Potato Bytes

Potato News
Friday, March 7, 2008
Click Here for Previous Issues of Potato Bytes

Northern Plains Potato Growers Association

Office News

From NPPGA President, Duane Maatz – Roseau and Warroad each won their first round game in the MN State Hockey Tournament. Some things are not supposed to change.

Minnesota Area II held their Research Meeting earlier this week. It was a well attended valuable meeting. Along with their reporting conference, they held their Annual Meeting and also made their research funding decisions for 2008. The new format Area II is working under regarding their funding makes them a valuable partner in our granting.

The NPPGA Research Committee will be meeting on Monday, March 17. The meeting will begin at 9:00 AM at the Association Office. We should have our work completed by noon. Committee members will receive their packets in the mail. Please contact our office if you want to participate in this important process. The Advertising and Promotion Committee will be meeting the following Monday to solidify their plans for the next fiscal year.

Next week the USPB Annual Meeting will be held in Denver. Your locally elected delegates will be attending sessions to learn more about ongoing promotional activities and programming as well as set policy and future direction. Our Association position has been to carry the communication thread from the USPB one step farther in our promotional activity, sending a consistent positive consumer message. The theory behind this work is to associate ourselves and cost lever to our best advantage. Elections for the USPB have been held during our summer field day activities in recent years. Watch for your opportunity to become involved.

We still have room for a few interested persons to work on our Budget Committee. The established structure for this committee allows for the Executive Committee along with grower representatives from each of our two states to participate in this process. The specific date has not yet been determined but is expected to be held in early April.

From NPPGA Marketing Director, Ted Kreis – Area shippers are reporting very brisk business this week as retailers are gearing up for Easter ads. Prices have been steady in the $14/cwt. range for size A reds for several weeks, but should start to push up if the spring of 2006 is any indication when remaining supplies were very similar to this year. Five of the 15 fresh packing sheds in the Valley have already quit packing for the season. Most of the larger sheds will be running about eight more weeks, through mid May.

Red Seed Being Diverted to Fresh Market - Since the first of the year, a substantial amount of red potatoes originally stored for seed are being washed for the fresh market. The soft demand for seed would seem to indicate some growers are moving to other commodities for spring planting.

 All Growers Urged to Attend Seminar on March 18 th - Fresh and process growers alike could benefit if the United Potato Growers of America (UPGA) is successful in establishing an affiliated membership with the Red River Valley Fresh Potato Growers Co-op. Minn-Dak Potato Cooperative members could affiliate with the Red River Valley Fresh Co-op, at no additional cost, and take advantage of the financial incentives to be offered by the Partners Program. This is made possible because Minn-Dak belongs to the Potato Marketing Association of North America, who is partnering with United to make this program possible. A March 18 th Seminar has been scheduled at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks to better explain the Partners Program to all area growers, as well as prospective local corporate partners. The seminar will include presentations by Bayer CropScience, AMVAC, and Winfield Solutions. The free seminar will go from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM and include lunch and gifts for all attending. Call Ted at 218-773-3633 or email tkreis@nppga.org to assist with meal planning, remember there is no cost to attend!

Deadline Established for United Membership Drive – The Board of Directors for the Red River Valley Fresh Co-op has set March 21 st as the deadline to complete the membership drive for the local co-op. If sufficient membership is not obtained, the Board will reassess the decision to join United Potato Growers of America. Interested fresh growers are urged to contact one of the Board members as soon as possible if they are interested in joining. Those members are Steve Tweten, Paul Dolan, Greg Hall, David Moquist, and Tom Campbell.

BYTES TRIVIA – Last week’s Trivia winner was Jerry Schefter of Grand Forks. The boxer nicknamed “Sweet Pea” was Pernell Whitaker. Here is this week’s Trivia question: Who elects the judges to the World Court? Send your answer to tkreis@nppga.org. The winner will receive a pair of “Powered by Potatoes” license plate holders.

