Spudman Magazine -- The Voice of the Potato Industry

February 2004


		Chilean potato industry enjoys natural advantages Distant snow-topped mountains are like a crown for one of the world’s premiere potato growing regions. It’s in this setting, near Puerto Montt, Chile, that the self-made Victor Henriquez has established himself as a leading seed potato grower. Best Practices More inputs do not always equal more potatoes In the second year of comparing the University of Idaho's (UI) best-management practices with high-input potato production, Bryan Hopkins is once again pleasantly surprised. Last year, his solitary field-size trial in Rexburg yielded 30 sacks more potatoes and cost $205 less to produce when the cooperating grower used cost-effective best management practices (BMP) like those in the UI's Potato Production Systems handbook. NAFTA and Potatoes: Ten Years Later: What impact has NAFTA had on the U.S. potato industry? What impact has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had on the U.S. potato industry? NAFTA came into effect 10 years ago, on Jan. 1, 1994. Since then, exports of potatoes and potato products to Mexico have expanded. Sales to Canada have also increased; however, the influx of Canadian potatoes and potato products, since 1994, has overwhelmed the growth in exports. The United States became a net potato importer (based on value) for the first time in 2003. Potato imports are displacing domestic potato production, rather than supplying product that cannot be produced domestically. Taking Stock - Come Back Donna

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