News
IPC’s new commercial part of year-round marketing effort
The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has launched its latest television commercial during the Boise State University vs. University of Virginia football game that aired in late September. This is the seventh installment of the IPC’s “Missing” comm... more
Lamb Weston reports strong first quarter
Lamb Weston has released its figures for the first quarter of the 2018 fiscal year and the company said the numbers are positive and that it reaffirms the company’s outlook for the coming year. “Our strong start to the year reflects a good bal... more
Michigan tops nation for chipping potatoes
The Michigan business news site Crain’s Detroit Business has reported that Michigan has produced the most chipping potatoes out of any state in the country. Since the early 1990s, an increase in quality has led Michigan chipping potatoes to in... more
AVR to launch Spirit 5200 potato harvester
AVR will launch its new AVR Spirit 5200, which the company says has been designed to be simple and efficient, in November. The Spirit 5200 comes with hydraulic level setting, automatic row tracking, and wheel steering with reset function as standa... more
Exports of U.S. Potatoes and Products Up for July 2017
Exports of frozen, dehydrated and fresh potatoes in July 2017 all showed gains compared to July 2016, according to Potatoes USA. The volume of frozen exports was up 1 percent, with the value up 3 percent to $94 million. The volume of exports of de... more
NIFA/USDA to distribute $48 million for specialty crops research
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced its funding levels for fiscal year 2018 research in the specialty crop industry, including potatoes. This is made through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), authorized ... more
Censky, McKinney confirmed for key USDA posts
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Steve Censky, nominated by President Donald Trump as deputy secretary, and Ted McKinney, selected by the president to be under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. The under secretary role was created as... more
Harvest well underway in Upper Snake
Idaho Potato farmers may make bank this year as potatoes are selling at $8.65 per hundredweight. That’s up significantly from previous years, said Travis Blacker who serves as the industry relations director for the Idaho Potato Commission told ... more
Congressman unveils new Agricultural Guestworker Act
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has unveiled a bill to create a new agricultural guest-worker program for farmers and ranchers. The Agricultural Guestworker Act, or the AG Act, would replace the H-2A g... more
Valley Irrigation promotes Wacker, Siekman to senior roles
Valley Irrigation has promoted Jodi Wacker to vice president of global human resources and Darren Siekman to vice president of global business development, both in the Irrigation and Tubing division. Wacker joined Valmont Industries, parent compa... more
