With the federal government back up and running, NPC CEO Kam Quarles and COO Mike Wenkel called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast this week to discuss the National Potato Council&apos;s top priorities for the next two months and provide updates on key labor and environmental regulatory efforts.  Join us as we take a deep dive into: Congressional priorities now that the government is reopened; key recommendations of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance for the new Farm Bill; the outlook and critical deadlines for emergency relief programs for growers; and top legislative and appropriations priorities, including securing funding for research and market development. Mike will also provide updates on the regulatory environment, covering: the potential impacts of the Department of Labor&apos;s new two-level wage structure for the H-2A program; and the benefits of the new EPA WOTUS proposal, specifically the clarity on excluding certain ditches.

<description>&lt;p&gt;With the federal government back up and running, NPC CEO Kam Quarles and COO Mike Wenkel called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast this week to discuss the National Potato Council&amp;apos;s top priorities for the next two months and provide updates on key labor and environmental regulatory efforts. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Join us as we take a deep dive into: Congressional priorities now that the government is reopened; key recommendations of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance for the new Farm Bill; the outlook and critical deadlines for emergency relief programs for growers; and top legislative and appropriations priorities, including securing funding for research and market development.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Mike will also provide updates on the regulatory environment, covering: the potential impacts of the Department of Labor&amp;apos;s new two-level wage structure for the H-2A program; and the benefits of the new EPA WOTUS proposal, specifically the clarity on excluding certain ditches.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

With the federal government back up and running, NPC CEO Kam Quarles and COO Mike Wenkel called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast this week to discuss the National Potato Council's top priorities for the next two months and provide updates on key labor and environmental regulatory efforts.   Join us as we take a deep dive into: Congressional priorities now that the government is reopened; key recommendations of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance for the new Farm Bill; the outlook and c...

Back in Session: Congressional Priorities and Regulatory Updates

Guests:<ul><li>Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council</li><li>Matt Lantz, Senior Vice President, Global Access, Bryant Christie</li></ul>The federal government shutdown is hitting U.S. potato growers where it hurts: market access and emergency relief.Tune in as NPC CEO Kam Quarles and global trade expert Matt Lantz break down the real-world costs of the continued lapse in funding. This week, we dive deep into major concerns for the industry:The Disrupted Japan Mission: Kam and Matt recently returned from a trade visit to Japan that was intended to move forward the long-awaited fresh potato access deal. They reveal how the shutdown, specifically the cancellation of the USDA Secretary&apos;s participation, impacted the negotiations in Tokyo as well as this week&apos;s bilateral meeting in Wenatchee, Wash.The Fight for Grower Relief: Kam provides an update on the Trump Administration’s planned emergency aid package, initially prompted by challenges facing soybean farmers. He details the efforts of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance to ensure that potato growers are included in any aid package and to secure a mechanism that effectively delivers relief to specialty crop growers.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Guests:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Kam Quarles,&lt;/b&gt; CEO, National Potato Council&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Matt Lantz,&lt;/b&gt; Senior Vice President, Global Access, Bryant Christie&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;The federal government shutdown is hitting U.S. potato growers where it hurts: market access and emergency relief.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in as NPC CEO Kam Quarles and global trade expert Matt Lantz break down the real-world costs of the continued lapse in funding. This week, we dive deep into major concerns for the industry:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Disrupted Japan Mission: Kam and Matt recently returned from a trade visit to Japan that was intended to move forward the long-awaited fresh potato access deal. They reveal how the shutdown, specifically the cancellation of the USDA Secretary&amp;apos;s participation, impacted the negotiations in Tokyo as well as this week&amp;apos;s bilateral meeting in Wenatchee, Wash.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Fight for Grower Relief: Kam provides an update on the Trump Administration’s planned emergency aid package, initially prompted by challenges facing soybean farmers. He details the efforts of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance to ensure that potato growers are included in any aid package and to secure a mechanism that effectively delivers relief to specialty crop growers.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Guests: Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato CouncilMatt Lantz, Senior Vice President, Global Access, Bryant ChristieThe federal government shutdown is hitting U.S. potato growers where it hurts: market access and emergency relief. Tune in as NPC CEO Kam Quarles and global trade expert Matt Lantz break down the real-world costs of the continued lapse in funding. This week, we dive deep into major concerns for the industry: The Disrupted Japan Mission: Kam and Matt recently returned from a trade ...

Federal Shutdown Week 2: Trade Fallout, Japan Access, and Emergency Aid

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles joins the podcast on September 11 to reflect on his experiences from 24 years ago and discuss the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C. He and host Lane Nordlund address the pending government shutdown, the implications of the &quot;Make America Healthy Again&quot; report, the possibilities for another round of economic relief, and the importance of passing a Farm Bill. Kam also highlights how the Trump Administration&apos;s tariff talks could lead to new opportunities for U.S. potato growers in markets like Japan.

