Potato Bytes

Potato News
Friday, March 28, 2008
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Northern Plains Potato Growers Association

Office News

From the NPPGA President, Duane Maatz ~ One sure sign of spring is occurring - seed potatoes are migrating to commercial operations.

Diane and I attended a meeting of the North Dakota Interim Agriculture Committee in Bismarck this week. During the last legislative session lawmakers gave the ND Dept. of Agriculture the directive to review ND agricultural law. One part of that review is the commodity titles.

Legal council to the committee has reviewed and cleaned up the language within each title including the potato law. There are no changes in the intent of the law in this revision. The need for the meeting was to review and ensure that intent.

Another near term aspect of this review will be to more clearly define the role of the ND Department of Agriculture within each commodity title. For potatoes, he serves as the chairman of the Council. The Ag Commissioner plays a different role with each group. It is likely that this role will be harmonized. The Department of Ag will assess staffing and budget constraints and after further decision making by the Department, another review and rewrite will need to follow.

It is our intent to keep you informed as we proceed with this process. If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the Association office for more information.

Senator Conrad held a press conference this week to discuss the Farm Bill. The meeting was held in the ever changing Memorial Union at NDSU. Senator Conrad reported that significant changes had taken place in the two days prior to the press conference. Members and staff working closely with the Bill are working with other members of the Senate to come to a final conference committee agreement that can be moved on to the White House. A major talking point of the current discussion is related to the permanent disaster portion of the Bill. Hopes are for a conclusion to this activity during the upcoming week.

We are midway through our budget and planning stages for our next fiscal year. The Research Committee as well as the Advertising and Promotions Committee have met and made their plans. During the next two weeks the Budget Committee needs to review and make their recommendation to the Board who will make their final decisions directly following the budget committee meeting. If you want to get involve in this process please call the Association Office.

 From the Area Extension Agent, Nick David ~ Dr. Asunta Thompson promoted to Associate Professor at North Dakota State University – Dr. Asunta “Susie” Thompson was recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor and awarded tenure at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. Susie has been the Potato Breeder at NDSU since 2001 and has released several new varieties. Congratulations Susie! We look forward to continued collaboration in developing potato varieties adapted to the Northern Plains growing region.

 From the NPPGA Marketing Director, Ted Kreis ~ Fresh Potato Demand Very Good - Demand for fresh potatoes continues to exceed last year’s pace in the United States, which is great news, after many years of shrinking sales. Easter business was especially good this year, 5.7% more than the four weeks proceeding Easter last year according to the North American Potato Market News.

Good demand and prices have convinced many fresh growers in the valley to plant red potatoes again this spring. Red acreage will likely be down slightly, but not nearly as much as earlier anticipated.

Base price for Red River Valley #1 A-size reds is averaging about $14.75 cwt. which is nearly $5/cwt. higher than last year at this time.

In other parts of the country demand has also been good for russets, but prices for consumer packs vary widely across the country. Here are a few examples from March 26 th for 50 lb. bales:

• Idaho 10# russet - $4.25
• Washington 10# russet - $5.25
• Klamath Basin 10# russet - $5.50
• Maine 5# russet - $6.50
• Colorado 10# russet - $6.75
• Wisconsin 10# russet - $7.25

Russet carton prices are more consistent around the country, but we see just the opposite with Idaho leading the pack for carton prices:

• Idaho 60 ct. russet - $11.50
• Colorado 60 ct. russet - $11.00
• Wisconsin 60 ct. russet - $10.50
• Washington 60 ct. russet - $9.25

Ad Committee Meets - This past Monday the Ad and Promotions Committee met to review next year’s marketing plan and discuss a budget. Plans will be forwarded to the budget committee for approval. That meeting is planned for early April. More details will be released when the final plan and budget are approved.

BYTES TRIVIA ~ Last week’s Trivia winner was Carmen Rath-Wald, Logan County (ND) Extension Agent. Carmen knew French invader Napoleon Bonaparte designed the Italian flag which closely resembles the French flag.

Here’s this week’s Trivia question: What year did Major League Baseball play its earliest season opener? Send your answer to tkreis@nppga.org. The winner will receive an NPPGA cap.

THIS WEEK’S DEEP THOUGHT : How is it possible to have a civil war?

Industry News

From the National Potato Council ~ The Emergency Food Assistance Program - Potatoes Listed as Available in FY 08 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on March 21, 2008 the surplus and purchased commodities that USDA expects to make available for donations to States for use in providing nutrition assistance under the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008.  For FY 2008, USDA anticipates purchasing dehydrated potatoes and sliced potatoes. 

AMS Issues Notice of Review and Request for Comment on PACA - On March 21, 2008 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that they plan to review the Regulations (other than Rules of Practice) under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) as amended under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The purpose of the review is to determine whether the PACA Regulations (other than the Rules of Practice) should be continued without change, or should be amended or rescinded to minimize any significant economic impact of the regulations upon a substantial number of small businesses. AMS will consider the following factors: (1) The continued need for the PACA regulations; (2) the nature of the complaints or comments received from the public concerning the PACA regulations; (3) the complexity of the PACA regulations; (4) the extent to which the PACA regulations overlap, duplicate, or conflict with other Federal rules, and, to the extent feasible, with State and local governmental rules; and (5) the length of time since the PACA regulations have been evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected by the PACA regulations. NPC will review the request for comments, solicit input from the potato industry and provide comments prior to the May 28, 2008 deadline.

