b'Potato Growers Focus On The Future With 2022 Policy Agendaby Kam Quarles, NPC Executive Vice President and CEODuringthisyearsWashingtonthe regulatory load of shippers.Summit(Feb.18-March2),potatogrowersfromacrossthecountryThe U.S. is suffering from a severe lack joined NPC in D.C. during a tumul- of qualified commercial truck drivers, tuous time for our industry and ourwhich has a disproportionate impact country.Theimpactofinflationonon U.S. agriculture. Exacerbating this consumer goods and ag inputs, tradeproblemarenewBiden disputeswithimportantindustryAdministration mandates that greatly partners, and the war in Ukraine wereincreasethehourlyburdenonnew all on our minds as we sat down to setdrivers to obtain commercial drivers our policy agenda for 2022. licenses (CDL). In 2022, NPC will con-tinuetourgetheadministrationto Even with this challenging backdrop,reconsidertheunintendedconse-thegroupfocusedonanumberofquences of these new regulatory man-proactivepolicygoalsthatdeliverdatesandseektoaddresssafety NPClong-termbenefitsforourpotatothrough less obstructive means.farms and the families and communi-ties they support. A related effort involves easing restric-tions of truck drivers Hours-of-Service MessageEasing Supply Chain Challenges(HOS) regulations, particularly during The U.S. potato industry is dependentplanting and harvest seasons. NPC is upon an efficient transportation sys- advocating for enhancing HOS rules tem in moving product from the farmto acknowledge the unique challenges through the supply chain to the endfor transporting perishable commodi-consumer.Unfortunately,currentties and expanding the current 150-supply chain disruptions are creatingmile loading exemption to cover both severeshortagesofvitalinputsforloadingandunloadingactivities. potato production and inflating pricesTruck drivers should not be penalized for those fortunate producers who canforencounteringdelaysatloading securesupply.DuringtheSummit,pointsorcongestionatdistribution NPC identified several specific regula- warehousesorportfacilities.NPC tory and legislative actions that couldbelievesthattimespentidlingina assist in relieving some of the currentmarshallingyardshouldnotcount bottlenecks that are severely impact- against HOS mandates. ingproducers,includingremoving burdens on truck drivers and easingU.S. potato growers are also pushing 8 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2022'