Washington grower leads National Potato Council

Farm and Ranch February 6, 2009 Pasco, Washington potato grower Ed Schneider was recently elected to lead the National Potato Council. The organization advocates for the economic well-being of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental and trade issues. Schneider sees NPC’s greatest challenge as the constant defense of the chemicals needed to raise potatoes. To help on that front Schneider is looking forward to getting a chemical use and data collection project operational while he is president. Schneider: “EPA uses a default of maximum use, maximum application, maximum number of times. We gotta have data to show that we really don‘t use it that much. We use it as we need not the maximum as the label says.” Schneider sees sustainability as a great opportunity and the finalization of the NPC Sustainability Document is also a top priority for the coming year. Schneider: “Not really a requirement but it is expected of us. It is expected of us by our buyers and our buyers‘ buyers that consumers they expect us to be looking out for the sustainability part of it. That we are good stewards. We are doing a good job out in the field. That we are going to be here for a long time. We supply good food products and they don‘t have to worry about it.” Schneider is a former Washington State Potato Commission member and chairman. That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.