THIS WEEK’S DEEP THOUGHT: If the entire world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

Industry News

From the MN Farm Service Agency - March 15 th Deadline for NAP Coverage- Minnesota Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Perry Aasness today reminded producers that the closing date to purchase 2008 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is March 15, 2008, for spring seeded annual vegetables, grain crops, and Perennial Forage pastures.

The service fee is $100 per crop per county or $300 per producer per county. The fee cannot exceed a total of $900 per individual with farming interests in multiple counties, regardless of the number of crops covered. Limited resource producers may request a waiver for service fees.

An eligible producer is a landowner, tenant, or sharecropper who shares in the risk of producing an eligible crop. Producers may apply for benefits when losses exceed 50 percent of the approved yield on specific crops. The payment rate is 55 percent of an approved average market price.

Ranchers and farmers should give NAP pasture coverage serious consideration as a cost-effective risk management tool. For only $100, a producer can have NAP protection on unlimited pasture acreage within a county to cover devastating losses from catastrophic weather events, such as drought or flooding.

NAP provides weather related loss protection for all crops commercially produced for food or fiber for which catastrophic risk protection coverage is not available. Eligible crops include fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture, ginseng, aqua-culture, ornamental nursery crops, Christmas trees, turf grass, sod, industrial crops, and seed used for human consumption or animal feed. Also included are honey and maple sap.

Interested producers should contact their county FSA office by close of business on March 15.

 From the National Potato Council - Lawmakers Aim for $10 Billion Increase in Farm Bill - Lawmakers got closer to an agreement on the farm bill this week. On Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee announced the conferees were close to an agreement on a $10 billion spending increase, $4 billion more than is backed by the White House. While more than the White House has endorsed, a $10 billion increase would be far smaller than the levels proposed in farm bills passed by the House and Senate last year. Discussion between key agriculture leaders in Congress and administration officials have continued all week. The current farm bill will expire on March 15, 2008 and the 1949 Permanent Farm Legislation would take effect if a new farm bill is not approved prior to the expiration date. Assuming negotiators reach an agreement in the next week, a temporary extension of the current legislation would be necessary until the farm bill is finalized and signed. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance continues to work to safeguard specialty crop spending contained in the House and Senate bills.

Farm Bill Update - In spite of continued optimism from key members of the House and Senate progress on the 2007 farm bill remains slow. Positive signs are that the Bush Administration has hinted they could support spending at levels near $10 billion over the baseline but only if those increases are not based on tax increases or timing gimmicks, and the bill includes additional reform. Even though all parties seem to have agreed to allow for spending of $10 billion over the baseline, Congressional farm bill negotiators have to find additional spending offsets acceptable to the Administration. This task is proving difficult. The calls for additional reform by the Administration have focused on adjustment of the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) participation requirements, adjustments to marketing and nonrecourse loans and removing the planting flexibility restrictions. Members of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, including the NPC, have been working with supporters on Capitol Hill to reinforce the argument that maintaining the fruit and vegetable planting flexibility restrictions are a key element of creating fairness and equity between nonsubsidized specialty crop producers and program crop producers.

 Potato Growers Call on Congress to Protect Agriculture and Specialty Crops - As part of the 2008 NPC Public Policy Conference, over 100 potato growers and representatives from state potato organizations met with members of Congress, USDA, EPA and USTR this week in Washington, DC on the potato industry’s federal agricultural policy priorities. Growers asked Congress for quick action on the 2007 farm bill and for appropriations for ARS and CSREES funding for research critical to potato production and breeding. Growers also voiced the potato industry’s need for comprehensive immigration reform that responds to agriculture’s unique labor needs.

Attendees heard from Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez who spoke on the importance of trade to America’s future and how p otatoes and potato products play an important role in the American economy. He said trade is an increasingly important segment of the U.S. economy, with 2007 being a record-breaking year with $1.6 trillion in exports, up 12.2 percent over 2006. Gutierrez said that free trade agreements (FTAs) are the best way to help exporters break into new markets.

Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson told potato growers at the conference that an agreement on the farm bill in the House and Senate was close. Chairman Peterson told the NPC that the farm bill might include a disaster aid program for farmers and ranchers. It would also offer the first program to protect farmer revenue against poor yields as well as low prices.

