INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
February 28, 2023
Articles
Potatoes USA

The Famous Potato, A Nutritional Powerhouse

Denver -- It's the New Year, which means many of us are trying to eat better, save money and find more time in our day. Cara Harbstreet, registered dietitian and intuitive eating expert, recommends a kitchen hero that's a solution for it all: the potato.
— Read More
February 28, 2023
Articles
Colorado Department of Agriculture

Public Attitudes Survey Shows Near Unanimous Support For Colorado Agriculture

Nearly all Coloradans want to support our state’s agricultural industry, according to a new public opinion survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and Colorado State University (CSU).
— Read More
February 28, 2023
Articles

National Potato Council Releases Groundbreaking Report On U.S. Potato Industry’s Contribution to America’s Economy: ‘Spud Nation’ report reveals potato supply chain drove $100.9 billion in U.S. economic activity, supported more than 714,000 jobs, and contributed $34

Washington, DC — The National Potato Council (NPC) today announced the release of "Measuring the Economic Significance of the U.S. Potato Industry," a comprehensive analysis on the domestic economic impact of potatoes. The analysis, authored by economists
— Read More
February 27, 2023
Articles

Governments Of Canada, Manitoba Invest Nearly $100,000 To Upgrade Horticulture Storage Facility

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $98,970 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to upgrade the University of Manitoba’s horticulture storage facility so it can conduct innovative potato research, federal Agriculture and Agri-Foo
— Read More
February 27, 2023
Articles

Handling Hydraulic Hoses Requires Extra Caution In The Winter

Extreme cold temperatures throughout the winter months can cause challenges to hydraulic hose lines in tractors and machinery.
— Read More
February 26, 2023
Articles

Thunder Seed Selects Meristem Crop Performance

Dilworth, Minn. – Thunder Seed of Dilworth, MN, has selected Meristem Crop Performance to be their marketing partner for specialty crop input products, including the newly patented BIOCAPSULE and MICROBILIZE biological delivery systems.
— Read More
February 25, 2023
Articles

Appointment Of Jorge Boucas, New Managing Director Of The Tereos Cooperative

At the end of the meeting of the Board of Directors held on 8 February 2023, Jorge Boucas was appointed, as of 20 April 2023, Managing Director of the Tereos Cooperative.
— Read More
February 25, 2023
New Products

Manufacturer Offers Exciting, New, Fully-Electric Tractor Through Nation's Leading, Electric-Tractor Dealer Network: With 35 authorized dealers already in place, and a rapidly-growing dealer network, Solectrac is leading the charge to a zero-emission future

Windsor, Calif. – Thirty five tractor-equipment dealers, representing 73 locations across the country, recently started selling the fast-growing, electric tractor brand, Solectrac, in response to the accelerated movement towards fully-electric solutions.
— Read More
February 24, 2023
Articles

BRANDT Re-Launches Its Product Finder App

Springfield, Ill. – BRANDT, a leading manufacturer of specialty agriculture products and a retailer of agronomic services, has overhauled its popular BRANDT Product Finder app. This update re-imagines the app, incorporating new features, a clean, simplifi
— Read More
February 24, 2023
New Products

Unlock The Power Of Agricultural Data With Sentera’s New Agronomic Modeling Solutions : Capability accelerates the future of research and product development

St. Paul, Minn. – Sentera, the industry-leading provider of ag analytics, announced the launch of its agronomic modeling solutions platform, FieldInsights Ag Modeling, to deliver predictive tools to customers seeking deeper insight into crop performance.
— Read More
February 23, 2023
Articles

BASF Sack Hunger Challenge Feeds Thousands

Manhattan, KS – For the eighth year in a row, BASF has supported its annual “Sack Hunger Challenge” for the Kansas Food Bank by donating $100 per defensive sack garnered by the Kansas State (K-State) University football team during a 2022 football game.
— Read More
February 23, 2023
Articles

Bioluminescence May Shine Light On Roundworm Secrets

Even though roundworms are nearly too small to be seen, they can pose major problems in corn, soybean, peanut and other crops. Collectively, these roundworms are known as plant-parasitic nematodes, and they cause $173 billion in crop losses worldwide each
— Read More
February 22, 2023
Articles

The Idaho Potato Commission And Van Leeuwen Launch Limited Edition Malted Milkshake & Fries Ice Cream

Eagle, ID – The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is partnering with Van Leeuwen, a New York-based nationally beloved brand known for their made-from-scratch dairy and vegan ice creams, to create a limited-edition ice cream representing one of America’s favor
— Read More
February 22, 2023
Articles

