April 2021 - 33

Virtually advocating for a brighter
future at the D.C. Fly-In
Each year,
NATIONAL
POTATO
COUNCIL
Kam Quarles
Chief Executive
Officer
growers and industry
partners from around
the country come
together in our
nation's capital to
make a difference
on issues impacting
the potato industry.
While this year's
Potato D.C. Fly-In
broke tradition by
taking place virtually,
it still served to
provide the industry an invaluable platform
for talking directly with policymakers about
how rules and regulations being considered
in Washington, D.C. affect family farms and
the potato supply chain.
Attendees this February had the
opportunity to hear directly from industry
champions Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), as well
as key staff members from the Senate
Agriculture Committee Jacqlyn Schneider,
Deputy Staff Director and Policy Director,
and Martha Scott Poindexter, Republican
Staff Director.
It also brought together a record-breaking
161 growers and industry partners who
joined their state potato organizations
to visit with 46 Members of Congress to
communicate the industry's policy
priorities. Below are the four issues
growers took to their elected representatives
seeking assistance.
AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE
TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN
MEXICO, CHINA, JAPAN AND
REMAINING TPP COUNTRIES
With 20% of all potatoes grown in the
United States destined for foreign markets,
growers called on Congress and the
Biden Administration to continue to press
for free trade and open market access
agreements to ensure the continued
growth of the industry.
Additional trade issues advocated for
included:
* The U.S. potato industry must gain full
access to Mexico for fresh potatoes before
any reciprocal concessions are offered
to Mexico for their fruit and vegetable
imports like avocados.
* The U.S. and China should seek to
conclude a workable market access
agreement for U.S. chipping potatoes
as specified in the Phase 1 agreement
announced in January 2020.
* Restore tariff benefits for potatoes lost
under the TPP withdrawal.
* The U.S. should consider using
countermeasures against COVID-induced
surges in European Union fry imports.
KEEP POTATOES EQUAL WITH
OTHER VEGETABLES AND
INVEST IN POTATO SCIENCE
AND RESEARCH
Research is of critical importance to
address the challenge of providing food and
fiber to a growing population. NPC supports
a coordinated public and private research
effort to improve U.S. potato nutrition,
quality, and yield.
During the Fly-In, growers specifically
asked for:
* At least $3.25 million in funding for NIFA's
Potato Research Special Grants.
* Maintaining appropriations report language
that recognizes the value of the ARS
Potato Collaborative Research Program.
* Maintaining the current bipartisan
provision that makes white potatoes
equivalent with other vegetables in
accessing the school breakfast program in
future appropriations bills.
INDUSTRY NEWS
WASHINGTON MARKETING AGREEMENT SUSPENDED
BY USDA
The USDA is indefinitely suspending the
reporting and assessment requirements for
the marketing order regulating the handling
of Irish potatoes grown in Washington.
The Washington potato industry
utilized federal marketing order handling
regulations until 2014, when it chose to
suspend mandatory inspection services
on product in interstate commerce. In
June 2020, the Washington Potato
Committee voted to terminate Marketing
Order No. 946 and to suspend the
collection of handler reports and
assessments in the interim.
This action applies to the federal
marketing order regulating potatoes
grown in Washington state. The final rule
was published in the Federal Register on
Feb. 24, 2021, and was scheduled to go
into effect March 26, 2021.
Spudman * April 2021
33
AG TRANSPORTATION
EFFICIENCIES
NPC continues to advocate for
transportation reforms and infrastructure
investments that make it easier to get
potatoes to market both domestically and
internationally. This year, growers asked
their members of Congress to support
a comprehensive transportation funding
bill that includes increased truck weight
limits, hours-of-service enhancements, and
substantial investments in U.S. infrastructure
including roads and seaports.
SUPPORTING AG LABOR
REFORM PROVISIONS
Finally, at this year's Fly-In we once
again called on Congress to pass legislation
similar to the bipartisan Farm Workforce
Modernization Act that would address the
agriculture industry's critical shortage of labor
to plant and harvest crops. To alleviate the
agricultural labor crisis, growers advocated
for a legislative solution that includes a
responsive guest worker program, and a viable
option for the current improperly documented
workforce to obtain legal work status.
Not only does the Fly-In provide an
opportunity for growers to understand the
issues being debated in D.C., it gives potato
advocates the chance to help shape that
process. Even during a pandemic, the Fly-In is
a week unlike any other, providing growers and
industry partners a forum to speak with one
voice to decision makers as we continue to fight
for a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow.
April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2021
