Peeling back acres and jobs in the potato industry

Farm and Ranch March 26, 2010 Farmers are planting potatoes out in the Columbia Basin now and Washington Potato Commission Chairman Ted Tschirky of Connell says it is going good. Not so good was news this week that ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is closing its potato processing plant in Prosser at the end of May.

Tschirky: “Well, a little bit surprised that they were having to shut down the plant due to the economic down turn. Feel sorry for the people that work there.”

ConAgra cited reduced sales of frozen potato products in the current economy and the expense of operating the Prosser plant. Tschirky thinks the 20 percent tariff Mexico was allowed to impose on U.S. French fry imports due to a trucking dispute was also a factor.

Tschirky: “Most of the processing is going north to Canada instead of out of the Washington-Idaho area.”

The Potato Commission Chairman says growers have already been impacted.

Tschirky: “Right now in the industry it seems like all the processors are cutting their acreage back and most of us that raise for Lamb Weston have had our share of cuts already. Other processors that concern me that they don‘t cut any more than what they already have.”

Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Potato Commission says government needs to level the playing field by resolving the Mexican dispute and approving pending free trade agreements.

That’s 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 port on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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