For potato producers, agronomists, and researchers, the start of the year marks a crucial knowledge-sharing event: the Idaho Potato Conference. Returning to Pocatello on January 21-22, 2026, this 58th iteration, hosted by the University of Idaho, is far more than a routine gathering. It is a strategic response to an escalating set of field and policy challenges. As organizing chairman Dr. James Woodhall states, it remains the essential nexus for the industry to connect with research and extension, with this year promising enhanced engagement through focused panels and emergent topics.
The conference agenda directly confronts what has become a top economic drag: soil-borne disease complexes. A dedicated mini-symposium will dissect the biology and management of pathogens like Verticillium dahliae, a primary culprit in Potato Early Dying (PED) complex. The financial impact is severe; recent studies, including a 2024 meta-analysis in Plant Disease, estimate that PED and related wilt diseases can suppress yields by 30-50% in infested fields, with control costs soaring. The spotlight will also fall on the intractable duo of powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea) and its vectored Potato Mop-Top Virus (PMTV). These pathogens, highlighted as top priorities by the Idaho Potato Commission, are notoriously difficult to manage once established in soil. Emerging data presented at the 2024 American Phytopathological Society meeting indicated that certain biofumigant cover crops and long-term soil health practices are showing promise in reducing inoculum pressure, a topic likely to be explored in the biological control product panel.
Beyond the soil, the conference addresses two other critical pressures: water and policy. The “Water on the Line” panel, led by specialists Emily Bedwell and Meetpal Kukal, is timely. The 2024 USDA drought monitor showed persistent abnormal dryness across Southern Idaho, reinforcing the need for precision irrigation strategies that maintain yield while conserving a strained resource. Perhaps the most universally impactful session will be Ben Ingalls’ discussion on the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. This legislation mandates an 85% phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants by 2036. For potato storage, this represents a massive infrastructure and cost challenge, forcing the industry to evaluate alternative refrigerants and system retrofits to preserve tuber quality under new EPA regulations.
The breadth of expertise is notable, with renowned specialists like Russell Groves (aphid management), Mark Pavek (variety selection), and Amber Moore (soil fertility) providing actionable insights. Furthermore, the inclusion of Spanish-language sessions on core agronomic topics underscores a commitment to reaching all members of the agricultural workforce with vital information.
The 2026 Idaho Potato Conference is shaping up to be a vital operational brief for the industry’s future. It moves beyond basic agronomy to tackle the triad of chronic biological threats (soil-borne diseases), physical constraints (water scarcity), and unprecedented regulatory shifts (HFC phasedown). Attending this conference is not merely about education; it’s about gaining the strategic intelligence necessary for risk mitigation, operational adaptation, and long-term resilience in a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape. The discussions in Pocatello will undoubtedly set the research and management agenda for the coming growing season and beyond.
