News
National Potato Council calls for increased funding for USDA pest management agency
The National Potato Council joined dozens of other agricultural organizations in requesting increased funding for the USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy. The office coordinates with the producer and user communities to ensure the uses and bene... more
Hybrid fungicide shows promise in controlling early blight
A new hybrid fungicide combining botanical and conventional chemistries has shown promising results in controlling early blight and boosting yields. Results from a 2022 North Dakota State University trial using REGEV found efficacy against brown s... more
Rising potato prices could be good news for growers, report finds
With potato prices rising while production and acreage shrinks, growers should find themselves in a good bargaining position for the 2023-24 marketing year, according to a recent survey. Grower cooperatives and/or associations that negotiate on be... more
U.S. agricultural trade mission heading to Japan next week
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead an upcoming agricultural trade mission to Japan June 5-8. The delegation includes a representation of the U.S. agriculture sector, including businesses, state ... more
Potatoes USA elects board members, committee chairs
Potatoes USA has elected nine members to its 2023-24 executive committee. The new members, elected at the organization’s annual meeting in March, represent operations of all sizes from coast to coast. International marketing committee Shelley Ols... more
Supreme Court decision narrows definition of WOTUS
The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the definition of waters of the United States and areas regulated under the Clean Water Act. In a unanimous decision on May 25, the court limited the areas regulated under the CWA to wetlands that are “as a pr... more
Deadline to complete 2022 Census of Agriculture survey nears
Producers are running out of time to complete USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) questionnaires for the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Data collection will end May 31. Federal law requires everyone who received the ag census to com... more
Report: US potato production declines for fourth consecutive year
U.S. potato production declined for the fourth consecutive year, reaching its lowest level since 2010 and fueling a price surge, according to a recent report. The 893,000 acres harvested in 2022/23 was the smallest on record, according to the U.S.... more
Agronomy professor recipient of inaugural University of Maine innovation award
A University of Maine agronomy professor is the inaugural recipient of the Presidential Innovation Award, established this year to recognize the university’s mission of advancing learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Gregory ... more
Federal assistance planned for growers affected by natural disaster in 2022
Help for producers who suffered losses because of a natural disaster in 2022 is on the way. Up to $3.7 billion in federal assistance will be available. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the planned rollout of Emergency Relief Progra... more
