THE OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR 2023 SLATES FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FOR NATIONWIDE POTATO BREEDING PROJECTS.

Upon signature of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill by the President, four million dollars is available for potato breeding projects. This in an increase of one million dollars over last year’s appropriation. The Washington State Potato Commission works with Congress each year to increase the funding of this critical program for the potato community. The NIFA potato breeding appropriation has been in place for several decades but requires Congress to inset it into the budget each year.

This is good news for the Tri-State Breeding Program comprised of the Washington State University, University of Idaho, and Oregon State University. The NIFA dollars received by the universities are used to develop new potato varieties in the PNW. The Tri-State program will apply for these grant funds to support our breeding program. This is the largest appropriation to the NIFA potato breeding account in the history of this grant program.