Northwest Region Potato Stocks On February 1, 2023 Totaled 116 Million Hundredweight

Potato stocks in Idaho on February 1, 2023 totaled 64.5 million cwt. Disappearance of the Idaho crop to date was 56.2 million cwt. February 1 potato stocks in Oregon totaled 13.1 million cwt. Disappearance to date was 11.8 million cwt. In Washington, Febr
— Read More
February 22, 2023
Articles

Potato Stocks Down 3 Percent From February 2022

Potatoes held in storage on February 1, 2023 totaled 192 million cwt, down 3 percent from February 1, 2022. Potatoes in storage accounted for 49 percent of the 2022 production, up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier. The indicated season to dat
— Read More
February 21, 2023
Articles

Economic Outlook Briefings On Agricultural Policy And Economic Forecasting Coming To Eastern Montana March 14

Bozeman – Volatile agricultural markets, inflation, recession and a look at local and statewide economic issues are the focus of the 2023 Economic Briefing series, coming to Eastern Montana in mid-March.
— Read More
February 21, 2023
Articles

Do You Know Why It's Called A "Spud?"

We came across this news story from WNEP about searching for the reason potatoes are called "spuds."
— Read More
February 20, 2023
Articles
John O'Connell, University of Idaho

UI Extension Part Of Trials To Select Varieties For Making Potato Chips

Moscow, Idaho — In a basement kitchen at University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, scientific aid Chelsey Lowder sliced a white-fleshed, tennis ball-sized tuber into translucent circles, allowing them to dry before dropping them into a
— Read More
February 20, 2023
Articles

New And Unusual Potato Diseases

This is the title of a presentation from the recent Idaho Potato Conference, hosted by the University of Idaho in Pocatello in late January.
— Read More
February 19, 2023
Articles

USDA Announces Appointments To The National Potato Promotion Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of 32 members to the National Potato Promotion Board. Appointed are 30 producer members and two importers to fill three-year terms expiring Feb. 28, 2026.
— Read More
February 19, 2023
Articles
Sean Ellis, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

Idaho Small In Population But Big In Agriculture

Boise, Idaho – When it comes to population, Idaho is a very small state. When it comes to agriculture, Idaho punches way above its weight.
— Read More
February 18, 2023
Articles

Biome Makers, Kimitec's MAAVi Innovation Center Announce A Strategic Alliance

Davis, California - Biome Makers, a global leader in biological soil analyses and microbiology, announces a new alliance with Kimitec's MAAVi Innovation Center, Europe's largest biotechnology innovation hub, for the identification of the microbiota hidden
— Read More
February 18, 2023
Articles

USDA Names Simon Liu As New ARS Administrator

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture named Simon Liu, Ph.D., the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). In this role, Liu will lead the agency in its efforts to leverage the latest advances in science and technology and
— Read More
February 18, 2023
Articles

January Online Grocery Sales Drop Year-Over-Year

Barrington, Ill. – The U.S. online grocery market finished January with $8.4 billion in total sales, down 1.2 percent compared to last year, according to the monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey fielded Jan. 30-31.
— Read More
February 17, 2023
Articles

NPGA Prepares For Next Week's Chairman's, Meritorious Service Award Banquet

The Northland Potato Growers Association (NPGA) winter meetings are next week highlighted by the Chairman's and Meritorious Service Award Banquet on Tuesday evening, Feb. 21.
— Read More
February 17, 2023
New Products

High Volume Bulk Material Dumper For Single Or Multiple Containers, Vessels

Bethlehem, PA––A new High-Volume Open-Chute Dumper from Flexicon allows discharging of non-dusty, free-flowing and/or agglomerated bulk materials from multiple drums or boxes simultaneously, as well as from Gaylords, totes or bins individually.
— Read More
February 17, 2023
Articles

Idahoan Foods Celebrates Opening Of New Employee Facility In Lewisville

Lewisville, Idaho - Earlier this week, Idahoan Foods – the leading producer of quality, Fresh-Dried potato products in the United States - celebrated the opening of its new multi-million-dollar investment in employee welfare and team culture at the Lewisv
— Read More
February 16, 2023
Articles

Boozman, Braun And Lucas Reintroduce Legislation To Protect Family Farmers, Ranchers From Burdensome SEC Climate Rules

Washington - As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to press forward with a Biden administration proposal to institute burdensome greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting rules, Republicans in Congress are standing up for family fa
— Read More
February 16, 2023
New Products

Trimble Announces Advanced Path Planning Technology, Taking The Next Step Toward Fully Autonomous Equipment For A Variety Of Industries