Congressman John Salazar, the only potato farmer in serving in Congress, spoke to the group on the need for comprehensive immigration reform, the Columbia FTA and the need for increased fiscal responsibility by Congress.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner also addressed the conference attendees stating that source of funding for the new farm bill is an important issue. He indicated that the White House would reject a bill that relied on tax increases or failed to reform crop subsidy rules. Connor also stated the administration would press Congress to add additional reforms to the 2007 farm bill.

Meetings were also held with the EPA on product registration and reregistration priorities, and with USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and Foreign Agriculture Service, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative on market access and phytosanitary trade issues.

The NPC Public Policy Conference is designed to inform potato grower leaders on public policy priorities and serves as an annual opportunity for growers to deliver priority messages to members of Congress.

NPC Participates in Sustainability Discussions - The Leonardo Academy lead a sustainable agriculture stakeholder dialogue on Friday, February 29, to explain their process for establishing national sustainability standards and to get discussions started on the issues that might be included in a sustainability standard. Representatives from state potato organizations were in attendance, including Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The NPC also attended the discussion.

NPC Participates in Minor Crop Farmer Alliance Meeting - The NPC attended the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance Technical Committee meeting in Washington, DC on Thursday, February 28. The international issues discussed were the U.S.–Canada MRL project, which is moving forward, and Taiwan MRL enforcement. Discussions on web-based labeling for crop protection products revolved around issues of compliance and notification of change in labels uses.

 New Leaders Trained at 2008 Potato Industry Leadership Institute - Nineteen potato growers and industry representatives from across the United States formed the Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) Class of 2008, training designed to identify, develop and cultivate new leaders within the potato industry. From February 19 through 28, participants sharpened their skills in the areas of leadership development, public policy, marketing, trade, team building, public communication, presentation skills and more.

Participants are selected through state organization nominations and a committee facilitated by the National Potato Council (NPC) and the United States Potato Board (USPB), joint coordinators of the program. The Institute is made possible each year through a major sponsorship from Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., and this year Lamb Weston and Basic American Foods made valuable sponsorship contributions to the programs, as well.

The 2008 Institute began with the first three days in Colorado. The participants toured the mini-tuber production operations at CSS Farms, the micro-baker production plant of Expo, LLC, and the fresh pack facilities of Spud Seller and Farm Fresh Direct, LLC. The tour also included stops to HiLand Farms, Worley Seed & Fresh, the Colorado State University San Luis Valley Potato Certification Research Center and MorStarch, a dehydrated potato processing plant.

The second half of the training was in Washington, DC, where the focus moved to legislative and regulatory priorities for the US potato industry, as well as skills training. Training sessions included presentation skills, leadership development, media training, and lobby skills. Participants also had the opportunity to hear from Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conners on the USDA’s farm bill progress. The program culminated with visits to Capitol Hill where participants put their lobbying training to work.

The class performed outstandingly during a Convenience Recipe Cooking contest in which each team was given a basket of common groceries—including potatoes and potato products—and were challenged to prepare a nutritious and satisfying meal in under 30 minutes for several types of differing household demographics. The NPC and USPB executive committees, who acted as judges, were mesmerized with the unprecedented creations and presentations coming from this new generation of industry professionals. They in turn were challenged, and deliberated extensively in deciding who the winning team would be.

Their skills were again put to the test and they again performed outstandingly during a Partnership Challenge in which each team was challenged to come up with new potato product and packaging concepts, create conceptualized prototypes and present their new ideas before the NPC and USPB executive committees. The judges were again bowled-over by the aptitude exhibited by this great group of talented leaders.

