News
Priorities listed by Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 120 specialty crop organizations, has announced its 2018 farm bill priorities focusing on programs for a healthier America heading into Wednesday’s U.S. ... more
McCain invests in vertical farming company
McCain Foods has completed a strategic investment in TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture, a Canadian agricultural technology company that has developed proprietary indoor vertical farming technology to grow leafy greens year round. Since its inception... more
Potatoes USA appoints leaders to domestic marketing committee
Two growers with over six decades of combined farming experience have been chosen to lead Potatoes USA’s Domestic Marketing Committee. Phil Hickman of Horntown, Virginia and Jaren Raybould of Saint Anthony, Idaho were elected to the Potatoes USA Ex... more
‘Recall Ready’ workshops for Washington growers to be held in May
Washington growers will have two opportunities to be better prepared for the possibility of potato recalls. “The United Fresh Recall Ready Workshop is an exclusive education and training service that leverages the expertise of the food industryâ... more
USDA releases report on truck shortage and record high rates
As potato shippers across the country know, trucks are hard to come by and very expensive. According to the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association the inability to find timely transportation has cost fresh shippers in the Red River Valley mi... more
Senninger Irrigation appoints VP of global sales
 Senninger Irrigation, a Hunter Industries Company, has appointed Steve Abernethy to vice president of global sales. Abernethy served as Hunter’s vice president of global sales for landscape irrigation and outdoor lighting for more than a de... more
Simplot CEO plans to retire
The leader of one of Idaho's agri-business giants, J.R. Simplot, is planning on retiring in August, according to local media. [caption id="attachment_11214" align="alignright" width="100"] Bill Whitacre , CEO of J.R. Simplot is scheduled to retire... more
New equipment company to cater to vegetable processors
A new company has been formed to provide vegetable processors with machinery. Mike McKnight, president of Automated Produce Equipment (APE), said the new company will provide cutting-edge produce machinery and packaging solutions primarily to the pot... more
Judge decides government didn’t follow rules in quarantining Idaho potato fields
A district court judge has ruled in favor of a group of Idaho farmers affected by a federal pale cyst nematode quarantine program who claimed that they didn’t have input in the crafting of the program. After pale cyst nematode (PCN) was detected... more
Study: Decreasing potato row spacing may increase yield
In a study published in the American Journal of Potato Research, researchers showed significant potato yield increases by decreasing row spacing to 32 inches, relative to the 34-inch industry standard. According to the study, 32-inch row spacing c... more
