Potato industry nervous but hopeful about the upcoming Administration’s policies

The CEO of the National Potato Council says folks are asking the right questions, but their concerns may be presumptive.

With so much change on the horizon, the ag industry is bracing for what the new Administration has in store.

The CEO of the National Potato Council says folks are asking the right questions, but their concerns may be presumptive.

“If the threat of tariffs drives countries that we partner with, and in some cases compete with, if it drives them to the negotiating table where we can get a better deal overall for, selfishly for U.S. agriculture’s huge trade deficit, we can start balancing that trade deficit. That will be a very good thing. Obviously, if you had massive tariffs go on just kind of wholesale across the United States and never come off, that’s an entirely different matter. But that hasn’t happened. So, I think we just have to give the administration the opportunity to actually implement their policies,” said Kam Quarles.

Regardless, Quarles says the way things are currently going is not working, so he hopes change leads to more positive outcomes.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Large animal veterinarian Dr. Rosalyn Biggs with Oklahoma State University warns producers may not be prepared for the real threat of New World Screwworm.
We spotlight a student from Illinois who is helping to launch a middle school chapter and teaching younger students about the impact of agriculture in their communities.
FarmHER Annaliese Wegner joined us to dish about her episode of Dirt Diaries, talk about her own podcast, and other exciting moments ahead for Ag’s Most Okayest Farm Girls.
AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub joins us to dive into H-2A visa program changes and what can be done to ease the pressure on producers.
As the government shutdown pushes the farm economy closer to the brink, Sens. Grassley and Ernst of Iowa are raising their voices for agriculture.