Potatoes are in the news!

[struggle4progress]

Idaho potato production dips
The Associated Press • Published November 12, 2008

POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho's potato production will decrease about 12 percent this year compared to last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts.

State officials said the decrease is due mainly to some farmers switching over to wheat ...

The USDA estimates 305,000 acres of potatoes were planted in Idaho in 2008, and that the state will produce about 11.5 billion pounds, compared with 13 billion pounds in 2007. Final numbers on this year's output won't be available until 2009 ...

http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/659541.html

Potato price fluctuations flummox farmers

17 November, 2008 - As the potato season draws to an close, farmers from Trashigang, the largest potato cultivating dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan, are rushing off to trade their last remains of the season in a bid to obtain the best price.

But fluctuations in the price of potato have put farmers in a situation where they have to depend on their luck. “The crop was good this year, but the prices are far below expectations,” said a farmer.

With the potato season in Assam over, farmers usually expect higher prices at this time of year. However, prices have dropped to a low of Nu 700 a quintal ...

http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11474

Augustana initiates new compost program
By Alma Gaul | Monday, November 17, 2008 11:45 PM CST

Beginning today, the food waste that students dump into containers in Augustana College cafeterias will have a new life.

Rather than being hauled to a landfill, everything but the meat scraps will be picked up by Milan, Ill., farmer Jim Johansen and spread over his land, where it will be composted by 10,000 red worms. In the spring, he will spread the resulting product over his vegetable gardens to help fertilize an organic operation that uses no synthetic chemicals ...

Another change Griffith has introduced is the use of renewable, compostable tableware. Knives, forks and spoons are made of potato starch, and the clear “plastic” is made from corn. The “clamshell” containers used for “grab-and-go” items are made of sugar cane fiber, not the polystyrene derived from petroleum.

All of those items will go to Johansen’s farm for composting, too ...

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/11/17/news/local/doc492212c861e5f614195329.txt

CSU study on cancer promising
Pre-clinical work ties beans, potatoes to cancer prevention
BY HALLIE WOODS • HallieWoods@ coloradoan.com • November 17, 2008

Eating potatoes and beans regularly could help prevent breast cancer, according to a pre-clinical study by a group of CSU researchers ...

Researchers introduced a carcinogen .. into the mammary glands of rats. The animals were then fed a daily diet of different varieties of beans or potatoes in separate studies. The rat control group did not receive beans or potatoes.

At the end of the study, which was repeated three times, scientists collected data on the occurrence of cancerous mammary tumors, tumor mass and multiplicity of tumors.

Researchers found that the more beans or potatoes included in the diet, the less the frequency for malignant tumors. Researchers also found that though some bean or potatoes varieties proved more effective at prevention, all beans were better at preventing cancer than a no-bean diet ... http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20081117/CSUZONE01/311170017