Thilani Jayakody, a third-year graduate student in the Michigan State University’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, was recently announced as the recipient of the Potato LEAF&apos;s 2021-22 Academic Scholarship. Thilani joins podcast host Lane Nordlund and NPC&apos;s Mike Wenkel for a conversation about her background, academic research, and the importance of the Potato LEAF scholarship in helping her reach her career goals.  The Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) provides a $10,000 scholarship award annually to one graduate student with a strong interest in research that can directly benefit the U.S. potato industry. As a Ph.D. candidate and graduate research assistant, Thilani was recognized for her research in potato genome editing focused on the application of new breeding techniques for crop improvement.For more information on Thilani&apos;s work and the Potato LEAF Academic Scholarship, visit pleaf.org.   

Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes

A Conversation with 2021-22 Academic Scholarship Recipient Thilani Jayakody

National Potato Council Vice President of Legislative Affairs JR Andrus from Idaho joins CEO Kam Quarles for a discussion on proposals being floated in Congress to fund infrastructure improvements on the backs of family farmers. JR says that some infrastructure investments are important, however they should not be paid for by undermining U.S. family farms that are still struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Fighting Against Tax Hikes on Family Farms

NPC 2021 President and Maine potato grower Dominic Lajoie and NPC CEO Kam Quarles sat down with us to preview next week&apos;s Summer Meeting Virtual and update the industry on a number of policy development that have occurred since the Annual Meeting in February, including: NPC’s efforts over the pandemic to secure $350 million for growers to offset foodservice disruptions; Ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico to reinstate access to U.S. fresh potatoes; and, The latest efforts on Capitol Hill to address comprehensive immigration reform, including ag labor reform. For information about or to register for NPC&apos;s Summer Meeting, July 26-28, visit nationalpotatocouncil.org/summer-meeting.

The State of the Industry Mid-Year Report

Farmers, ranchers, and forest owners are on the frontlines of climate change and have an important role to play in developing solutions. That shared understanding led an unprecedented group — representing farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments, and environmental advocates — to form the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), of which the National Potato Council is a member. This week, Randy Russell, founder of The Russell Group, which manages the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, joins the podcast to talk about how the FACA coalition got started and why it was so important that potato growers have taken a seat at the table.To learn more about FACA, visit agclimatealliance.com. 

Potato Growers Join the Climate Change Fight

This week, the Eye on Potatoes podcast welcomed Mark Klompien, President and CEO of United Potato Growers of America, to provide an outlook for remainder of this current shipping crop and a look head to plantings and acreage for the 2021 fresh potato crop. Additionally, in his role as Chairman of United Fresh’s Government Relations Council, Mark discussed the United Fresh/PMA merger and what it means for potato organizations.  Learn more about UPGA at unitedpotato.com. 

Fresh Market Outlook from UPGA’s Mark Klompien

The Leadership Institute Alumni Summit, July 13-15, will bring together Potato Industry Leadership Institute graduates to network, refresh skills, and learn new techniques to better position themselves for success in the potato industry. All past graduates of the Institute are invited to participate in the three 90-minute workshops that will be active, engaging, fast-paced, high energy and packed with tips to put to use immediately.Two of the three sessions will be led by Laurie Richards – a familiar face to Institute grads – as she’s taught leadership training seminars for the Institute for many years. Laurie and Mike Wenkel from Potato LEAF join the podcast to talk about what alumni can look forward to during this first-ever virtual summit. Courses will include: Refining Your Leadership Skills Refining Your Conflict Management Boosting the Team&apos;s Morale Registration closes June 18, 2021. For additional information visit pleaf.org. 

Good Leaders Never Stop Learning

After years of delay, on April 28, Mexico&apos;s Supreme Court unanimously ruled to overturn a lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal government from implementing regulations to allow for the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes throughout the country. The ruling, cheered by the U.S. potato industry and its supporters in the U.S. federal government, marks the end of a decade-long legal process that began when Mexico’s potato industry sued its government to prevent competition from imports.NPC Vice President of Trade Affairs Jared Balcom and NPC CEO Kam Quarles call in to celebrate the decision and discuss next steps, including urging Mexico to immediately reinstate the rules to allow for the normalization of trade between our countries.Mexico is the third largest export market for U.S. potatoes and products valued at over $270 million in 2020. Despite the restriction to the 26-kilometer border region Mexico is the second largest market for fresh potato exports accounting for 106,000 metric tons valued at $60 million in 2020. The U.S. potato industry estimates that access to the entire country for fresh U.S. potatoes will provide a market potential of $200 million per year, in five years. 

Mexico Overturns Ban on Fresh U.S. Potatoes!

National Potato Council COO Mike Wenkel calls in to talk about the upcoming Leadership Institute Alumni Summit, to be held July 13-15, which will virtually bring together graduates of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute to network, refresh skills, and learn new techniques to better position themselves for success in the potato industry. Also Mike discusses Potato LEAF&apos;s 2021-22 Academic Scholarship, which will provide one $10,000 scholarship to honor a graduate student (Master’s degree or higher) working to conduct research and provide information that will improve the future of the U.S. potato industry. Learn more about both opportunities at pleaf.org. Plus, NPC CEO Kam Quarles joins the podcast for a trade policy discussion, including the ongoing standoff in Mexico’s Supreme Court, which continues to delay ruling on a set of cases that could allow for the full importation of fresh U.S. potatoes.

D.C. Update: Leadership Summit, Academic Scholarship, and Political Interference in Mexico

This week, the National Potato Council and 26 leading food and agriculture associations sent a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai communicating growing concerns over the rapid deterioration of the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship. The letter calls attention to alarming recent developments with regard to the food and agriculture trade relationship with Mexico -- including the ongoing ban on the full importation of U.S. fresh potatoes -- and urges action to address these challenges. Eye on Potatoes welcomes Michael Anderson, Vice President of Trade and Industry Affairs for the Corn Refiners Association, to talk about CRA&apos;s challenges with Mexico and the industry-wide effort to engage the Biden Administration on addressing the quickly deteriorating trade relationship. NPC CEO Kam Quarles joins Michael to give an update on the legal cases currently before the Mexican Supreme Court that would overturn the country&apos;s ban on full importation of U.S. fresh potatoes.  Thanks to our episode sponsor AgroThrive, delivering the world&apos;s first predigested organic fertilizers to farmers across the nation since 2006. Visit agrothrive.ag for more.   

The Deteriorating U.S.-Mexico Ag Trade Relationship

Dominic LaJoie of Van Buren, Maine was elected to serve as National Potato Council&apos;s 2021 President and to head the grower-led organization’s Executive Committee. Dominic is a fourth-generation potato grower and partner of LaJoie Growers LLC, which operates throughout Aroostook County, Maine. He previously served the NPC Board as First Vice President and Vice President of the Environmental Affairs Committee. Dominic joined NPC CEO Kam Quarles to talk about the council&apos;s policy priorities for this session of Congress and provide an update about the first-ever virtual Potato D.C. Fly-In. Thanks to our episode sponsor AgroThrive, delivering the world&apos;s first predigested organic fertilizers to farmers across the nation since 2006. Visit agrothrive.ag for more. 

Priorities of 2021 President Dominic LaJoie and Review of the Potato D.C. Fly-In

The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is brought to you by the National Potato Council. This is the place to tune in for conversations with growers and thought leaders on advocacy, production and all things potatoes. It's about talking with folks across the United States and hearing stories about how federal policy impacts potato farming and the important role the NPC plays in standing up for potatoes on Capitol Hill.

About