Category: Articles
New Potatoes USA chair ready to get to work
New PUSA chair says role represents responsibility to the growers who invest in the program. Hear more from Dave Masser.
A closer look at key factors at play in disease defense in storage
Managing diseases in storage always starts with questions about field conditions. Experts share starting points for successful disease management.
Shifting storage scence: Climate, supply chain, AI driving postharvest trends
Climate change, supply chain issues, increasing costs of construction materials and energy, and tightening regulations on refrigerants and chemicals such as sprout inhibitors are all factors influencing the decisions growers make about potato storage in today’s market.
Could acreage decline be good news for growers?
Potato growers are facing tough market conditions and rising production costs, along with global competition. But some say a forecasted acreage drop is welcome news.
Measuring sustainability: Metrics guide next phase of potato production
The phrase “you can’t manage what you don’t measure” gets used a lot in agriculture, but when it comes to sustainability, it really does ring true.
Lake Winnipeg Basin project demonstrates value of water stewardship
In the Lake Winnipeg Basin of southern Manitoba, Canada, four farms have proven that water stewardship is not just good environmental policy — it’s good business.
Crunching the numbers: Retail data can help increase appetite for potatoes
If you want a snapshot of potato demand in 2025, here it is: $19.9 billion in total retail sales for the calendar year and 15.3 billion pounds sold across all store segments (fresh weight equivalent), according to data compiled by market research and technology company Circana.
Potato LEAF program cultivates industry leadership
The potato industry thrives on a long-term vision that extends well past the next harvest. Families manage their land and water resources today so they can pass down strong, sustainable operations to the next generation.
Project aims to define national soil health benchmark
A new national project aims to give farmers a clearer way to measure and compare soil health. The initiative, called Probing Our Country’s Soil Health, is led by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS).
New automated tech digs deeper and faster into soil health
A Netherlands-based agritech startup aims to make measuring soil health a more scientific process — and improving it more efficient.
2026 Spudwoman of the Year Nicole Nichol drives variety development, industry improvement
2026 Spudwoman of the Year Nicole Nichol spearheads McCain’s varietal development as the potato processing giant’s director of ag, variety development and seed supply for North America.
Outgoing PUSA chair ends year of service with reflections, gratitude
With the close of Potatoes USA annual meeting, held March 9-11 in Denver, my term as chair of the board has come to a close. I wanted to take the time to reflect, say thank you and share a few of my key takeaways.
Big Idaho Potato Truck keeps rolling as successful marketing symbol
After 14 years, the Big Idaho Potato Truck continues to keep Idaho potatoes visible and remind consumers where America’s most famous potatoes come from.
New mentoring event debuts at annual meeting
Students and early career professionals attending this year’s PAA Annual Meeting will have access to an exciting new opportunity designed to enrich their academic and professional development.
NPC: Growers face pivotal crossroads for key industry issues
If you look at the 2018 Farm Bill today, it feels like it’s from a different lifetime. In competitive terms, many parts of it are. For specialty crops, the world has changed substantially since the writing of that bill, which began nearly a decade ago.
Spudman’s annual pest and disease survey highlights grower challenges and priorities
The 2026 Spudman Pest & Disease Survey highlights persistent threats and emerging issues shaping management decisions.