2025 Speakers
2026 Speaker List Coming Fall 2026
KEYNOTE: Jon Montgomery, Dream Big-And Believe It's Possible!
Jon Montgomery always wanted to represent Canada in sport... he just didn't know which sport it could be!
Having a penchant for adventurous experiences and with the encouragement of his parents to try new things and embrace challenges, Jon was able to find his passion and his opportunity t make his dreams come true through super-sonic-speeds on the skeleton track.
Jon's story inspires others to go after their own stretch-goals and reach for new heights. Attendees will be reminded of the tools they can lever to create the resolve, in their heart-of-hearts, that they have what it takes to Dream Big - And Believe It's Possible!
LUNCHEON: Neil Gudmestad, The Science and Humor of a Career in the Potato Industry
Dr. Neil C. Gudmestad is a retired University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology at North Dakota State University. He is a native of North Dakota and a graduate of NDSU (Ph.D., 1982).
Dr. Gudmestad is a world-recognized authority on the biology and management of potato diseases. His nearly 43 year research career focused on pathogen biology and genetic diversity of a number of pathogens that cause foliar and soil-borne diseases of potato. His research laboratory has been recognized for the development of molecular detection tools for potato pathogens and fungal mutations that convey resistance to fungicides.
Dr. Gudmestad’s research also focused on invasive pathogens affecting the
potato industry in the U.S.A. such as zebra chip and potato mop top virus. Dr.
Gudmestad has received numerous recognitions throughout his professional career including the highest honor from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the 2014 Partnership Award that recognizes mission integration of research, education, and extension. He is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, an Honorary Life Member of the Potato Association of America, and he has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World
Potato Congress for his contributions and dedication to the global potato
industry.
In 2014 the United States potato industry established a $6.8 million endowment in his name and he was the first recipient of the Neil C. Gudmestad Endowed Chair of Potato Pathology at NDSU. In 2021 Gudmestad was named a 50 for 50 honoree by the Potato Grower Magazine as one of 50 most influential individuals in the North American Potato Industry in the last half century. Dr. Gudmestad retired from NDSU in February, 2020 but remains associated with the potato industry as a private consultant.
Julie Pasche – NDSU - Pink Rot Prevention and Management: Best Practices forField and Storage
Dr. Julie Pasche is a plant pathologist at North Dakota State University. The mission of her research program is to improve management of economically important diseases of potatoes. She is fortunate to work with a talented group of post-docs, research scientists and graduate students on fungal, fungal-like, bacterial and viral pathogens. Currently, Julie’s research includes the development and implementation of quantitative molecular diagnostic assays, with a focus on soil-borne pathogens. Her program also works heavily in fungicide resistance and integrated pest management. Julie is working towards integrating molecular tools to identify disease resistance and better understand pathogen variability, facilitating the development of long-term management strategies.
Gustavo Teixeira – U of Idaho - Sprouting and Its Control
Dr. Gustavo Teixeira is an Assistant Professor and Potato Postharvest Physiologist at the University of Idaho’s Kimberly Research and Extension Center.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, and earned both his
master’s (2000) and Ph.D. (2005) from São Paulo State University (UNESP), with
part of his studies conducted at the Department of Primary Industries in
Queensland, Australia.
Dr. Teixeira has an extensive background in research and
academia, having served as a Food Science Researcher at the Brazilian Ministry
of Science and Technology (MCT), Semiarid National Institute (INSA), an
Assistant Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of São
Paulo (USP), and an Associate Professor of Fruit Crops at UNESP. From 2017 to
2019, he completed a sabbatical at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Currently, Dr. Teixeira focuses on innovative postharvest
technologies to assist Idaho potato growers, processors, and shippers in
reducing waste. His research explores advanced techniques, including the use of
LED lighting to manage sprouting, near-infrared spectroscopy for predicting
phytochemical content in specialty potatoes, temperature-dependent
wound-healing metabolism, pressure bruise simulation and browning, and
hyperspectral imaging.
Mike Nemeth, Waterstewardship as an Agricultural Opportunity
Mike is a Sr. Manager, Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability at Nutrien. He leads Nutrien’s global water stewardship and biodiversity efforts as priority sustainability topics and how they relate to sustainable agriculture. He also supports Nutrien’s climate strategy and looks for opportunities around system solutions between the nature-climate nexus with agri-food value chain partners.
Mike received his Bachelor of Science with Distinction in
Environmental Science and his Master of Science with a concentration in
Hydrology from the University of Lethbridge. He is registered as a Professional
Agrologist (P.Ag.) in the practice areas of Environmental Impact Assessment and
Mitigation Planning and Water Resources Planning and Management and currently
serves as the Chair of the Water Committee for the Potato Sustainability
Alliance in North America.
