Washington hosting National Potato Council board meeting
Farm and Ranch June 12, 2009 Since Washington potato grower Ed Schneider is the current president of the National Potato Council, Washington gets to host the summer meeting of the NPC’s board of directors. That is coming up next Wednesday, June 17th, in Richland. Schneider says a major item on the agenda is the Mexican trucking issue. Schneider: “Putting the tariffs on the frozen potato products coming out of the U.S. into Mexico is hurting Washington growers. So that is a big one. We will be talking about re-registration of several chemicals including the fumigants that have just gone through registration, and some other export type issues.” Once the meeting is over the NPC board will get a tour. Schneider: “Tour Ice Harbor dam. A couple of research centers and some packing facilities and some fields. Let them see what our industry looks like here.” Schneider explains how tours can benefit growers. Schneider: “In order for an industry as small as the potato industry to get behind an issue it takes more than just one state. Example of that is we talk about breaching the Snake River dams, if you are from Maine, you have no idea what that means. So we are hoping that by taking them on a tour of Ice Harbor dam that they can get a feel of what that really means to us.” The National Potato Council is the lobbying arm of the potato industry. That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ?
