News on Potato Cultivation from Washington

Ben Sklarczyk, a third-generation Michigan grower and owner of Sklarczyk Seed Farm, was elected 2026 President of the National Potato Council. He plans to promote potatoes in nutrition programs, support fair trade, and boost grower policy engagement.

Jared Balcom, a fourth-generation potato grower from Pasco, Washington, has been named the 2026 Potato Person of the Year in recognition of his long-standing leadership and advocacy on behalf of the United States potato industry.

En 2025, la superficie sembrada de papa en EE. UU. cayó a su nivel más bajo en más de 70 años, con 369.000 hectáreas, aunque los altos rendimientos previstos mitigarán el impacto en la producción total.

Friehe Farms in Washington’s Upper Columbia River Basin combines teamwork and advanced technology to produce high-quality russet potatoes. Drones, GPS-guided planting, and climate-controlled storage enhance efficiency, while traditional four-year crop rotation helps maintain soil health.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., a leading global potato supplier, has announced its partnership with Atlas Agro for the procurement of locally produced, green fertilizers. 

When Juan Martinez was in high school, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in life, but he knew he liked working with his dad on their farm.

A new Washington State University-led project will help potato growers safeguard domestic and international markets and maintain high-quality potatoes for consumers around the world.

Washington State's potato farmers are leading the charge in sustainable agriculture. They harness the state's rich resources to produce high-quality crops while preserving the environment for future generations.

In the heartland of the Columbia Basin, amidst the sprawling landscape of Ice Harbor Hilltop Farm, Keith Tiegs, eldest son of the late business tycoon Frank Tiegs, navigates his way through the vast expanse in his white Chevy Silverado pickup.

Washington potato farmers can’t keep pace with worldwide cravings for french fries, hash browns, tots, potato chips and other processed potato products.

Minimizing soil disturbance is one of the key tenets promoted to build soil health in agricultural systems. Many farmers across the country have adopted reduced and no-till systems to build soil carbon, a central component to healthy soils.

Yara has recently established a new Incubator Farm, aimed at exploring how a complete potato crop nutrition program that drives productivity and grower profitability can simultaneously lead to a reduced carbon footprint.

Launching new research in support of Washington potato growers, Washington State University is partnering with industry leaders to study healthier, more sustainable, and productive soils.

A WSU study has estimated the 2020 economic losses from potato production and processing in Washington. The demand shocks of COVID-19 resulted in a hit of roughly $1 billion dollars in gross state product.

This year, this is a season when dreams die. Due to an epic potato glut that imploded his market, he has decided to do what was once unthinkable — destroy part of his crop rather than sink more dollars into cultivation.

Negotiations are underway for next year’s potato grower contracts in Washington.

As potato harvest starts to wrap up across the Northwest, how does the 2019 crop look?

Heat-related illness is one of the most common maladies to befall outdoor workers, particularly in agricultural settings.