U.S. Potato Board taking input on new long range plan

Farm and Ranch February 5, 2010 The U.S. Potato Board is nearing the end of its current long range plan. Board President and CEO Tim O’Connor says that means its time to develop a new one.

O’Connor: “We are beginning the process of developing our next five-year plan. So we are going to be reaching out to the industry getting input. Showing them a bit of the thinking we have and getting their reaction to as well as asking them for different thoughts. So for your listeners we‘d like them to jump in. We would like to get a lot of feedback.”

O’Connor says the Board will be reaching out at some distinct points.

O’Connor: “But we want to make sure people know the door is open and if they would like to jump in is say I have an interest.”

And there is plenty of time to provide input.”

O’Connor: “It will be completed at the January meeting in 2011. So we have the next 11 months to go through the process.”

Something the Potato Board now has is the increased assessment paid by growers that funds the activities of the Board. O’Connor says the half cent increase in the assessment began in December.

O’Connor: “The increase did both invest in our programs and allow us to build some rainy day fund back up again.”

O’Connor says the rainy day, or contingency fund became depleted when the Atkins diet became popular in 2004.

O’Connor: “And it was raining pretty hard during the Atkins diet so we used the fund. We have had a period of time to build it back. We know there will be another rainy day.”

That is the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.