Advertise on podcast: Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles calls in to react to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee's vote to favorably report out the Farm Bill. Kam discusses the prospects of the bill and its potential path forward during the Lame Duck session, and previews the upcoming Potato Expo 2027 in Denver.

Last Friday, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service amended federal regulations on Prince Edward Island potato imports to protect domestic crops from potato wart. Maine Potato Board Executive Director Jeannie Tapley and National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles joined the Eye on Potatoes podcast to discuss this progress in protecting U.S. growers, new waste disposal requirements for bulk shipments, and the impact on Maine growers.

National Potato Council CEO and Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Co-Chair Kam Quarles joined the podcast to provide an update on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s recent 10-11 vote on the Agriculture Act of 2026 -- also known as the Farm Bill.  Disagreements over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program stalled the bill's progress, pushing negotiations until after the Senate returns from a month-long Labor Day recess. Quarles explains why this pause offers lawmakers a crucial window to draft bipartisan solutions rather than shutting down the process for the year.

This week, host Lane Nordlund sits down with National Potato Council Vice President of Legislative Affairs Dean Gibson and NPC CEO Kam Quarles to analyze pressing issues facing U.S. potato growers as July 2026 comes to a close.  The group reviews current growing conditions in Idaho and across the West, examining how hot summer weather, wildfire smoke, and tightening water supplies impact local operations. Kam and Dean recap the successful NPC Summer Meeting in Detroit, held jointly with Potatoes USA, and outline critical policy discussions underway in Washington, D.C. The conversation covers key federal topics, including the upcoming Senate Farm Bill markup, specialty crop economic relief, USMCA trade protections, and agricultural labor reform.  Key Highlights: 2026 Crop and Harvest Outlook: Dean shares updates on western growing conditions, regional water scarcity, and the start of the 2026 crop harvest. Detroit Summer Meeting Recap: They reflect on strong industry turnout, collaboration with Potatoes USA, and key business discussions in Motor City. Senate Farm Bill Developments: Kam analyzes the path forward for a bipartisan Farm Bill, contrasting agricultural production spending with federal nutrition programs. Specialty Crop Relief: The panel addresses rising input costs, depressed commodity returns, and the ongoing push for targeted federal disaster and economic assistance. Trade and Labor Priorities: Kam and Dean discuss the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and advocate for practical labor solutions for farm operations and packing sheds.

This week, host Lane Nordlund sat down with National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles to talk about the high-stakes policy issues facing potato growers before Congress takes its August recess. Quarles breaks down the ongoing negotiations over specialty crop grower aid, the push to pass a new Farm Bill by the end of 2026, and the newly introduced Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act. He also shares details from a recent White House dinner with President Donald Trump and previews the upcoming National Potato Council Summer Meeting in Detroit.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-Pa.) has announced his intention to introduce the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act on June 30. The legislation directly addresses ongoing agricultural labor challenges through three main pillars: expanding access, controlling costs, and streamlining operations. In this episode, we explore how this legislation addresses the agricultural labor crisis by reforming the H-2A visa program. Mike Wenkel, Chief Operating Officer of the National Potato Council, breaks down the bill's three main pillars: expanding labor access, controlling Adverse Effect Wage Rate costs and streamlining federal regulations. Brett Jensen, NPC Vice President of Trade Affairs and owner of Brett Jensen Farms in Idaho Falls, Idaho, joins the conversation to share his firsthand experience running an operation that has relied on H-2A workers for 25 years.

The National Potato Council Summer Meeting heads to Detroit this July, and organizers have planned an incredible lineup of activities, sessions, and networking events to showcase the Motor City.  Host Lane Nordlund welcomes NPC's 2026 President Ben Sklarczyk, a seed potato grower from Johannesburg, Michigan, and Kelly Turner, Executive Director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, to provide a Summer Meeting preview and talk about the history and impact of the Michigan potato industry. Ben shares the history of his family farm and explains how his background as a seed producer shapes his vision for protecting family-owned operations nationwide. He discusses his key priorities for his presidency and offers advice on how individual producers can connect with state and federal representatives to amplify the industry's voice in Washington, D.C. Kelly previews the unique activities, tours, and off-site events awaiting Summer Meeting attendees in Michigan and highlights the massive economic footprint of the state's agriculture industry.

During Potato Expo 2026, we were joined by the dynamic duo leading that charge at Potatoes USA: Culinary Director Chef RJ Harvey and Executive Sous Chef Aurora Hollenbeck. These two experts are redefining the potato's role in the culinary world through their unique perspectives as registered dietitians and scientists. Join us as we look inside the day-to-day operations of Potato USA's Spud Lab and how it provides practical solutions for major foodservice operators, as well as how Potatoes USA is working to promote potatoes as a profitable and exciting menu fixture in high-volume chain restaurants.

