Texas A&M’s annual field day in Springlake will spotlight advanced russet clones like Dune Russet and Duncan Russet, bred to withstand heat stress and viral pressure.
Potato industry professionals, researchers, and growers across Texas and beyond are invited to attend the annual Texas Potato Field Day on Tuesday, July 16, in Springlake, where the latest breeding advances and variety trials will be showcased in the field.
The event is organized by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program, Barrett Potato Farms, and Springlake Potatoes Inc. It will begin at 10 a.m. at Springlake Potato Sales, located at 1452 U.S. Highway 385, before attendees travel to nearby field trial plots. Participation is free and no preregistration is required.
An Opportunity to See Innovation in Action
The field day offers a rare opportunity to view cutting-edge research and development work from the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program, as well as breeding material from other national collaborators. Dr. Isabel Vales, AgriLife Research potato breeder and associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University in Bryan-College Station, will lead a comprehensive program update and discuss promising advanced clones now under evaluation.
Among the highlights this year is Dune Russet, a processing-type russet that stands out for its performance under high-temperature conditions typical of Texas summers. According to Douglas Scheuring, senior research associate with AgriLife Research, Dune Russet delivers exceptional specific gravity, making it particularly attractive to frozen french fry processors currently assessing its commercial viability.
“This clone is unique in that it gives us very high solids in the Texas heat,” Scheuring noted. “It’s showing real potential as a processing variety that can stand up to our challenging conditions.”
Vales will also present findings on Duncan Russet, a fresh-market russet noted for its resistance to potato virus Y (PVY), a yield-reducing aphid-borne disease that remains a concern for growers across North America.
Grower Insights and Regional Perspectives
The field day will also feature insights from local growers, including Bruce Barrett of Barrett Potato Farms, who will provide an overview of the current growing season and discuss in-field challenges and crop performance. Other producers from the region will contribute their perspectives on variety adaptability and market trends.
The event traditionally attracts a mix of breeders, processors, agronomists, and producers, offering a platform for exchange on variety performance, pest and disease pressures, and market readiness.
For More Information
Questions about the field day or the potato breeding trials can be directed to:
- Dr. Isabel Vales: isabel.vales@ag.tamu.edu
- Doug Scheuring: 979-324-2564
- Jeffrey Koym: 806-777-2412
- Bruce Barrett: 806-893-2040
The Texas Potato Field Day continues to be a cornerstone outreach and technology transfer event for AgriLife Research, helping to bridge academic research with real-world production needs in the Southern Plains.
Source: AgriLife Today. Original news story here
Author: Tim Schnettler
Cover image: Credit Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program