Montcalm Research Center

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Established 1966

Michigan potato and dry bean producers are the main beneficiaries of the research conducted at the 57-acre Montcalm Research Center. The center also leases 40 additional acres for research and demonstration projects. Research activities include potato variety evaluation, cultural practices, fertility and weed, insect and disease control. Michigan ranks sixth in the nation in potato production value and is the No. 1 producer of chipping potatoes in the country. The center is adjacent to the Burt Cargill Potato Demonstration Storage facility which consists of two buildings that, combined, house nine 50,000-pound bulk potato storages. These storages allow researchers to study the commercial potential of new processing potato varieties as well as perform other post-harvest evaluations under simulated commercial evaluation.

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News

MSU potato researcher honored for lifetime achievements and outstanding publication

Published on August 2, 2021
David Douches, director of the MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics Program, was recently awarded Honorary Life Membership to the Potato Association of America, the organization's highest honor.
Potato field day to be held Aug. 5 at Montcalm Research Center

Published on July 6, 2021
Michigan State University and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission are hosting a potato field day at the Montcalm Research Center in Lakeview, Michigan, on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Managing disease for better growth, storage and processing of sugar beets and potatoes

Published on July 1, 2020
Jaime Willbur, assistant professor in the Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, analyzes the impact of pathogens to prolong the health of key Michigan crops.
MSU receives USDA grant for potato breeding and genetics program

Published on February 26, 2020
MSU has received $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to invest in its potato breeding and genetics program.
Michigan State University partners to create limited-edition purple potato chips

Published on November 25, 2019
The limited-edition purple potato chips from Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. are made from the Blackberry potato, the newest variety developed by Michigan State University's Potato Breeding and Genetics program.