Participants in the 2008 Institute included: Jeffrey Blanksma (Idaho); Kristopher Butcher (Washington); Cortney Felmlee (Colorado); Eric Halverson (North Dakota); Lisa Hickman (Nebraska); Jenn Holzer (Washington); Jay LaJoie (Maine); Christopher Matthews (Oregon); Alan Moir (Maine); Jeremy Peterson (Oregon); Layne Polatis (Idaho); Ryan Sams (Washington); Jon Schodde (Idaho); Chris Slagell (Oklahoma); Matthew Smartt (Colorado); Douglas Somers (Wisconsin); Keith Tinsey (Michigan); Tim Venhuizen (Montana); and Bryan Wada (Idaho).

Ernie Ford of Center, CO, served as the grower leader on the program. He participated in the 2007 Institute and was elected by his class to lead this year’s program. The 2008 Institute elected Eric Halverson of Grand Forks, ND, to serve as the grower leader on the 2009 Institute.

“I joined the 2008 Potato Industry Leadership Institute to learn more about the national potato industry and its organizations,” Halverson said. “I wanted to learn how I could become more involved with the National Potato Council and the United States Potato Board. Meeting and associating with other growers from around the country was one of the best things I gained.”

Class members Keith Tinsley and Jeff Blanksma also valued the leadership skills and training PILI provided. “I was interested in gaining industry knowledge and training opportunities for professional improvement,” Tinsley said. “In my estimation, the Potato Industry Leadership Institute professional training experiences are as good as any executive retreat in the country.” “My purpose in attending PILI was to cultivate the skills necessary to participate in local and national policy making,” Blanksma said. “This experience really opened my eyes to the breadth and amount of policy making necessary to make our industry function.”

Cultivating future industry leaders is where PILI excels so well. The 2008 class was remarkably engaging and intuitively grasped the professional leadership skills presented on their behalf. They responded to opportunities with zeal and performed meritoriously when challenged.

NPC Participates in Minnesota Area II Meeting - This week, NPC Executive Vice President and CEO John Keeling traveled to Minnesota to participate in the Minnesota Area II Potato Growers Research and Promotion Council meeting. The Minnesota Area II growers review research proposals and provide more than $200,000 in research funding for projects to address disease, variety development and other emerging issues impacting production and marketing in Minnesota. Keeling provide the group with an overview of the farm bill, trade, immigration, and other front burner issues that the NPC is involved with in Washington, DC.

Country of Origin Labeling Update - In 2002, Congress passed a law that requires retailers to disclose country of origin information at point of sale for perishable agricultural commodities, however, because of concerns about the regulatory burden of the 2002 law, the effective date of this law, originally due to go into effect September 30, 2004, has been delayed twice until September 30, 2008. Due to current political pressure, extended delays will not take place for the implementation of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). USDA has stated that it is waiting to propose a new set of regulations that would actually implement the law based on the legislative changes now pending in the farm bill.

A few of these changes are: 1) The potential liability for suppliers and retailers with regard to mistakes or absence of labeling at point of purchase will be significantly reduced; 2) USDA is barred from requiring any new record-keeping other than normal records kept in the regular course of doing business; 3) A new specific provision will allow labeling of a U.S. state, region or locality in which a product is produced to meet label standards as product of U.S.

These changes will lead to a smoother implementation process plus the clear precedent from USDA that actual enforcement will not likely be assessed for quite some time after that effective date (USDA provided a one-year phase-in period to come into compliance with COO labeling after the mandatory date for seafood COOL).

In addition, the flexibility of the program will encourage all members of the supply chain to work together to implement COOL in a cost effective and simple way. For example, there are no specific regulations on size of type, font, color, etc. A good faith attempt is all that is necessary. For unpackaged and un-stickered bulk commodities that are displayed in retail bins, a placard or sign will likely be necessary for point of sale compliance. Talk with your retailers about the least costly and disruptive means to address bulk commodities.

The NPC feels that together, our total supply chain can work as an industry to roll out COOL efficiently and successfully.

 From the US Potato Board – Delivering The “Potato Cooking Convenience” Message - Armed with the convenient potato cooking story, the USPB Public Relations team visited the kitchen staffs of food and lifestyle magazines in New York last June. Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of the Ultimate Potato cookbook, demonstrated the recently developed convenience microwave cooking techniques. The USPB team also presented information on the International Year of the Potato and potato research.

