURSDAY, FEB. 11-13 World Ag Expo: 9 a.m., Interna- tional Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare, Calif. World Ag Expo is the world’s largest annual agricul- tural exposition. More than 1,500 exhibitors display the latest in farm equipment, communications and technology on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. Free semi- nars focus on a variety of topics important to dairy producers, farm- ers, ranchers and agribusiness pro- fessionals. Online: www.worldag- expo.com mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media CapitalPress.com FarmSeller.com MarketPlace.capitalpress.com facebook.com/CapitalPress facebook.com/FarmSeller twitter.com/CapitalPress youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo Index Dairy .......................................................9 Markets .................................................13 Opinion ...................................................6 Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight.
