News
Soil health company wins 2025 AgTech Breakthrough Award
Soil health company MyLand has received the 2025 AgTech Breakthrough Award for Overall Smart Irrigation Solution. The company’s patented Soil as a Service systems connect directly to a farm’s existing irrigation infrastructure and introduce li... more
Retail potato sales increase driven by fresh and frozen demand
Total volume of U.S. retail sales of potatoes increased 2.3% from July 2024 to June 2025, with dollar sales remaining stable during that period — dipping 0.5% to $19.86 billion. The data, compiled from retailers by market research company Circan... more
New website offers late blight information, resources
The Michigan Potato Industry Commission has created a webpage to provide growers with assistance in identifying and managing late blight. The page contains information on the pathogen, what to do in the case of an outbreak and fungicide recommenda... more
Farmers can explore insurance options in free webinar
Farms and small business owners can explore health insurance options in a free webinar offered by Penn State University Extension. “Smart Choice | Smart Use Health Insurance: Options for Farmers and Small Businesses” will take place from noon ... more
WSU doctoral candidate wins $10,000 Potato LEAF scholarship
Hannah Johnson, a doctoral candidate at Washington State University, has received the $10,000 Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) 2025-26 academic scholarship. The annual scholarship, awarded to a graduate studen... more
Nine members appointed to Michigan Potato Industry Commission
Nine members have been appointed to the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced numerous board and commission appointments last month. MPIC appointments include: Kali Bagley, of Waterford, is a general manager at ... more
NPC: Ag labor solutions require work but are attainable
Our nation’s capital is a busy place for our industry now, as several key agricultural labor issues are making waves. As always, the National Potato Council has been working closely with Congress and the Trump administration to advocate for poli... more
Longtime NDSU professor of plant pathology to retire
Longtime North Dakota State University professor Gary Secor is retiring in September, punctuating a 47-year career in the potato industry. Secor, NDSU professor of plant pathology, has worked closely with the industry throughout the nation, specif... more
Research links modern-day potato to tomato plant ancestors
New international research has shed light on the origins of the modern-day potato, tracing the formation of tubers back millions of years to tomato plant ancestors. In a study published by Cell Press, researchers suggest that natural interbreeding... more
Utz Brands closing Michigan manufacturing facility
Utz Brands is shuttering its Grand Rapids, Michigan processing facility, reducing its manufacturing footprint from eight to seven primary plants. The company said in its second-quarter earnings report that the decision is expected to save money in... more