This attachment, showing a great looking baked potato and the tip not to poke their potatoes before microwaving, ran in Everyday with Rachael Ray as a result. Other consumer pick-ups of this information include Relish, a newspaper insert on food, Food and Wine magazine, Martha Stewart radio, and Bon Appétit magazine. R R Potato.pdf

There’s Still Time!!! Excellent Opportunity For Table-Stock Growers Interested In Exporting To Southeast Asia - The Food & Hotel Asia Show is being held at the Singapore Expo, April 22-25, 2008.  The United States Potato Board (USPB) will have a US potato booth at the show and invites all interested US table-stock growers, shippers and their importers to join the USPB pavilion. Food & Hotel Asia is Asia’s largest international food and hospitality event. This biennial show had over 37,000 trade visitors and exhibiting companies at the April 2006 show. For more information, please visit www.foodnhotelasia.com.    

Located in the USA Pavilion, table space in the USPB booth is limited, so respond as soon as possible to ensure your place. This is a great opportunity to meet potential customers in person and represent the United States among companies from all around the world. 

If you are a new exporter to Southeast Asia, this is a great opportunity for you to learn about the market and meet the trade that is interested in purchasing US potatoes. If you are a current exporter to Southeast Asia, we encourage you to attend with your local importer. If you do not attend and your local importer is still interested, they are welcome to participate for only $250.00. 

For only the cost of your hotel and airfare, you receive many benefits including:

• The USPB’s representatives from Singapore will decorate the entire booth.
• The USPB will provide several different US potato varieties to display at the booth
• Translation will be provided
• You’ll receive table space to display your company information and materials
• The day before the trade show, the USPB will present our programs, overview the market and visit retail outlets.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity! If you are interested, please contact Sarah Mahler at sarah@uspotatoes.com or 303-873-2334.  

2007 Research Projects - Tuesday, March 11th, on the front end of the 2008 USPB Annual Meeting, Domestic Marketing staff will be providing the summary top-line for the 2007/2008 National Eating Trends (NET) Consumer Study, along with the Attitude & Usage (A&U) Consumer Study. Additionally, we’ll be covering 2007 Frozen Foodservice Performance and Nielsen Supermarket Performance. If you are not able, or planning on attending, CD’s of this important consumer and sales performance will be available approximately four weeks after the meeting. Contact Mac Johnson, Vice President, Domestic Marketing, at the USPB, 303-369-7783 or macjohnson@uspotatoes.com, if you’d like to receive a copy.

Additionally, Sterling Rice, our new ad agency, will be providing an update of the New “Potatoes…Goodness Unearthed™” campaign.

US Frozen Potatoes Are Popping Up Everywhere In Korea - January saw the launch of a number of different US frozen potato products on menus and in retail stores in Korea. GS 25, the biggest convenience store chain in Korea, with about 1000 stores nationwide, launched Bennigan’s baked potato. GS 25 tied in with Bennigan’s in October 2007 selling two pasta menus. They found this co-marketing very successful and decided to launch five additional menus that included baked potatoes at their convenience stores.

Home plus, the 2nd largest hypermarket in Korea with 66 stores nationwide, launched glazed crunch fries at their deli shop in 10 selected stores.  This is a ready to eat product served hot in plastic containers.  Homever, a major hypermarket with 35 stores in Korea, launched crunch fries in their deli section at 14 selected stores in the Seoul metropolitan area. Consumers are able to serve themselves these battered and coated fries from the warming trey.

Costco Korea, with six stores nationwide, launched Mashed Potato & Meat Loaf as a ready to eat meal that just needs to be reheated. The mashed potatoes are frozen mashed from the US.

E Mart, the largest hypermarket chain in Korea, recently launched US frozen potato products on its online mall. US frozen potatoes are now on three major online shopping services in Korea.  The US frozen potato products listed in the E Mart online mall are shoestring fries, red skin dices with two different flavors, baby bakers, crunch wedges, spudsters, hash browns, and frozen whole potatoes. E Mart is also considering adding these products to the frozen section in its over 100 off line stores nationwide.  Click here to view the E Mart online shopping homepage.

