Techmark Laboratory Services

 Potato Chemical Maturity and Process Quality Evaluations

  Techmark's Laboratory program is a leader in potato sugar monitoring.  With more than 14 locations throughout North America as well as International sites we offer expertise and over 35 years of experience.  We work with growers, university programs, variety development trials, processors and other members of the value chain.

 

Services

  • Pre-harvest field testing for chemical maturity, solids, and more.
  • Storage sample testing for sugars and process quality
  • Storage Management Consulting
  • Techmark Approved Lab Partners (TALP)

Over the the last 25 years, Techmark's Laboratory Program has

evaluated samples representing billions on CWT

Pre-Harvest Chemical Maturity

Testing and Evaluation

Field samples provide a snapshot into the chemical maturity of your crop.  We recommend chemical maturity samples 3 weeks and 1 week prior to vine kill or estimated die off.  The 3 week sample provides an early measurement of the chemical maturity and the 1 week sample provides an understanding of how rapidly the crop is maturing.  Sampling allows us to estimate where the crops chemical maturity will finish.  Maturity is highly dependent upon the crops varietal genetics.  Each variety has its own spectrum of chemical maturity and how it will affect storage performance.  Storage managers use this data to determine the best storage management plans for the farm system.  Predicting long term and mid-term storage success includes many variables with chemical maturity at harvest being an important one.

Your Pre-Harvest sample report will include: Sucrose and Glucose Ratings Canopy Vigor and Uniformity Specific Gravity Yield Related Data Points Custom services available

What does a Pre-Harvest sample consist of?

A representative sample is taken from each field in your storage program.  The sample is collected and processed at a Techmark Approved Lab.  A data report is created and forwarded to you for review.

 

Storage Sugar Testing

and Monitoring

Storage sugar testing and monitoring is powerful storage tool.  Offered through Techmark's Approved Lab network, storage sampling should be conducted throughout the season starting with conditioning.  We recommend bi-weekly sampling.  Sugar monitoring provides not only a current snapshot of the crops quality but creates a season long record with trends. Sugar monitoring is a proven tool or your storage team.  Storage managers and their teams will use sugar data to create higher quality storage outcomes and protect the investment you've already made in the field.

Your Storage Bin Report will show not only the most recent sample data but also the entire storage seasons data or visualized trend lines.

  • Sucrose and Glucose Data
  • Bin Temperature
  • Defect Scoring and processed image
  • Regional data by variety
  • Pre-Harvest data for reference

"Techmark has helped our Farm become better Potato Storage Managers.  We are learning to anticipate he needs of the storage crop using technologies we've invested in.  Collaboration has been a game changer."

 

Chase Young

Sandyland Farms - Michigan

Techmark Consulting Services

Maintaining quality throughout storage is Job #1

You've already made the investment.  Now you need to protect that investment.  A storage system is only a tool for your storage management team.  Managing storage operations and listening to what the storage crop is telling you is a skill acquired over years of practice.  Techmark works with operations, small and large, to provide your storage teams with the knowledge and experience they need to deliver the best possible returns.

"I highly recommend Techmark Consulting.  Through a learning process over regularly scheduled calls we were given the confidence to significantly reduce our an run times, whilst still providing sufficient air when it was needed.  This led to immediate energy savings and an improvement in our potato quality.  Techmark's knowledge and experience make them a valuable asset."

 

Michael Davie, North Paddock Farms

Alberta, Canada

What will we review during a consulting call?

 

  • Review of storage sugar samples and storage performance
  • Discussion on what your seeing in the bin
  • Current temperatures in the bin, outside the bin
  • Continuous evaluation of your storage goals and how your bins match best to reach those goals
  • Strategies or warming and conditioning schedules to meet shipping demands
  • Varietal storage traits and what to expect
  • Hot spots and how best to contain them
  • Fan run times and energy management

Who would benefit from Techmark Consulting?

 

Anyone with a crop in storage will benefit.  Our consulting is designed to fit your goals.  We work with growers, processors, breeders, agronomists, and other industry members.  We work with large, multi-state operations and smaller single location looking or better storage outcomes.

 

  • Regularly scheduled calls throughout the storage season
  • Consulting fees based on CWT and number of bins
  • Video calls to allow your entire storage team to participate
  • Evaluate storage ventilation performance, energy efficiency and identity opportunities for improvement

We would recommend Techmark's consulting service 100% to anyone.  Consulting has improved our farms quality and learning significantly.  We have stored potatoes for many years but we've learned so many new things during this past season of consulting calls.  Thank you!

 

Perry Produce, Peter Thiessen

Alberta, Canada

Techmark Approved Laboratories - TALP

Techmark's Approved Laboratory Program, or TALP, is a global laboratory partnership that offers potato sugar testing in production regions.  Our network of laboratory partners extends throughout North America as well as limited international locations.

A Techmark Approved Lab can be setup in a variety of models.

  • Private TALP for on-farm use only
  • Local farm or co-op TALP for multiple growers and potentially other industry partners.
  • Commercial TALP offered to local growers
  • Processor operated TALP

Wondering if a TALP is a good fit or your operation?  Call us at 1.517.322.0250

How does Techmark support my operation?

Techmark will be a partner throughout the life o your lab.  Your success is our goal.

  • Monthly check samples or your laboratory to ensure consistency
  • Cooperative advertising of your TALP if appropriate
  • Monthly reviews of your data reports
  • A phone call away or operational support
  • On site training and support is available

                 Techmark Inc.                   Technology from the ground up                  1-517-322-0250                    www.techmark-inc.com               techmark@techmark-inc.com