Washington potato growers are invited to attend the 44th Annual Western Washington Potato Workshop on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., hosted in person at WSU’s Northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center (NWREC) in Mount Vernon, Washington.

The Washington State Potato Foundation (WSPF) is now accepting applications for its Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program for the 2026–27 school year. This opportunity is designed to support students from potato growing regions who are pursuing careers in agriculture.

Growers and pesticide applicators are invited to attend the 27th Annual Noxious Weed Conference, hosted by the Noxious Weed Control Board of Grant County, on February 26, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Wallenstein Performing Arts Center at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington.

Potato growers who treat seed on-farm have an opportunity to contribute to important new research aimed at advancing industry knowledge while supporting the continued safe and effective use of seed treatment technologies in U.S. potato production.

Washington state’s Refrigerant and Air-Conditioning Management Platform (RAMP) has completed recent system updates, and all functions are now available. Growers and facility operators can now register facilities and submit required annual reports through the platform. This update is particularly relevant for potato storage facilities that fall under the state’s medium facility category.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the signing of the U.S.–Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART)—a significant step forward for U.S. agriculture that delivers meaningful new market access for the potato industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced enrollment dates for 2026 Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), offering Washington producers opportunities to put marginal or environmentally sensitive acres to work through conservation. Offers for CRP will be accepted by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Washington State University (WSU) is conducting a survey titled Insect Pest Management Practices: National Survey of Potato Growers as part of a large multi-state research project aimed at better understanding U.S. potato growers’ experiences, decision-making, and perspectives related to insect pest management including concerns about regulatory uncertainty and potential restrictions on neonicotinoid use.