BOISE (AP) — U.S. officials have released a new plan involving methods to deal with a microscopic pest in southeastern Idaho that threatens the state’s billion-dollar industry that supplies a third of the nation’s potatoes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A $900 billion pandemic relief package that Congress approved on Monday night contains several provisions that should significantly help the nation’s farmers, according to leaders with the National Potato Council.

Based on an analysis of the potatoes and potato products sold at retail and foodservice, and accounting for the volume of U.S. exports and imports, there was a 5% decline in the utilization of potatoes grown in the U.S. during the July 2019 – June 2020 marketing year (MY20).

WASHINGTON — National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles issued the following statement congratulating Tom Vilsack on his nomination by President-elect Biden to return to his role as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

Three things have shaped Abby Rowe into the person she is today — potatoes, gymnastics and Spanish.

POCATELLO — Idaho’s iconic potato industry suffered through a major scare due to the restrictions and shutdowns imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

SUGAR CITY — A large fresh potato packing facility was destroyed by fire Monday night, according to the Madison Fire Department.

When we all said goodbye to each other at the end of the 2020 NPC Annual Meeting in January, we could never have predicted how the year would play out. While our industry has struggled to pull through during these unprecedented times, we can all be proud of the leaders elected at the Annual …

IDAHO FALLS — For half a century, Joyce Thiel has made every day of potato harvest like a holiday for her workers.

POCATELLO — Interest in the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s annual specialty crop program was up considerably this year compared with last year.

AMMON — Residents hand-picked 1,480 pounds of red, gold, purple and brown potatoes from dark, rich soil dug by an antique machine here recently.

POCATELLO — The University of Idaho and the Idaho Potato Commission are working out logistics of moving a couple of major events for potato farmers in southeast Idaho to a remote format, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Idaho’s potato industry is applauding a letter issued by the state’s two U.S. senators calling for increased access for U.S. fresh potato exports into Mexico.

Shelley farmer Bart Wattenbarger was banking on a strong market to help him recover from a widespread early season freeze last fall that destroyed about 30% of his potato crop.

Idahoan Foods donated 10,000 masks to the Idaho Falls community on Thursday.

EAGLE — The Idaho Potato Commission has temporarily suspended its Big Idaho Potato Truck’s cross-country tour due to the COVID-19 crisis.

With the nation continuing to reel from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Potato Council’s annual summer meeting was held using Zoom teleconferencing and Facebook on June 25.

TWIN FALLS — A Lamb Weston employee died in an industrial accident at the company’s Twin Falls facility Wednesday morning.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused U.S. potato prices to drop by about 21% from Jan. 15 through April 15, according to the industry’s surveys of potato growers and processors in major potato production areas.

Idaho’s famous potatoes have fed the world for generations, but now, through the efforts of a Twin Falls entrepreneur, they are being used to produce skin care products and at the same time helping restore human dignity to displaced people around the world.

A potato trade magazine has named Britt Raybould, who is part of a St. Anthony farming family, as its Spudwoman of the Year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Trump announced details Wednesday of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to U.S. farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The payments are limited to $250,000 per person or entity.

Caribou County farmer Jason Stoddard is one of many Eastern Idaho seed potato growers who have been stuck with lots of spuds that will never be planted due to the COVID-19 crisis.

ELTOPIA, Wash. — For farmer Mike Pink, spring is supposed to be a time of hope, when he can survey a green field of young potato plants and anticipate the bounty to be pulled from the sandy soils of the Columbia Basin.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Potato Council today welcomed USDA’s announcement of a $50 million surplus potato purchase to support the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a once strong potato market to make an abrupt about-face, leading some Idaho growers to dump surplus spuds from storage cellars or to feed them to cattle.

POCATELLO — Total acres of Idaho’s iconic potato crop could decrease significantly this year as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Idaho’s farmers and ranchers are trying to balance protecting their business interests against the health and welfare of their workers as planting and grazing season begins in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A Pocatello bike shop is doing its part to help local residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A $2 trillion bill that was recently signed by President Donald Trump, called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, contains significant benefits for agriculture and the potato industry, according to officials with the National Potato Council.

POCATELLO — In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, potatoes are suddenly a hot item across the nation and there are reports of spuds flying off grocery store shelves.

POCATELLO — An agronomist who works for a regional potato farm found a higher purpose for a truckload of seed potatoes that couldn’t be delivered to a customer.