Comedian Damian Mason at #PotatoExpo

Cindy Zimmerman

Damian Mason is a very popular, very funny speaker for agricultural groups that we’ve heard several times at different events but he always has a serious underlying message for his audience. One topic he hit on at the Potato Expo last week was the organic trend. “I’m not anti-organic, I’m actually pro-organic because it’s a profitable niche and it gives …

Audio, Marketing, Nufarm, Potato

All About Spuds and Politics

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s program we will meet the CEO’s of the National Potato Council and the United States Potato Board. I met both of these guys while covering the Potato Expo last week for my first time. Let’s start our with John Keeling, CEO of the National Potato Council. We focused on potato policy issues which as you might guess …

Ag Groups, Audio, Potato, ZimmCast

Expanding @NufarmUS Portfolio

Chuck Zimmerman

Nufarm is the eighth largest crop protection company in the world and just keeps getting bigger while not changing its stripes. At the 2016 Potato Expo last week, I talked with Nufarm North America‘s Vice President for Innovations and Regulatory Affairs Rob Schwehr about what’s new at Nufarm. “What we’ve done over the last couple of years is continue our …

Audio, Nufarm, Potato

Meet New #Potato Council President

Cindy Zimmerman

Idaho potato farmer Jim Tiede took over as the new president of the National Potato Council last week during the 2016 Potato Expo in Las Vegas. Tiede is a third generation farmer from American Falls, Idaho who is looking forward to focusing on important issues to potato growers in the coming year, including TPP, WOTUS, and transportation. “We’re looking at …

Audio, Potato

#PotatoExpo is Big Event

Chuck Zimmerman

Since I had never been to the Potato Expo before I had no idea what to expect so I was surprised to find out what a huge event it really is! Randy Hardy of Idaho is past chairman of the National Potato Board and was one of the co-chairs of the expo. “I was in on the initial thought process …

Audio, Potato

Bee Buzz at #PotatoExpo

Cindy Zimmerman

There was a lot of buzz about bees at the 2016 Potato Expo this week in Las Vegas. The National Potato Council announced this week that they are joining the Bayer CropScience Feed a Bee initiative as an official partner committing to enlist America’s potato farmers to help feed bees. Dr. Becky Langer, manager of the North American Bee Care …

Audio, Bayer, Bees, pollinators, Potato

NuFarm Working to Tame the Zebra

Cindy Zimmerman

Chip, the Nufarm zebra has been roaming the rows at the 2016 Potato Expo this week with a goal of educating attendees about new research into fighting zebra chip. Zebra chip is a potato disease vectored by a psyllid, according to Bob Bruss with Nufarm technical services. “This is a problem that’s been slowly growing and has become more of …

Audio, Nufarm, Potato

#SpudNation Throwdown Competition

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the main events at the Potato Expo in Las Vegas this week was the first SPUD NATION THROWDOWN COOK-OFF. The live competition featured the top three finalists of a nationwide recipe contest for food truck chefs and the winner was named Top Spud and with a prize of $5000. Congratulations to Bridgett Blough (pictured on the right) from …

Audio, Food, Potato

Spud Nation Food Truck Unveiled

Chuck Zimmerman

The United States Potato Board unveiled a new program today that’s taking after the finalists of the Spud Nation Throwdown Recipe Cook-off. They all operate food trucks. Now the Potato Board does too and it’s called Spud Nation. I will get more information about the vehicle when I talk with USPB CEO Blair Richardson this afternoon. In the meantime you …

Ag Groups, Food, Potato, Video