There is a war brewing over potatoes. Some farm groups say they are vegetables, while others want them to be classified as grains.
The National Potato Council says the whole debate has become too much.
“There is no doubt that, from a nutrition standpoint, potatoes and grains are different. They have different nutrients. They have some of the same, but they also have very different nutrients. I would say that advocates are there to promote their particular perspective, and they, for whatever reason, believe they don’t have a bias, while the industry does have a bias. I think, again, that’s very inaccurate because they interpret the research the way they choose to interpret the research,” said Beth Johnson.
Potatoes were big business earlier this month at this year’s Potato Expo. Leaders say it was the second-largest crowd since the event began.
Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are studying the clouded plant bug, which causes millions of dollars in damage to crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton growing across the state.
April 02, 2026 03:49 PM
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Farm Bureau Economist Dr. Faith Parum warns farmers to brace for more losses as the war in Iran sends shockwaves through the ag economy and raises input costs even further.
April 02, 2026 01:31 PM
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Margin pressure and competitiveness concerns are shaping cautious outlooks.
April 02, 2026 12:40 PM
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Leadership closer to western forests may speed decisions impacting timber, land use, and wildfire management.
April 02, 2026 12:07 PM
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Fewer DEF-related shutdowns could mean more uptime during planting and harvest seasons.
April 02, 2026 11:44 AM
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Widespread drought and extreme weather leave producers managing limited resources
April 02, 2026 11:19 AM
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