Ian MacRae - University of Minnesota - Insecticides in Potatoes: Sometimes It’s Like Going Around a Blind Corner……
DR. IAN MACRAE has a PhD in entomology from Oregon State University
and has been a professional entomologist for over 30 years. He has extensive
experience in Integrated Pest Management of field and row crops, potatoes,
small grains, oil seed crops, sugarbeet, and tree fruits. Dr. MacRae’s lab has an active program
studying the spatial and temporal distribution of insect populations, remote
sensing, and insecticide resistance in insect pests.in Minnesota and North
Dakota cropping systems.
Curtis Cavers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Landscape Agronomy: Restoring Productivity on Eroded Hilltops
Curtis received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (majoring in Soil
Science) in 1992 and a Master of Science in Soil Science in 1996, both from the
University of Manitoba.
Prior to joining Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2007, Curtis worked
for Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives in Carman for over 10
years, leading programs pertaining to sustainable manure management, nutrient
management, soil conservation, risk assessment of soils, water management,
agronomy and climate change.
In 2007, Curtis joined AAFC as an agronomist in Carberry and later
Portage la Prairie and Winkler, working on potato research and demonstration
projects pertaining to nutrient management, soil salinity and improved
management of inputs in potato crop production.
More recently, the focus has shifted to crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat
and canola.
Curtis has supervised the operations at the Portage la Prairie site
since 2008, ensuring healthy collaborative arrangements between AAFC-Portage
and industry, as well as collaborations with the University of Manitoba,
provincial government and AAFC colleagues from across Canada. As a Certified Crop Advisor since 1998, Curtis
served as on the Prairie Certified Crop Advisor Board. His research interests include agronomy,
soils, tillage, moisture management and nutrient management in all crops grown
on site.
Caleigh Hallink-Irwin, General Manager, FVGC, Crop Protection/ Canadian Potato Council updates for potato
Caleigh Hallink-Irwin is the General Manager of the Canadian Potato Council at the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada.
She holds an MSc in applied entomology from the University of Guelph,
and has over 15 years experience working in Canadian agriculture, for both
industry and growers. At CPC, Caleigh leads strategic initiatives in advocacy,
trade, and crop protection, advancing industry collaboration and championing
the interests of Canadian potato growers.
Ryan K. Brook, PhD, Professor & Graduate Chair, University of Saskatchewan - Wildpigs and spuds: Tracking the rapid spread and impacts of feral swine on theCanadian Prairies
Dr. Ryan Brook was born and raised on a mixed farm east of Winnipeg near the town of
Dugald. He did his bachelor of zoology, master of natural resource management,
and PhD all at the University of Manitoba.
He is a professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science and his
research team works on farmland moose, elk, deer, caribou, and invasive wild
pigs across Canada and has a long-term research program along the Hudson Bay
coast of Manitoba on wildlife and habitat where he teaches a field course out
of Churchill.
Like most people raised in Manitoba he used to always use his
turn signal while driving but 15 years of living in Saskatchewan and he hasn’t
signaled a turn in over a decade.
Amy Charkowski, Colorado State University -Challenges and new insights into powdery scab management
Amy Charkowski is a Professor of Plant Pathology and Research Associate Dean at Colorado State University.
From 2016 through 2023, she served as department head for Agricultural Biology at CSU. She earned her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Charkowski’s research
is mainly on plant pathogens that affect seed potato production or trade,
including potato viruses, Spongospora, and soft rot bacterial pathogens
of potato and it has resulted in over 85 publications and multiple patents.
She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in integrated pest management and plant bacteriology. Charkowski led her department in development of a new
undergraduate major in Agricultural Biology, an online Masters Degree in Pest Management, and a minor in Agricultural Data Science.
RyanBarrett, Research and Agronomy Specialist, Prince Edward IslandPotato Board - Exploring“win-win” regenerative agriculture practices in potato production
Ryan Barrett is the Research and Agronomy Specialist with
the Prince Edward Island Potato Board in Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island. In this role, he coordinates local and national research projects
with a number of different partners as well as conducting on-farm research
trials with PEI potato growers. Ryan serves as the lead on three projects
under the ACS Living Labs program in PEI.
Ryan is Professional Agrologist and serves as the President
of the PEI Institute of Agrologists. He is also a Certified Crop Advisor
for the Atlantic Provinces. He also serves as Chair of the Canadian
Potato Council’s Research Working Group as well as serving on a number of other
agricultural boards and committees.
Ryan graduated with a B.Sc. (Agr) from the Dalhousie Faculty
of Agriculture in 2002 and an M.Sc. from the University of Guelph in
2004. He has worked with the PEI Potato Board since 2012 after previously
working in the purebred dairy cattle industry. As well, he continues to
be involved in his family’s dairy farm, breeding registered Milking
Shorthorns. Ryan also serves as Secretary-Manager of the Canadian Milking
Shorthorn Society.
The 2025 Program - the program committee is working hard on the 2025 speaker schedule - check back for updates