NPC Submits FY 09 Appropriations Requests - NPC submitted their appropriations requests for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 to the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies of the House Committee on Appropriations on March 26, 2008.

Highlights of the request include:

• Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) - $1,800,000 for the Special Potato Grant program for FY 2009.
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) - $2.5 million to expand and  upgrade the Insect Containment Facility at Cornell University to incorporate the Potato Cyst Nematode Laboratory and $2.5 million to build a new Potato Cyst Nematode Laboratory western facility at the University of Idaho.
• Market Access Program (MAP) - maintain the current spending level at the authorized level determined by the final version of the new Farm Bill.
• NPC supports the President’s FY 2009 budget request of $279 million for salaries and expenses of the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS).
• NPC supports the Administration’s FY 2009 budget request of $108 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food Aid Program.
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - $1,266,000 for the Golden Nematode quarantine.
• APHIS - $45 million for FY 2009 for the Plant Protection and Quarantine Service which would allow their efforts against potato pests and diseases.
• APHIS - $145 million for Emerging Plant Pests.
• APHIS - $19 million which was the President’s request. NPC supports this increase but only if it is specifically earmarked for plant protection and quarantine activities.
• National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) – additional funds need to be appropriated so USDA can continue its vegetable pesticide use surveys, which is valuable data for the EPA for registration and re-registration decisions for key chemical tools.

DHS Releases No-Match Regulation Supplement Proposed Rule - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking for the No-Match Rule which was originally issued on August 14, 2007.  The DHS rule was scheduled to take effect on September 14, 2007; however the rule never took effect due to litigation which successfully challenged some of the procedural aspects of how the rule was issued.  A preliminary review of the new rule indicates it makes few if any changes to the substance of the rule issued in August of 2007 but rather is an attempt to correct the procedural deficiencies noted by the court.  The new rule does include the following changes: a five day period for the employer to notify the employee upon receipt of the no-match letter and an exemption for the employees hired prior to November 1986.   DHS stated in a press release that "the rule does not create new legal obligations for businesses.  It simply outlines clear steps an employer may take in response to receiving a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating that an employee’s name does not match the social security number on file. If the business follows the guidance in the No-Match Rule, comprising various actions to rectify the no-match within 90 days of receiving the letter, they will have a safe harbor from the no-match letter being used against them in an enforcement action".   The comment period for the new DHS rule has been extended to April 14, 2008.  The Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR), which NPC is a member of, will soon be providing talking points for comments.  After the comment period, there will be a judicial review of the rule and the comments to ensure that the issues in the original lawsuit are resolved.  Ultimately, a “no match rule” will likely be put into place. 

Senator Feinstein's Efforts on Agriculture Immigration Reform - Over the last several weeks representatives for the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR), which NPC is a member of, have been meeting with Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and her staff, along with representatives from the worker advocate community, to discuss ways to dislodge key elements of the AgJOBS legislation.  These discussions are being driven by several key elements including, increased enforcement, state driven anti-employer legislation, and the prospects as described above for the DHS social security no-match rule being reissued.  In addition, the proposed changes by the Department of Labor to make “administrative fixes” to the current H2-A program are going to take a significant amount of time and are unlikely to be as comprehensive as necessary to meet the needs of agriculture. Senator Feinstein is attempting to incorporate the key components of AgJOBS into legislation that would address the current agricultural labor crisis without making permanent changes in programs. The program would provide experienced but unauthorized farmworkers a five year temporary status if they commit to working each year in agriculture, but no direct path to legal permanent residency.  It would also feature other H-2A reforms included in AgJOBS and freeze the 2007 adverse effect wage for four years.  Unless Congress acts to make the reforms permanent, either through comprehensive immigration reform or passage of a narrower bill like AgJOBS, the temporary program would sunset after five years.  That would mean temporary workers’ legal status would end, and the H-2A program would revert to the current program now in place. Therefore even if these emergency measures were adopted the push for comprehensive reforms in immigration law would continue over the next five years. 

Currently, the ACIR members are briefing key members of the U.S. House and Senate on the need for “emergency” measures to address the crisis resulting from “no match” and increased state and local legislation.  The politics of this type of legislation are difficult and complicated.  Therefore, rather than trying to pass this emergency temporary program as a standalone bill, it might be attached as an amendment to a “must pass” piece of legislation. Another issue is that Congressman Shuler (D-NC) introduced H.R. 4088 The Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007, also known as the SAVE Act of 2007, on November 11, 2007. The bill increases border security as well as increased requirements and penalties on employers with regard to agriculture worker verification.  A motion to discharge H.R. 4088 from all committees and go straight to a floor vote has been filed.  A discharge requires 218 congressional signatures and H.R. 4088 currently has more than 180 signatures. Therefore, working with Senator Feinstein on her “emergency” temporary program might be the best option for immediate relief.

