Announcements

The Maine Potato Summit will be held on January 15, 2025 at the Smith Wellness Center at Northern Maine Community College located at 33 Edgemont Drive, Presque Isle, ME 04769.  This is our 3^rd year taking this conference over and we are going to try a different format this year to see if it will work better for everyone’s busy schedule.

**6 Pesticide Recertification Credits available for the day**

We have a great day planned with new innovation talks as well as local crop product updates. Also, don’t miss our social event to wrap up the day with a free cocktails and food!  The reception will be a great opportunity to connect with our great group of vendors to speak more on their products as well as other industry representatives and fellow growers.

As always, the event is free for Maine growers and their staff!

 

2025 Schedule:

Time	General Session
8:00 AM	Registration
8:00 am – 8:30 am	Breakfast sponsored by CaroVail/Carolina Eastern
8:30 – 9:30 am	Steve Li- Auburn University, UAV spraying- Steve will discuss the basics of crop spraying using UAVs.
9:30 – 10:00 am	Andrei Alyokhin- University of Maine, Potato entomology. Andrei will discuss economic impact levels of different insects on potatoes and the amount of damage potato plants can incur before yield impacts are observed
10:00 – 10:30 am	Morning Break
10:30 – 11:30 am	Bryan Hammis- Michigan Operator, UAV Potato Spraying. Bryan will discuss spraying with UAVs specifically on potatoes.
11:30 – 12 pm	Han Tan- University of Maine, UAVs for pest detection. Han will speak on research he is helping conduct on utilizing UAVs to determine disease and insect presence in potatoes.
12 – 1 pm	Lunch sponsored by Bluefield Seeding Solutions
1 – 1:30 pm	Panel (Hammis, Li, Active Intelligence, MBPC)- The panel will discuss and answer questions on the use of UAVs for pesticide applications in potatoes.
1:30 – 2pm	Mario Andrade- University of Maine, Potato Breeding Update. Mario will discuss the latest breeding efforts from UMaine.
2 – 2:20 pm	Mike Wenkel- National Potato Council, National Potato Industry Update.
2:20 – 2:50 pm	Afternoon Break
2:50 – 3:10 pm	Syngenta Update- Latest insecticide product and update
3:10 – 3:30 pm	Techmark Update- Latest storage technology for disease management.
3:30 – 3:50 pm	BioSafe Systems Update- Latest product updates.
3:50 – 4:10 pm	Agri-Cal Update- Latest product updates.
4:15 pm – 6 pm	Reception sponsored by Farm Credit East

 

---

Jeannie Tapley Named Executive Director of the Maine Potato Board

The Maine Potato Board is proud to announce Jeannie Tapley as its new Executive Director, succeeding Don Flannery, who retired in October. Jeannie’s appointment marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Board and the Maine potato industry, as her leadership, expertise, and unwavering dedication position her as an ideal choice to guide the industry forward.

With over a decade of service at the Maine Potato Board, Jeannie has proven herself as an indispensable leader. She began as an administrative assistant and quickly advanced to Director of Operations, overseeing the Board’s financial management, human resources, and grant administration while providing critical support to staff and growers alike. Jeannie played a pivotal role in the transition and management of the Maine Seed Potato Board, ensuring a reliable and healthy source of seed potatoes for Maine’s growers.

Her leadership was especially evident during challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, where she implemented innovative solutions to maintain key operations and manage financial losses. Jeannie’s ability to anticipate needs, provide immediate and effective solutions, and build collaborative relationships has earned her widespread respect within the industry.

Jeannie’s commitment to the Maine potato industry goes beyond her professional duties. She is an active advocate for Maine agriculture, participating in state and national organizations such as the National Potato Council and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. She regularly provides testimony on legislative issues that impact the industry and promotes agricultural education through programs like Maine Agriculture in the Classroom.

In her community, Jeannie serves as school board chair and volunteers extensively with youth sports programs, embodying the same dedication to service that defines her professional career. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, snowmobiling, and camping with her family, showcasing her deep connection to the Maine way of life.

As Executive Director, Jeannie is committed to driving innovation, supporting Maine’s growers, and fostering collaboration across the industry. Her appointment signals a renewed focus on addressing challenges and seizing opportunities to ensure the Maine potato industry’s continued success.

The Board and the industry are thrilled to welcome Jeannie into this new role and look forward to the visionary leadership she will bring to Maine’s potato growers, partners, and communities.

---

Maine Potatoes are Fresh, Sustainable, Delicious, and Nutritious!

The Maine Potato industry prides itself on producing a high-quality product, whether that product is potatoes destined for your table, french fries, potato chips, or other processed potatoes. The Maine Quality Trademark is your guarantee that the contents are only the highest quality. In fact, before those potatoes can bear that trademark, they are inspected and pass requirements stricter than the United States Department of Agriculture’s U.S. No. 1 grade. Just look for the red, white and blue State of Maine trademark the next time you’re shopping for potatoes.

In the news…