Recorded live at Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, this special episode brings together the top leadership of the U.S. potato industry. National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles, Potatoes USA CEO Blair Richardson, and United Potato Growers of America President and CEO Mark Klompein join host Lane Nordlund to discuss the power of organizational alignment. The three leaders reflect on a volatile 2025 marked by the establishment of the "Make America Healthy Again" commission, looming tariff threats, and shifting global trade dynamics. The roundtable explores how United’s economic intelligence, Potatoes USA’s marketing and research, and NPC’s legislative advocacy work in tandem to protect grower interests.  From fighting for the potato's reputation in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines to expanding fresh market access in Mexico and Japan, these CEOs outline the strategy for industry stability and growth in 2026 and beyond.

During Potato Expo 2026, we explored leadership through the lens of one of American history's most pivotal moments: the Battle of Gettysburg. National Potato Council COO Mike Wenkel and retired Marine Corps Colonel Rob Abbott, a licensed battlefield guide and leadership expert, joined the Eye on Potatoes podcast to discuss the Potato LEAF "Leadership in the Field" program. Colonel Abbott shares how the triumphs and failures of Civil War commanders offer vital lessons for modern potato operations. The conversation dives into critical topics, including leadership succession and managing mental health challenges like PTSD—drawing parallels between the rigors of the battlefield and the high-stakes environment of production agriculture.  Tune in to learn how historical strategy can help you prepare your team for the future.

Potatoes are highly sensitive to even moderate environmental changes. During Potato Expo 2026, we sat down with Andrew Pritchard, Senior Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien, who identified the "best and worst" weather patterns for potato health. The conversation focuses on practical resilience strategies, including soil performance tracking and storage management, to help producers remain profitable despite erratic rainfall and shifting pest pressures.

The 2025 Leadership Institute added a new layer of innovation with the introduction of capstone projects, requiring participants to identify and solve critical issues facing the U.S. potato industry.  On this episode of Eye on Potatoes, we sit down with Michael Rainis of Friehe Farms, Mike Murphy of Childstock Farms, and Matthew McKenna of County Farms—the trio behind "SPUD Team Six." Fresh off their presentation on the main stage at Potato Expo 2026, these emerging leaders share their capstone project plan to double the participation rate of Leadership Institute graduates in state and national organizations within one year of completing the program.  We discuss their personal highlights from the 10-day training—which took them from the fields of Wisconsin to the halls of Capitol Hill—and explore how the capstone process enhanced their teamwork and leadership skills.

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and Spudman Managing Editor Melinda Waldrop join the Eye on Potatoes Podcast to break down the inaugural 2026 Spud Sector Survey. This first-of-its-kind report moves past headlines to reveal the economic heartbeat of America’s potato growers.  Discover how NPC uses this "hard data ammunition" to advocate for our family farms in Washington, D.C. The group discusses the striking "optimism gap," where growers feel confident in their own operations but fear for the broader industry’s future. From the 82.9% of growers facing inflationary disruptions to the "essential bridge" of federal emergency aid, this episode provides a strategic roadmap for the ongoing efforts to Stand Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill. Download the Spud Sector Survey here: spudman.com/spudsector.

In this special live recording from the Expo Stage at Potato Expo 2026, host Lane Nordlund sits down with Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council (NPC), and Randy Russell, President and CEO of The Russell Group. One year into the current administration, the discussion tackles the current policy landscape and its impact on NPC's mission of "Standing Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill." The conversation explores how the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement and the DOGE commission have shifted the food policy landscape far faster than typical federal cycles. Looking toward the 2026 midterm elections, the panel analyzes the narrow legislative window for passing a new five-year Farm Bill, as the 2018 bill remains under a one-year extension through September 2026. The group also addresses the ongoing economic crisis in farm country, highlighting the NPC’s role in fighting for additional economic relief for specialty crop producers to offset rising input costs and market disruptions.

In this recording from Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and Matt Lantz of Bryant Christie Inc. dive into the high-stakes world of international potato trade. The group discusses the industry’s formal request for a Section 332 fact-finding investigation to address concerns regarding British Columbia’s efforts over 40 years to limit exports of potatoes to that province, along with concerns over other Canadian policies that may unfairly distort trade. They also explore how the industry is using trade leverage to decrease friction and expand the global footprint of U.S. potatoes in Asia, Mexico, and around the world.