Spud Smart

05/30/2026

🍟 Fries before Guys? According to McCain Foods' inaugural Spud Report, fries are the one food we can all agree on! 🌍 From their emotional connection to their role as a late-night snack, fries are more than just a side dish — they’re a global comfort food.Curious about what else the survey revealed? Click the link to dive into the full story! 👉 https://hubs.li/Q04jtD4f0

05/27/2026

Colorado potato beetle is evolving faster than ever — and timing, coordination with neighbouring farms, and new tools are how growers are getting ahead.

Dr. Russell Groves explains why resistance is now the rule, how landscape-level coordination and decision-support tools beat last-century thresholds, and what biopesticides really require for success.

Read how growers are cutting sprays and protecting yields by working smarter, not harder: https://hubs.li/Q04hPv2F0

05/26/2026

Nominate a potato industry legend for the 2026 World Potato Congress Industry Awards — now accepting submissions!

These prestigious awards recognize lifetime contributions across research, production, processing, policy and leadership. Only 3–5 winners are chosen, so every nomination counts.

Who should you nominate? Growers, researchers, processors, industry leaders — anyone whose career has shaped the global potato sector. Submit a one-page nomination (see details) to [email protected] by COB June 30, 2026.

Read more and get full nomination details: https://hubs.li/Q04hPx960

Nominations are open for the 2026 World Potato Congress Industry Awards, honouring lifetime contributions to the potato sector. Learn who can nominate and how to apply by June 30, 2026.

05/26/2026

Seed decisions are often made under pressure, but they shape the crop before it even emerges.

In this Spud Smart panel, the discussion covers whole vs. cut seed, sprouting, lot variability, disease risk, and what matters most before planting.



https://hubs.li/Q04hPTMF0

05/25/2026

Nearly 180 years after the Irish Potato Famine, scientists are still uncovering how the tiny pathogen Phytophthora changed agriculture — and modern science.

A new review in Plant Disease traces 180 years of discovery, from the first evidence that microbes cause plant disease to powerful genomic tools that now track outbreaks and identify species.

Learn how P. infestans and its Phytophthora relatives continue to threaten global food security — and why understanding their history matters today:

Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen behind the Irish Potato Famine, still shapes global agriculture. A new review traces 180 years of science and taxonomy.

05/25/2026

Canada’s potato growers are facing “death by 1,000 cuts” — rising fertilizer and fuel costs, tariffs, supply-chain shocks and mounting regulations are squeezing margins and threatening food security. The Canadian Potato Council is pushing for relief as growers struggle to absorb escalating input costs.

Read what industry leaders are asking government to do: https://hubs.li/Q04hP1gB0

05/22/2026

“We need facts, not fear.” The Canadian Potato Council is defending PEI growers after U.S. industry groups asked USDA to reinstate a fresh‑potato ban following a new potato wart detection.

Read how CFIA surveillance, containment measures and years of restrictions factor into the debate — and why growers remain under pressure. https://hubs.li/Q04hHbgj0

05/11/2026

Meet Spud Smart’s new columnist, Tyler Heppell, better known as Potato Ty. 📱

A fifth-generation potato farmer from British Columbia, Tyler is using digital storytelling to help bridge the gap between growers and consumers. His new column, Dirt to Digital, is all about helping agriculture show up, speak up, and connect.

Read more:https://hubs.li/Q04b-nRz0

In the Spring 2026 issue of Spud Smart, explore why growers must own agriculture’s narrative, how to stay ahead of Colorado potato beetle resistance, why PVY is resurging in New Brunswick, and what Potato Ty’s new column means for farm-to-public communication.

05/04/2026

Fertilizer prices have been front of mind—but they’re only part of the story. A recent industry webinar highlights how deeper disruptions in global chemical markets are shaping everything from crop inputs to packaging.

“We will have, for decades to come, an industry environment that is simply going to be more volatile,” one expert noted.

For Canadian potato growers, that means planning beyond short-term price swings. Packaging shortages, energy costs, and supply chain shifts are all part of the picture—and they’re not resolving overnight.

Read more:

Potato growers don’t need another reminder that input markets are fragile. Fertilizer prices, fuel costs, packaging availability, and freight have already made that point clearly enough. But a recent Valona Intelligence webinar on chemical market disruption offered a useful lens on why those press...

05/03/2026

PVY is back on the radar in New Brunswick. ⚠️

After years of progress, growers are now facing renewed pressure from shifting aphid populations, changing virus strains, and tighter management margins. This feature looks at what is driving the resurgence and what matters most in response.

Read the article: https://hubs.li/Q04b-BMZ0