News
US Senate reaches deal on GMO labeling
Senate lawmakers reached a deal Thursday, June 23 to label foods containing genetically modified ingredients, just eight days before Vermont's first-in-the-nation labeling law takes effect in July.The bipartisan legislation, reached following weeks o... more
WPIB increases assessment by one cent
The Wisconsin Potato Industry Board unanimously passed a motion at its June 16 meeting that will dedicate $500,000 per year for the next ten years toward a potato research fund. The motion includes an assessment increase of one cent per hundredweight... more
Heavy rain hits Northern Plains potatoes
Heavy rain pounded the northern Red River Valley on Friday (June 17) morning causing additional damage to crops on fields that were already saturated. Wind and hail also caused some damage but excessive rain will be the big story when crop losses are... more
MPB announces 2016 Farm Family of the Year
The Maine Potato Board (MPB) of directors selected the family of Jerry Flewelling and his son, Bruce Flewelling, of Easton, as the MPB 2016 Farm Family of the Year.The Flewelling family includes Bruce, his wife Valorie and their sons, Nicholas and Ch... more
United Fresh hires new Food Safety & Technology VP
United Fresh Produce Association has named Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., as its new vice president of Food Safety & Technology. She succeeds David Gombas, who retired from the association June 1 after 11 years leading its food safety program.Most rec... more
2016 Potato stocks drop from 2015 total
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports that potato stocks held in storage by 13 major potato states on June 1, 2016, were down 7 percent compared to stocks in storage on June 1, 2015.Potatoes in storage for 2016 were 52.2 mill... more
Processor appeals $213,000 safety violation fine
Washington Potato Co. is appealing a $213,000 fine from the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, the Tri-City Herald reports. The potato processor was reportedly fined for repeat safety violations.Here's more from the Tri-City Herald:The ... more
Collaborative report on ag research released
A collaborative report, "Retaking the Field: The Case for a Surge in Agricultural Research," from 13 partnering universities and the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation is now available online. The report provides a case to policyma... more
New changes for certification of Maine seed potatoes
A new rule change effective May 29 for Chapter 252, 7 M.R.S.A. Chapter 401, §§ 2101-2105; 7M.R.S.A. Chapter 1 §12; and 7 M.R.S.A. Chapter 411, §2352 came about from input from the Executive Seed Council of the Maine Potato Board a... more
CIP research aims to develop potato resistance
On this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17), we look across the countries where the International Potato Center (CIP) operates for a roundup of work developing potato and sweet potato's drought resilience. The UN observance, mad... more
