News
Report: $15 billion grower aid tranche being discussed
Key members of the U.S. House and Senate are working to put together $15 billion in aid, including relief for specialty crop growers, in this month’s appropriation bills, according to a POLITICO report. Sen. John Hoeven, who chairs the Senate ... more
Global Potato Summit 2025 recognizes international industry excellence
The Global Potato Summit 2025, held Dec. 11-12 in Delhi, India, highlighted international industry excellence and supply chain contributions. Sachidanand Madan, summit organizer and former advisor at ITC Limited, received the Lifetime Achievement ... more
Revision increases USDA potato production estimates for 2025
USDA has revised its 2025 potato production estimates, now reporting that U.S. growers produced 412.86 million cwt of potatoes. That’s 798,000 cwt more than USDA’s November crop estimate but 8.31 million cwt, or 2.0%, less than the 2024 crop, ... more
Industry focus on specialty crop relief intensifies as deadline approaches
On the heels of the 18th annual Potato Expo, event host and industry advocate National Potato Council (NPC) is intensifying its focus on key 2026 priorities. Chief among those is economic relief for specialty crop growers. With specialty crop pr... more
NPC says new dietary guidelines are ‘encouraging’
A leading potato advocacy group calls the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and USDA “encouraging.” The guidelines, released every five years following a scientific review of nutrition ev... more
Lamb Weston closing plant in Argentina, consolidating regional operations
Lamb Weston is closing its Munro, Argentina plant and consolidating Latin American regional production to its new facility in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The approximately 100 employees affected by the Munro closure will be provided with severance p... more
Pioneer in Michigan commercial russet growing dies at 81
Former potato farmer Robert "Bob" Gruesbeck of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, has died at age 81. Gruesbeck and his wife, Barbara, were among the first commercial growers of russet potatoes in the state, according to the Michigan Potato Industry Commissi... more
Trade talk includes details of request to probe Canadian practices
A trade-focused breakout session Jan. 7 at Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas provided additional details on the National Potato Council (NPC)’s request for the Office of the United States Trade Representative to investigate Canadian potato trade practices... more
New seaweed-derived biostimulant aims to improve plant health, vigor
JH Biotech’s new seaweed-derived biostimulant is designed to fit into existing fertility programs to support plant health and crop performance. Kelp Star, derived from Ascophyllum nodosum, a large, common cold-water seaweed, is specifically aime... more
Cotton, rice top per-acre rates for crops eligible for farmer assistance program
Rice and cotton will receive the highest rates among row crows in Farmer Bridge Assistance rates announced by USDA. The rates, announced Dec. 31, are part of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program announced last month by USDA Secretary B... more