Westminster, Colo. -- Trimble announced today its new advanced path planning technology. This software-based technology gives Trimble end users and equipment manufacturers the ability to optimize and automate the trajectory, speed and overall path design
— Read More
February 16, 2023
Irrigation
Idaho National Laboratory

High And Dry: Idaho National Laboratory-Developed Software Helps Farmers Manage Water Usage

The interstates and back roads of southeastern Idaho pass through a carpet of farmland, unrolling in all directions. Tall irrigation pivots pump water out across the broad expanses of leafy green potato plants, lifeblood of the state’s economy. But in rec
— Read More
February 15, 2023
Articles

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability Of Inflation Reduction Act Funding For Climate-Smart Agriculture Nationwide

New Orleans – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making funding available for agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate
— Read More
February 15, 2023
Articles

Washington State Potato Commission Update

Chris Voight, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission gives a very comprehensive overview of past and current efforts of the WSPC during the recent Washington Oregon Potato Conference.
— Read More
February 14, 2023
Articles

Chairwoman Stabenow Opening Statement At Hearing On Commodity Programs, Crop Insurance, And Credit In The Next Farm Bill

Washington – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following opening statement at a hearing titled “Farm Bill 2023: Commodity Programs, Crop Insurance, a
— Read More
February 14, 2023
New Products

Carbon Robotics Adds LaserThinning To Its AI-Powered LaserWeeder

Seattle - Carbon Robotics, a leader in AI-powered robotics, today introduced the industry’s first LaserThinning capability, continuing the rapid innovation of its state-of-the-art LaserWeeder.
— Read More
February 14, 2023
Articles
Washington State Potato Commission

For Food Safety Sake

Moses Lake, Washington – A new proposal in the Washington state legislature would toss out federal food packaging rules and make it more difficult to market our premier product: potatoes.
— Read More
February 13, 2023
Articles

Bayer And Kimitec Join Forces To Bring The Next Generation Of Biologicals To Millions Of Growers Worldwide

Monheim, Germany/Almeria, Spain – Bayer and Kimitec announced a new strategic partnership focused on accelerating the development and commercialization of biological crop protection solutions and biostimulants.
— Read More
February 13, 2023
New Products

Envita Boosts Potato Yields: Bacteria discovered in 1980s but now available for potatoes

With an eye toward product management on a global scale, Azotic North America’s Global Product Manager Tom Tregunno shares that exciting things are on the horizon, not only for Azotic but for the entire biological sector and what can be delivered to a far
— Read More
February 12, 2023
Articles

Bill Anderson To Become CEO Of Bayer AG

Leverkusen, Germany – The Supervisory Board of Bayer AG has appointed Bill Anderson to become CEO of Bayer, effective June 1, 2023. He will join Bayer as a member of the Board of Management on April 1, 2023.
— Read More
February 12, 2023
Articles

TOMRA Food Appoints New Regional Sales Director For North America For Its Processed Food Business Area: New appointment is the latest of numerous initiatives strengthening customer support in TOMRA's biggest market

TOMRA Food continues to strengthen its commitment to support and deliver cutting-edge solutions to customers across the USA and Canada by appointing Sean Slevin as Regional Sales Director of TOMRA Processed Food, part of TOMRA Food, in North America.
— Read More
February 11, 2023
Articles
Sean Ellis, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

Idaho Ag Set Records For Revenue And Expenses Last Year

Boise, Idaho – Idaho is projected to have set a massive all-time record for total farm revenue in 2022. However, the state is also projected to have set a massive all-time record for total farm expenses last year.
— Read More
February 11, 2023
Articles

2022 Was Another Record Year For U.S. Farm Exports

Washington – The American agricultural sector posted its best export year ever in 2022 with international sales of U.S. farm and food products reaching $196 billion, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today.
— Read More
February 10, 2023
Articles

Case IH Celebrates 100 Years Of Farmall, The One For All

Today, Case IH kicks off celebrations honoring the 100-year anniversary of the Farmall tractor. The iconic Farmall model was introduced in 1923 as the all-purpose tractor designed to revolutionize the agriculture industry. Over the last century, Farmall h
— Read More
February 10, 2023
Articles
Washington State Potato Commission

Salmon Buffers: Food Production Survival Is On The Line, On Both Sides Of The State

Quincy, Washington – The summer Sam Krautscheid’s youngest son was 6 years old, he went almost everywhere with his dad.
— Read More
February 09, 2023
Articles

A Fossil Fruit From California Shows Ancestors Of Coffee And Potatoes Survived Cataclysm That Killed The Dinosaurs