From the ND Department of Ag - State Ag Leaders Back Bill On Highway Weight Limits - Bismarck – The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is on record in support of federal legislation allowing agricultural producers to use the 26,001-pound weight limit when transporting crops, livestock and equipment across state lines.

“House Resolution 3098 will provide much-needed uniformity between state and federal laws,” said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. “Under existing federal regulations, farmers using their own vehicles to transport their own crops or livestock can get caught up in the same regulations that apply to individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for hire year-round.”

Johnson, who is president of NASDA, and Oklahoma Agriculture Commissioner Terry Peach, who chairs NASDA’s Rural Development & Financial Security Committee, wrote a letter to Rep. James Oberstar (MN), chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and other congressional leaders, urging them to support the measure.

Johnson said the legislation, introduced by Reps. Dan Boren (OK), Mary Fallin (OK) and Robert Aderholt (AL) clarifies the situation regarding agricultural vehicles by changing the current definition of a commercial motor vehicle from 10,001 pounds to 26,001 pounds.

“This would allow farmers and ranchers, especially those who may travel only short distances but whose best markets are just across a state line, to continue to conduct their agricultural business on highways,” Johnson said. “It also provides growers the opportunity to capture the best price for their products.” NASDA members, the agriculture commissioners, secretaries and directors of the 50 states and four territories, adopted a resolution in support of the legislation at their recent midwinter meeting in Washington.

Funding Awarded For Ag In The Classroom Programs - Bismarck – The North Dakota Agriculture in the Classroom Council, meeting Wednesday, in Jamestown, approved four grants, totaling $55,000, for educational programs for 2008. “These are proven, successful programs that help young people, especially those from urban schools, understand the importance of agriculture,” said Kim Alberty, West Fargo, council chairman. “These programs also help students learn how to make better choices about the foods they eat.”

“Ag in the Classroom leverages a limited amount of money into outstanding programs that reach thousands of students and teachers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. “It is very important, especially here in North Dakota, that we all understand where our food comes from and how it is produced.”  

The four grants include:

·        $33,000 to the North Dakota Farm Bureau Foundation to conduct Project Food, Land and People and other educational activities, and to send two teachers to the 2008 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference.

·        $14,000 to the North Dakota FFA Foundation to continue its mini-grant program.

·        $4,500 to North Dakota State University Agricultural Ag Communications to publish three issues of North Dakota Ag Mag. 

·        $3,500 to the North Dakota Geographic Alliance to conduct on-farm teacher tours.

Agriculture in the Classroom programs help teachers integrate agricultural information into the science, math, social studies, language and other class lessons. Authorized by the North Dakota Legislature, it is funded with a legislative appropriation and by contributions.

In addition to Alberty and Johnson, council members include Superintendent of Public Instruction Wayne Sanstead, Bismarck; Doug Vannurden, North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education, Bismarck; Judge Barth, Dakota Pride Cooperative, Jamestown; Ted Johnson, Kindred High School, Kindred; Mary Lou Klemisch, Prairie View Elementary School, New Salem; Ginger Deitz, Bennet Elementary School, Fargo; Steven Edwardson, North Dakota Barley Council; Shannon Berndt, Northern Pulse Growers Association; Gary Hoffman, North Dakota Dairy Coalition; Aggie Jennings, North Dakota Farmers Union, Washburn; Jill Vigesaa, Project Food, Land & People, Fargo; Mitchell Becker, FFA state president; Kathy Holle, North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education, Bismarck; Ward Eichhorst,  North Dakota Farm Bureau, Coleharbor; Gail Scherweit, North Dakota Farm Bureau, Fargo; Kim Owen, EduTech, Valley City; Becky Koch, NDSU Communications, Fargo; Beth Bakke Stenehjem, FFA Foundation, Bismarck, and Marilyn Weiser, North Dakota Geographic Alliance, Minot.

 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.