PAPAS Heads to the Field: Hermiston and WSU Potato Field Days This June
PAPAS researchers will be on the ground in Oregon and Washington, sharing the latest in nematode management research directly with growers, agronomists, and industry partners.
Hermiston Potato Field Day
Tuesday, June 24, 2026 | 8:00 a.m.
Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center
(2121 S 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838)
This annual extension event brings together growers, industry representatives, researchers, and stakeholders to highlight current research, variety trials, and management practices supporting potato production in Eastern Oregon.
Attendees will hear updates on potato breeding and cultivars, pest management, nutrient management, and soil health — with direct access to the university and USDA-ARS scientists behind the research.
PAPAS researchers presenting:
- Dr. Sagar Sathuvalli, Professor and Potato Breeder at Oregon State University and PAPAS Principal Investigator, will share updates on breeding and variety development, including the latest in genetics and genomics research.
- Dr. Inga Zasada, NemaSolutions LLC and PAPAS Project Co-Director, will present current findings on nematode management research in the Pacific Northwest.
The event includes free lunch, and pesticide applicator and CCA credits will be offered.
WSU Potato Field Day
Wednesday, June 25, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.
WSU Othello Research Station
(1471 W Cox Rd, Othello, WA 99344)
Researchers from Washington State University and partner institutions will gather to share progress on potato variety development, disease management, and strategies to improve crop productivity and health.
The day features two simultaneous field tours covering growing practices and pest management — attendees are free to move between sessions based on their interests, including interactive demonstrations and commercial seed lot viewing covering symptomology, cultural practices, and pest management.
PAPAS researchers presenting:
- Dr. Max Feldman, Research Geneticist at USDA-ARS and PAPAS Principal Investigator, will share updates on breeding research.
- Dr. Cynthia Gleason, Associate Professor and Washington State University and PAPAS Project Co-Director, will provide an overview of current PAPAS project progress.
LEARN MORE https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2742/2026/06/2026-WSU-Potato-Field-Day-Program.docx
Get Involved in Potato Field Days
Field days like these are some of the most valuable outreach opportunities PAPAS has all year. Unlike a conference presentation or a published article, field days put researchers in direct conversation with the growers and advisors who will use this research — answering questions in real time, walking research plots together, and hearing firsthand what challenges matter most in the field.
If you’re attending either event, stop by and talk with our team. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind this season. For more nematode management resources, research updates, and tools for potato growers, explor PotatoNematodes.org.
