"We thank the leaders in Congress, especially Senator Collins, for their work in championing this legislation that directly supports U.S. potato growers"
The end of the government shutdown this week brought immediate benefits for the potato industry, specifically securing vital federal funding and program provisions.
In a press release issued by long-time potato industry champion Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), the legislation includes the full-year Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which contains two essential, long-sought provisions for potato growers:
- Potato Research Funding: The bill maintains full funding for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s potato research programs. This sustained investment is critical for competitive, merit-based potato breeding projects across the country that address challenges impacting production, quality, and yield.
- Potatoes in School Breakfast: The measure maintains the provision that allows school food authorities to provide potatoes through the School Breakfast Program. This is a win for promoting the consumption of nutrient-rich potatoes in federal nutrition programs.
“We thank the leaders in Congress, especially Senator Collins, for their work in championing this legislation that directly supports U.S. potato growers,” said NPC Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Dean Gibson, a potato grower from Idaho. “We now look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to return attention on other industry priorities that will provide certainty and economic relief to growers, such as a new Farm Bill and new trade deals that will open new markets for our products.”
