US: Potato growers request government aid due to rising costs

According to a report by the Red River Farm Network, Kam Quarles, executive director of the National Potato Council, noted that agriculture in general is facing intense pressure, with conditions that some are comparing to the agricultural crisis of the 1980s.

The vast majority of American farmers are facing a very difficult situation, Quarles explained. I believe we can implement measures at the federal level to alleviate the impact on these producers and offer them support that will hopefully allow them to weather this challenging period and achieve greater economic stability. Our goal is to ensure that these family farms can continue operating.

Quarles stressed the need for a comprehensive economic aid package that includes specialized crops, such as potatoes, emphasizing that both agricultural sectors require support. He also discussed trade opportunities, highlighting the Japanese market in particular, whose opening could represent a $150 million increase in U.S. potato exports. However, he cautioned about rising input costs as a result of global tensions.

Just two days after hostilities began, a producer told me that the cost of his fertilizers had skyrocketed 30% overnight, Quarles recounted. These are truly challenging times for our industry.