Potato

Potatoes will take center stage in both Oregon and Washington next week.   Oregon State University’s Hermiston Potato Field Day will take place Wednesday June 25th from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  OSU officials say the Hermiston Potato field will feature sessions focused on breeding, pest management, nutrient and water management, as well as the ongoing field trials.  The Field Day will take...

Next month the Idaho Potato Commission will host a meeting to take nominations for Idaho delegates to serve on the Potatoes USA Board.  This year Idaho has two open positions to fill with three eligible for renomination.  Each potato organization growing more than five acres of potatoes is eligible to participate in nominating and voting for these positions.    The meeti...

Tariffs can have short-term and long-term impacts on the agriculture industry.  The short-term may mean higher fertilizer prices, or fewer exports markets for a season or two.  The long-term impacts can change the make-up of the global market.  No where is that ...

The potato industry is hopeful good news on the trade front could be right around the corner.  The Trump administration has reportedly begun talks with Japan to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.   “Since it became obvious that there was going to be a negotiation, specifically with Japan, we have been pushing the administration," said Kam Quarles, National Potato Council CEO.  &q

For a variety of reasons, the potato industry struggled last year, with demand for the spud down.  Consumers habits have changed after the pandemic, and the U.S. is not exporting as many potato products as growers and industry leader would like to see.  On top ...

During last month’s annual Washington D.C. Summit, the National Potato Council elected Ted Tschriky to serve as President for the next 12 months.  The grower from the Pasco, WA-area said he feels the Northwest potato industry is doing fairly well, despite recent cutbacks in acreage over the past couple of years.   " tryi...

Washington State University is interviewing candidates for the Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping Systems position, and both will give industry seminars and answer questions this week in Othello.   Backed by a more-than-$3 million fund created by potato growers, processors, and suppliers, WSU created the Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping Systems back in 2

Washington State University Skagit County Extension will host the 43rd annual Western Washington Potato Workshop this Friday, February 21st.  The morning starts at 9 a.m. at the Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center in Mt. Vernon.  WSU’...

The University of Idaho is gearing up for the 57th annual Idaho Potato Conference, which will take place January 22nd –23rd in the Pond Student Union Building on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello.  U of I associate professor of plant pathology James Woodhall noted that much of this year’s workshops and presentations will focus on plant disease and pressures.   “Quite a bit... Read Mor

According to NASS, potato stocks in Oregon totaled 20.7 million cwt as of December 1st.   Disappearance to date in Oregon was 5.55 million cwt.  In Idaho, potato stocks totaled 94 million cwt to start the month.  Disappearance of the Idaho crop to date was 41.2 million cwt.  And in W...