 From the North Dakota Dept. of Ag ~ Johnson Urges Approval Of Permanent Disaster Aid - Mandan – Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson says a permanent disaster program must remain an integral part of the new Farm Bill package.

“Thanks largely to the efforts of Sen. Kent Conrad, permanent disaster assistance remains in the Farm Bill proposal before Congress,” Johnson said Thursday, at a Farm Bill meeting, called by Conrad, in Mandan.

The president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), Johnson has long pushed for a permanent disaster assistance program. The members of NASDA, the agriculture commissioners, secretaries and directors of the 50 states and four territories, have unanimously endorsed the concept.

“A permanent program will cost less in the long run than the ad-hoc assistance programs we have had during the past decade and longer,” Johnson said, noting that agricultural disasters occur somewhere in the United States every year.

“Relying on ad-hoc assistance has proven to be inefficient, unreliable and unpredictable – producers are only now getting disaster assistance payments for losses suffered in 2005, 2006 or 2007. It’s simply unacceptable to continue down this path,” Johnson said.

The permanent disaster program would provide disaster relief for all producers who purchase crop insurance or participate in the Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP).

“The program complements crop insurance by providing an incentive for producers to buy increased coverage,” Johnson said. “It also includes a livestock indemnity program for disaster-related livestock deaths, and is based on ‘whole-farm revenue,’ providing assistance only when a farm’s total revenue falls below the determined revenue guarantee.”

Project Safe Send Collection Sights Announced - Project Safe Send, North Dakota’s annual collection of unusable pesticides, will be conducted at 16 locations in July. "This is a good time to look through your barns, sheds, garages and storage areas for unusable pesticides," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. "With 16 collection sites across the state, it should be easy for everyone to participate in Project Safe Send, and get rid of their unusable pesticides safely and at no charge.”

The collections are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (local time) at the following dates and sites. All collection sites are at North Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance facilities, except the collection in West Fargo, which will be held at the county highway shop.

• Tuesday, July 8, West Fargo.
• Wednesday, July 9, Grafton.    
• Thursday, July 10, Grand Forks.
• Friday, July 11, Finley.
• Monday, July 14, Wahpeton.
• Tuesday, July 15, Lisbon.
• Tuesday, July 15, Bismarck.
• Wednesday, July 16, Ellendale.
• Wednesday, July 16, Bowman.
• Thursday, July 17, Jamestown.  
• Thursday, July 17, Belfield.
• Friday, July 18, Watford City
• Monday, July 21, Kenmare.
• Tuesday, July 22, Velva.
• Wednesday, July 23, Harvey.
• Thursday, July 24, Cando.

More information about Project Safe Send can be found on NDDA’s website, www.agdepartment.com (click on “Hot Topics”). Authorized by the North Dakota Legislature, Project Safe Send is funded through the fees paid by pesticide manufacturers to register their products in North Dakota. Since 1992, more than 2 million pounds of waste pesticides have been collected through Project Safe Send.

From Farm Rescue ~ Farm Rescue Doubles the Number of Farm Families to Receive Assistance - Nonprofit organization has selected 24 famers to receive spring planting assistance – Jamestown, ND — Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization founded to help farm families that have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster, announced the selection of 24 farmers who will be receiving free planting assistance this spring. This is double the number of farm families selected during the spring of 2007.  

The 24 farmers represent cases which include fractured vertebra, spinal cord injury, broken arm & leg, heart attack, heart surgery, hip replacement, cancer treatment, and farmstead destruction due to a tornado. Additional cases include severe accidents involving automobiles, machinery and animal handling.

“Farm Rescue has established itself as a reputable organization to which farm families can turn for help when crisis strikes. We are making positive steps forward to help more farm families in rural communities," said Bill Gross, President of Farm Rescue. “We are thankful for the sponsors and volunteers who make Farm Rescue operations possible.”

RDO Equipment Co., Bremer, Newman Signs, UPS, CHS Country Operations, Lamar and North Dakota Farmers Union are some of the largest sponsors of the program. There are more than 100 sponsors that support the program including the following new sponsors:

Farm Credit Services of America

• Kesslers
• KFYR-TV
• KX News
• NDSU Alpha Gamma Rho
• North Central Farmers Elevator
• Otter Tail Power Company
• Wal-Mart (Brookings, Pierre, and Watertown, SD; and Detroit Lakes, MN)

 “There are volunteers coming from all over the United States to help Farm Rescue this spring.  They include airline pilots, management personnel, retired farmers and college students,” said Christina Hood, Director of Operations. “We are honored to have such good people joining together to help Farm Rescue accomplish its mission.”

There are four additional slots available for critical cases that may arise during the spring planting season.

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or apply for assistance; visit the Farm Rescue website at www.farmrescue.org or call (701) 252-2017, or email info@farmrescue.org. 

 Items for Potato Bytes? - If you would like to submit an item or announce an upcoming event in Potato Bytes, or if you have a story idea for the Valley Potato Grower magazine, please call (218) 773-3633 or send an e-mail to communication@nppga.org.