- FY23 Ag Funding Bill Clears House
- Farm Bill Listening Session in Washington State Hears from Potato Industry
- U.S International Trade Commission Rules that Fertilizer from Russia, Trinidad and Tobago are Not Harming U.S. Producers
- NPC Supports Increased EPA Funding for Pesticide Registration Actions
- Inflation Heats Up: Checking in with Ag Economics Experts
- Eye on Potatoes Reaches 10k Milestone
- We’re Hiring!
- Potato Talks: Call for Proposals
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On Wednesday, the House passed several FY 23 spending bills together including the Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The combined bills, called a “minibus,” were approved by a vote of 220-207.
“We appreciate the hard work of the House Appropriations Committee that ensured key potato industry priorities are part of this spending bill,” said Jared Balcom, NPC 2022 President. “We are urging the Senate to maintain or enhance these provisions in their version of the bill.”
The minibus includes priorities from February’s NPC Washington Summit, including: $3 million for the FY23 NIFA potato breeding special research grant; language that once again prohibits USDA from limiting potato access to the school breakfast program; and SCRI match waiver language for public institutions.
The overall combined spending package totals $405 billion and also includes the Energy-Water, Transportation-HUD, Interior-Environment, Financial Services, and Military Construction-VA measures.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to release its spending bills online before August recess. The federal fiscal year ends on September 30, but with the election looming it is unlikely that Congress will complete its work by then. Therefore, at least one short term “continuing resolution” may be necessary to keep the federal government operating beyond October 1.
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Farm Bill Listening Session in Washington State Hears from Potato Industry
Today, members of the House Agriculture Committee heard from the Washington State Potato Commission and other key leaders from Washington state agriculture on priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill.
Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA) organized the listening session and hosted Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), chair of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research.
WSPC’s Executive Director Chris Voigt provided testimony on the importance of trade, research, specialty crop block grants, pest and disease programs as well as nutrition. In particular, he highlighted the significant export access to Mexico that was gained earlier this year for potatoes. That access could not have occurred without the support of the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program under the Farm Bill.
Voight also reinforced the success of WSPC’s “Washington Grown” program, which is supported via the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and the importance of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables.
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U.S International Trade Commission Rules that Fertilizer from Russia, Trinidad and Tobago are Not Harming U.S. Producers
On Monday, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) determined that imports of urea ammonium nitrate fertilizer from the countries of Russia and Trinidad and Tobago are not injuring, or likely to injure, U.S. producers of the product.
Previously the U.S. Department of Commerce determined that these products were subsidized and sold at less than fair market value in the United States. However, without the USITC’s finding of injury or potential for injury, the department will not enforce countervailing duties or antidumping orders against either country.
The two countries account for more than 80 percent of U.S. imports of urea ammonium nitrate solutions, which is the most common type of nitrogen fertilizer. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that about 25 percent of U.S. fertilizer operating costs are due to urea ammonium nitrate solutions.
Click here for more information.
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NPC Supports Increased EPA Funding for Pesticide Registration Actions
On Tuesday, NPC joined more than 40 state and national organization on a letter to Senate appropriators calling for an increase in EPA funding to support activities related to Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA).
Noting that regulatory actions under PRIA support product innovation, promote predictability in agency actions and timelines, and ensure the timely delivery of products necessary to maintaining food production, the group argues that at current funding levels, EPA does not have the necessary resources to keep pace with the growing number of pesticide registration actions.
“Increasing OPP appropriations in FY 2023 is critical to EPA’s ability to fulfill its mandate to maintain the availability of critical pesticide products while protecting applicators, consumers, and the environment. The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) creates resources through user fees which help streamline the registration process, while providing important education and training initiatives for agricultural and healthcare workers,” they write.
The full letter is available here.
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Inflation Heats Up: Checking in with Ag Economics Experts
With record-breaking inflation hitting consumers and producers alike, the Eye on Potatoes podcast checked back in with Potato Expo 2022 speakers and University of Idaho Assistant Professors Pat Hatzenbuehler and Liang “Jimmy” Lu for an update on the economic environment, supply chain issues, and geopolitical challenges increasing production costs for members of the potato supply chain.
Listen here or search for “eye on potatoes” wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Eye on Potatoes Reaches 10k Milestone
This week the Eye on Potatoes podcast hit 10,000 downloads!
“Thanks to everyone for subscribing to the best potato-focused podcast in the Beltway,” said Dean Gibson, NPC VP of Grower Outreach and Industry Research and Idaho potato grower. “In its 2.5 years, NPC’s podcast has proven to be an asset for communicating the great work of this organization to industry members and for expanding our reach to federal policymakers and their staff. Thanks to the support of presenting sponsor Syngenta and all our subscribers, we look forward to the next 10,000 downloads!”
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Potato Talks: Call for Proposals
Potato Talks, located on the Expo Stage, is accepting proposals for the Potato Expo 2023 being held January 4-5 in Aurora, Colo.
Potato Talks is a cultivator of ideas and inspiration. Throughout the show the stage is the center of activity featuring engaging discussions, non-stop discussions, lively talks and entertainment—all centered around potatoes and potato production.
We are seeking proposals that showcase new advancements in production agriculture, uncover on-farm solutions, focus on current trends, or ignite inspirations. All sessions will be 20 minutes, plus 10 minutes of one-on-one questions and answers. Sessions can be a single speaker or panel discussion.
Proposals must be submitted by September 9 via this Google Form.
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