<description>&lt;p&gt;National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles joins the podcast on September 11 to reflect on his experiences from 24 years ago and discuss the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C. He and host Lane Nordlund address the pending government shutdown, the implications of the &amp;quot;Make America Healthy Again&amp;quot; report, the possibilities for another round of economic relief, and the importance of passing a Farm Bill. Kam also highlights how the Trump Administration&amp;apos;s tariff talks could lead to new opportunities for U.S. potato growers in markets like Japan. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles joins the podcast on September 11 to reflect on his experiences from 24 years ago and discuss the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C. He and host Lane Nordlund address the pending government shutdown, the implications of the "Make America Healthy Again" report, the possibilities for another round of economic relief, and the importance of passing a Farm Bill. Kam also highlights how the Trump Administration's tariff talks could lead to new oppor...

D.C. Update: Reflections on 9/11 and the Potential Government Shutdown

During the NPC Washington Summit in February, potato growers Alexandria Bare (Minn.) and Ryan Christensen (Idaho) joined us to discuss their experience in the 2025 Leadership Institute.This episode details the 2025 class&apos;s visit to Wisconsin, what they learned during the communication and media training courses, and how they will apply the Leadership Institute&apos;s teachings to their farms back home.Potato LEAF is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Leadership Institute. Head to pleaf.org/leadership-institute-1 to learn more about the program and apply today.

<description>&lt;p&gt;During the NPC Washington Summit in February, potato growers &lt;b&gt;Alexandria Bare&lt;/b&gt; (Minn.) and &lt;b&gt;Ryan Christensen&lt;/b&gt; (Idaho) joined us to discuss their experience in the 2025 Leadership Institute.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode details the 2025 class&amp;apos;s visit to Wisconsin, what they learned during the communication and media training courses, and how they will apply the Leadership Institute&amp;apos;s teachings to their farms back home.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Potato LEAF is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Leadership Institute. Head to pleaf.org/leadership-institute-1 to learn more about the program and apply today.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

During the NPC Washington Summit in February, potato growers Alexandria Bare (Minn.) and Ryan Christensen (Idaho) joined us to discuss their experience in the 2025 Leadership Institute. This episode details the 2025 class's visit to Wisconsin, what they learned during the communication and media training courses, and how they will apply the Leadership Institute's teachings to their farms back home. Potato LEAF is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Leadership Institute. Head to plea...

Revisiting the Impact of the 2025 Leadership Institute

Earlier this summer, Congress and USDA delivered desperately needed funding for specialty crop growers, including our potato farmers, through a $2.5 billion injection of federal support through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and the &quot;One Big Beautiful Bill.&quot; Joining us to break down this game-changing news are Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and Co-Chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, and Dean Gibson, NPC&apos;s Vice President of Legislative Affairs and an Idaho potato grower. They&apos;ll discuss the origins of this investment, the light-speed delivery of payments, and the immediate impact on farms. We&apos;ll also explore how these funds, which include investments in agricultural research, foreign market promotion, and pest and disease eradication, are crucial for the sustained competitiveness of the potato industry and reflect the evolving recognition of specialty crops in U.S. agricultural policy. Tune in to understand what this historic funding means for the future of your farm!This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry&apos;s complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore <a href='https://www.syngenta-us.com/crops/potatoes/'>syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor</a> to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Earlier this summer, Congress and USDA delivered desperately needed funding for specialty crop growers, including our potato farmers, through a $2.5 billion injection of federal support through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and the &amp;quot;One Big Beautiful Bill.&amp;quot; Joining us to break down this game-changing news are &lt;b&gt;Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council&lt;/b&gt; and Co-Chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, and &lt;b&gt;Dean Gibson, NPC&amp;apos;s Vice President of Legislative Affairs and an Idaho potato grower&lt;/b&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They&amp;apos;ll discuss the origins of this investment, the light-speed delivery of payments, and the immediate impact on farms. We&amp;apos;ll also explore how these funds, which include investments in agricultural research, foreign market promotion, and pest and disease eradication, are crucial for the sustained competitiveness of the potato industry and reflect the evolving recognition of specialty crops in U.S. agricultural policy. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in to understand what this historic funding means for the future of your farm!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry&amp;apos;s complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore &lt;a href='https://www.syngenta-us.com/crops/potatoes/'&gt;syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor&lt;/a&gt; to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Earlier this summer, Congress and USDA delivered desperately needed funding for specialty crop growers, including our potato farmers, through a $2.5 billion injection of federal support through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Joining us to break down this game-changing news are Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and Co-Chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, and Dean Gibson, NPC's Vice President of Legislative ...

The $2.5 Billion Breakthrough: A Deep Dive into Specialty Crop Support

The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is brought to you by the National Potato Council. This is the place to tune in for conversations with growers and thought leaders on advocacy, production and all things potatoes. It's about talking with folks across the United States and hearing stories about how federal policy impacts potato farming and the important role the NPC plays in standing up for potatoes on Capitol Hill. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato growing obstacles.

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