Category: Production

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 16, 2026

Supporters of House workforce act legislation can voice opinions online

U.S. House Agriculture Committee chair Glenn Thompson has released details for the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act and is working to secure House cosponsors before its introduction in late June.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 16, 2026

Little Potato company launches new flavor in microwave-ready line

The Little Potato Company has launched a new flavor in its line of microwave-ready products. A Little Homestyle Ranch, priced at $3.99 per tray, is now available

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 12, 2026

Produce coalition forms to support USCMA trade agreement

A new coalition has launched in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as the trade initiative undergoes a six-year review.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 11, 2026

USDA accepting applications for trade program funding until mid-August

USDA is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2027 trade promotion programs. The programs aim to lower international trade barriers for U.S. growers.

Spudman | May/June 2026

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 08, 2026

Irrigation solutions company opens new production site in Mexico

Orbia Advance Corporation’s precision agriculture business group Netafim has opened a new manufacturing plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 08, 2026

House passes ag appropriations bill containing potato industry priorities

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2027 Agriculture and FDA Appropriations bill on a 213-210 vote with several potato industry priorities intact.

Spudman | May/June 2026

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 04, 2026

New botanical nematicide aims to boost yield, manage disease in potatoes

Biological crop protection company BioWorks has launched a new botanical nematicide formulated with a proprietary blend of botanical oils.

Spudman | May/June 2026

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).

Spudman | May/June 2026

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Jun 02, 2026

Payment rates, enrollment period set for specialty crop assistance program

Payment rates and an enrollment period for the USDA’s Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program have been set.

INDUSTRY NEWS | May 26, 2026

New chip processing line to debut next month

PPM Technologies and Key Technology will introduce a new, integrated potato chip processing line next month at SNACKEX in Lisbon, Portugal.

INDUSTRY NEWS | May 21, 2026

Potato planting winding down across US regions

Potato growers across the U.S. are nearly finished planting, with most of the 2026 crop in the ground in Idaho and the Columbia Basin.

INDUSTRY NEWS | May 20, 2026

The Fertilizer Institute welcomes news of Crops Inputs Economist position

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) applauded the re-establishment of a Crop Inputs Economist within USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist, saying the position will provide “independent and consistent analysis and reporting on fertilizer and other crop input markets.”

INDUSTRY NEWS | May 19, 2026

Decision leaves interim rule changing AEWR calculations in effect

A federal court decision has left an interim rule changing how Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) are determined in effect. On May 14, a judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction

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