The nomination process is now open for Washington potato growers interested in serving on the national board of Potatoes USA.

Representative G.T. Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has introduced draft legislation seeking to reform the H-2A visa program.

Washington's potato industry depends on attracting talented young people into careers that support production agriculture, research, technology, agribusiness, and food systems. This fall, potato growers and industry partners will have an excellent opportunity to do just that at the Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) Career Fair & Networking Night.

Last week legislators Representative Kristine Reeves, Chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, and Senators Mike Chapman and Shelly Short, Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Agricultural and Natural Resource Committee, respectively, attended a farm tour in Prosser that included touring WSU’s Smart Farm Test Bed facility to discuss water shortages in the Yakima Valley and how budget restrictions negatively affect agricultural research at the WSU Facility.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced payment rates and enrollment details for the new Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program, providing $1.625 billion in assistance to eligible specialty crop producers nationwide.

As automation and precision agriculture continue to reshape modern farming, Washington potato growers have a unique opportunity to see the latest innovations firsthand at FIRA USA 2026. The international AgTech and agricultural robotics event will take place October 20–22, 2026, in Yakima, Washington, bringing together growers, researchers, equipment manufacturers, and technology companies from around the world.

The annual Washington State University (WSU) Seed Lot Rating was conducted on June 9, 2026, at the WSU Research Station in Othello, Washington. The event brought together potato researchers, seed certification personnel, and volunteers from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon to evaluate seed potato lots submitted by growers from across the region.