b'Trade Issues, Inflation and Future Farm Bill Weigh on U.S. GrowersThe National Potato Council Summer Meeting reveals key issues facing the American potato industry.BY: ALLY RODENGEOPOLITICAL TURMOIL, global changes, trade issues andmillion last year. The U.S. potato industry estimates that access politics have all impacted the American potato industry over theto the entire country for fresh U.S. potatoes will provide a market past year and will continue to do so into the second half of 2022.potential of US$250 million per year, in five years.Growers from across the United States gathered in Nashville, Tenn. for the National Potato Council (NPC) Summer Meeting onInflation for FarmersJune 16, to discuss public policy and organizational updates. Farm production expenses have increased six per cent in 2022, following a 12 per cent increase in 2021, according to Trade Issues with Mexico the American Farm Bureau Federation and Jessica Schulken, The 25-year-long trade dispute with Mexico has dragged on dueprincipal at the Russell Group. The rate of inflation has made it to circumstances out of the U.S. control, such as the Mexicanincreasingly difficult for growers to budget accordingly. legal system. While the border has successfully opened for theIn the past, weve always been able to budget and be fairly U.S. potato market, the process was anything but simple.close on what those input costs are. But in todays environment, We had to generate leverage within Mexico to accelerate thatwith the rate of inflation going at such an astronomical rate, that process. We also needed to have significant political pressuremakes it super difficult. We are getting caught off guard a lot of from the U.S. government going on to Mexico. So, it was kind oftimes on things that we think are going to cost a certain thing, a twofold deal, explains Kam Quarles, CEO of the NPC, duringand really costs a lot more than that, Jared Balcom, president of a presentation at the conference. We basically just wrappedNPC, says during an interview at the conference.ourselves up with the Mexican avocado industry. We got veryWere having to be very nimble and adjust how we grow public, very aggressive, very fast. We said, You are going to sinkcrops and how we do different things. Its not just inputs on or swim with us. You want expanded access to the United States?crops. Everythings getting super expensive and so its becoming You will not get it. We will fight you as hard as we possibly canvery, very challenging for us to navigate that on a daily basis.to make sure you never have that until our issue is solved. Despite the previous restriction to the 26 km border region,The New Farm BillMexico was the second-largest market for fresh potato exportsOne component that directly impacts the U.S. industry, in 2021, accounting for 124,449 metric tons valued at US$60specifically with trade, is the upcoming Farm Bill. The bill 26SPUDSMART.COM Summer 2022'