Lawrence, Kansas - The discovery of an 80-million-year-old fossil plant pushes back the known origins of lamiids to the Cretaceous, extending the record of nearly 40,000 species of flowering plants including modern-day staple crops like coffee, tomatoes,
— Read More
February 09, 2023
Articles

A Look At 2022 Potato Retail Sales

Denver – Potato retail sales increased in dollar sales by 14.4 percent but decreased in volume sales by minus 1.5 percent from January-December 2022 compared to 2021. Despite a slight decrease in volume sales, volume sales remain 3.7 percent above pre-pan
— Read More
February 08, 2023
Articles

Potatoes Can Be Part Of a Healthy Diet

Baton Rouge, Louisiana — When we think of healthy vegetables, we don't think of potatoes, but we should. Potatoes have developed a reputation for causing weight gain and an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, and often find themselves on a list of foods t
— Read More
February 08, 2023
Articles

OSU Extension Statewide Seed Giveaway Set To Return For Fourth Year

Corvallis, Ore. – The Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge, Oregon State University Extension’s statewide seed giveaway, returns for a fourth year in 2023 featuring a continued partnership with the Oregon Potato Commission.
— Read More
February 07, 2023
Articles

UI Extension To Host Farm Marketing Workshop

Moscow, Idaho – University of Idaho Extension is hosting a four-part marketing workshop series to help food producers amplify their message, connect with customers and grow their farm business.
— Read More
February 07, 2023
Articles

2023 Maine Potato Summit Deemed A Success

The 2023 Maine Potato Summit took place on Jan. 10-11 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle. Many Maine potato growers, industry partners, family members and farm leaders attended the two-day event, with including several guest speakers and
— Read More
February 06, 2023
Articles

MountainKing Expands Crawfish Offerings With New Three-Pound Medley, Gold Boil-in-Bag Packs

Houston, TX – With springtime crawfish boils just around the corner, MountainKing Potatoes has introduced two new offerings designed to help its grocer partners capitalize on the half-billion-dollar season that now spans far beyond its Louisiana roots.
— Read More
February 06, 2023
Articles

NPC Calls On CFIA To Fulfill Its Commitment To Modernize The Long-Term Management Plan To Prevent The Spread Of PEI Potato Wart: With months of testing yet to be completed, any declaration of PEI being “disease free” is premature

Last week, an advisory panel created in the wake of a political firestorm over the PEI potato wart crisis submitted a report to the Canadian federal government. This panel was made up of individuals from countries who already have potato wart and are atte
— Read More
February 04, 2023
Articles

2022 Census Of Agriculture Due Next Week Feb. 6

Washington –The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds our nation’s farmers and ranchers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agc
— Read More
February 03, 2023
Articles

CropX Acquires Tule: Further expands in California with new solutions for specialty crops, drip irrigation

CropX Technologies, a global leader in digital solutions for agronomic farm management, today announced its acquisition of Tule Technologies, a precision irrigation company based in California. This acquisition brings new data capture technologies to the
— Read More
February 03, 2023
Articles

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Issues Recommendations For 2023 Farm Bill

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, has released its recommendations for t
— Read More
February 02, 2023
New Products

Certis Biologicals Introduces Kocide 50DF; Powerful New Formulation Of The Copper BioFungicide Trusted For Generations

Columbia, Md.-- Certis Biologicals today launched the newest copper product in the market, Kocide 50DF (copper hydroxide). Kocide 50DF enters the market with the same proven efficacy that growers have relied upon for generations, but in a high-load formul
— Read More
February 02, 2023
Articles

Unverferth Announces Purchase Of Orthman Manufacturing Inc.

Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc. has announced the purchase of Orthman Manufacturing’s agricultural product lineup and the two manufacturing locations based in Lexington, NE. Manufacturing personnel and various support people will be offered employment
— Read More
February 01, 2023
Articles

GCG Advises On The Sale Of Great Lakes Potato Chip Company To LaSalle Capital

Greenwich Capital Group (“GCG”) has announced its role as the exclusive financial advisor to Great Lakes Potato Chip Company on its sale to LaSalle Capital. This transaction adds to GCG’s extensive experience in the consumer-branded goods and food and bev
— Read More
February 01, 2023
Articles

Potato Retail Sales On The Rise: Dollar Sales Increase 17.2 Percent In Q4 2022

Denver - Potato retail sales increased in dollar sales by 17.2 percent but decreased in volume sales by minus 1.3 percent from October-December 2022 compared to the same time frame a year ago. Despite a slight decrease in volume sales, volume sales remain
— Read More