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 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'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.

Guests:

• Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council
• Matt Lantz, Senior Vice President, Global Access, Bryant Christie

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's participation, impacted the negotiations in Tokyo as well as this week'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.

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 opportunities for U.S. potato growers in markets like Japan. 

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 pleaf.org/leadership-institute-1 to learn more about the program and apply today.

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 Affairs and an Idaho potato grower. 

They'll discuss the origins of this investment, the light-speed delivery of payments, and the immediate impact on farms. We'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'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. 

During Potato Expo 2025, we were joined by Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, and Andy Lavigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), to dig into the future of potato growing with a fascinating topic: True Potato Seed

Andy will shed light on ASTA's pivotal role in evolving plant breeding methods and genetic discovery, then he'll break down what "true potato seed" is and its benefits for the potato sector. We'll also get an update on the regulatory and technological status of true potato seed and discuss where it's headed in the marketplace. Kam will outline the National Potato Council's role in this innovation and highlight the importance of events like Potato Expo 2025 in keeping growers and industry members informed.

This podcast is possible 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. 

The Trump Administration's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Commission report, spearheaded by Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., has ignited a major debate across the U.S. food and agriculture landscape. While the National Potato Council applauds the report's focus on a healthier America and increased fruit and vegetable consumption, certain recommendations are raising critical questions for our industry.

In this episode, we're joined by NPC CEO Kam Quarles and returning guest Beth Johnson, Founder & Principal of Food Directions. We dive deep into the MAHA report, exploring its implications for food policy, the integrity of our science-based regulatory system, and the future of American family farms.

Join us as we discuss:

• An overview of the MAHA Commission's key findings.
• Effective strategies for expanding access to and awareness of healthy foods.
• Defining "ultraprocessed foods" and distinguishing between beneficial and unhealthy food processing.
• The critical importance of peer-reviewed science in food and agricultural policy, and the dangers of allowing popular opinion to sway regulatory decisions.
• The implications of the report's criticisms of pesticides, including glyphosate, on farm practices and food safety protocols.
• The broader philosophical shift in the MAHA report regarding scientific consensus versus individual beliefs.
• How the agricultural industry and policymakers can collaborate to achieve a healthier America while safeguarding our science-based regulatory system and supporting family farms.
• Top priorities for a science-based and practical implementation of the MAHA report's health goals.

This podcast is possible 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. 

Join us for a special episode dedicated to the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF)! Launched in January 2020 at Potato Expo, Potato LEAF is shaping the future of U.S. potato production through impactful leadership and educational programming, born from a vision to establish a long-term funding mechanism for the industry's growth.

In this episode, we'll dive into the five-year history of Potato LEAF, explore how collaborative leadership has driven its success, and celebrate the incredible results of its inaugural Founders Society Campaign, which surpassed its $2 million goal even amidst the challenges of COVID-19.

We're honored to host three influential voices from Potato LEAF's journey:

• Larry Alsum, President and CEO of Alsum Farms and Produce. As National Potato Council President in 2019, Larry provided the foundational recommendation to create Potato LEAF for leadership development and education. He'll share insights into the genesis of this vital organization and give us a peek into his Wisconsin farm, a stop on this year's Leadership Institute.
• Gregg Halverson, Chairman of the Board for Black Gold Farms and current Chair of Potato LEAF. Gregg will discuss the foundation's current initiatives and future direction.
• Mike Wenkel, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of Potato LEAF.

This podcast is possible 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. 

Nathan Gonzales is Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, which provides nonpartisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor, and president. He's also co-host of the Inside Elections Podcast and an Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call. 

During the 2025 NPC Washington Summit, we sat down with Nathan to talk about the political trends coming out of the 2024 elections, the latest innovations and challenges shaping the future of political campaigning, and how the political chessboard has been rearranged for 2025 and beyond. 

This podcast is possible 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. 

U.S. EPA has made a concerted effort over the past several years to come into compliance with its obligations under the Endangered Species Act. Much of its efforts are driven by what is referred to as the Mega Suit by environmental groups, which are forcing deadlines on EPA to meet its obligations. During Potato Expo 2025, we sat down with two policy experts to talk about what the implementation of EPA’s strategy will mean for growers.

Guests: 

• Mike Aerts, Vice President of Science and Regulatory Affairs, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
• Mike Wenkel, Chief Operating Officer, National Potato Council

This podcast is possible 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.