Washington State University will welcome growers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to its annual Potato Field Day on June 26, 2025, at the Othello Research Farm. The event, now in its 62nd year, offers a hands-on showcase of the latest science and extension activities in potato production, breeding, and pest management.

Organised by WSU’s Potato Extension and Research program, the event is designed to maintain the competitiveness and profitability of Washington’s potato industry. “The research and Extension activities on display at Potato Field Day are designed to keep our potato growers and industry competitive and profitable,” said Mark Pavek, professor and research agronomist at WSU. “Every project is important.”

A central feature of the event is the long-running commercial seed lot trial, conducted in partnership with the Washington State Potato Commission and industry collaborators. The trial allows side-by-side comparisons of dozens of commercial potato varieties under uniform field conditions. In addition to agronomic performance and quality traits, the trial also serves as a practical diagnostic tool for identifying disease symptoms, particularly those related to virus infection. Data from the trial are made publicly available via the WSU Potatoes website.

This year’s field day will feature dual-track, walk-through tours with presentations by experts from WSU, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Soil Health Institute, Cornell University, and the University of Idaho. Topics will range from irrigation efficiency and wound healing to the impact of nutrient strategies on skin quality and tuber resilience under heat stress.

The parallel pest management tour will include updates on virus and nematode resistance, herbicide trials, and the biosecurity role played by WSU’s Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Researchers will also address the controversial use of neonicotinoids, a class of pesticides under scrutiny for their impact on pollinators and beneficial insects, and discuss alternatives for virus control.

Students and research teams will present interactive stations where participants can engage directly with ongoing trials and findings. A complimentary lunch, provided by sponsors and organisers, will be served at midday.

The event is free to attend and supported by WSU, the Washington State Potato Commission, the Washington State Potato Foundation, and corporate sponsors. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with key stakeholders and acknowledge the partners funding ongoing research.

According to Pavek, industry engagement is essential to aligning research priorities with on-the-ground needs. “We need their assistance, just as they need ours,” he noted. “We are all far more successful when we work together as a team. Attendees will be able to see that team at work during the field day.”

The WSU Othello Research Farm is located at 1471 W. Cox Road, Othello, Washington. For a detailed agenda, seed trial results, and directions, visit the Potato Research Group website.