07/14/05 Potato acreage down, campaign pays off

It looks like the effort of United Fresh Potato Growers of Idaho is paying off. USDA says that 1.11 million acres of potatoes were planted nationwide this year. That's a drop of seven percent from last year. United's CEO Jerry Wright believes when the Canadian report is released this week it will show a similar reduction of about 30 thousand acres. WRIGHT "That seven percent reduction that makes the lowest number of acres planted in potatoes since they were keeping records back in 1866." 35 thousand acres nationwide were cut, the majority coming in Idaho with a reduction of 25 thousand acres. WRIGHT "In fact we cut closer to 35 thousand acres in Idaho. Fry processors brought back around ten thousand acres in the state. So net-net the total reduction was 25 thousand. On the fresh side approximately 35 thousand acres were cut." The result, prices are rising and Wright expects that to continue through the fall harvest. WRIGHT "And what we're busy doing is reassuring all of our customers and consumers that there's going to be ample potatoes at a reasonable price. Potatoes will still be an excellent value." United's campaign, weather conditions and economic factors played a part in the acreage reduction and may end to oversupply which Wright says has averaged between twelve and 15 million bags in each of the last three years. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott