03/23/07 United adds Montana chapter

The farmers who have jointed the United Potato Growers of America have a new chapter. Joining the effort is UPG Montana, which has 60 potato seed growers with nearly ten thousand potato seed acres. United Board Chairman Albert Wada says Montana joins the other major potato growing regions. WADA "California, Washington, Oregon, the Klamath Basin, Idaho, Colorado, Wisconsin, the Southwest division." With a projected 15 percent potato planting reduction this season from 2004 levels, coupled with some attractive prices for crops like corn, wheat and barley, he's optimistic about the upcoming year. WADA "I think if we hadn't got potato growers across North America thinking about the effects of supply and demand a little bit more in front of their mind and actually seeing cause and effect we'd be looking at a different market I'm pretty sure." The softness in the open market can be blamed in large part to the decline in fresh potato consumption. Processed potato consumption is slowly increasing but the fresh market isn't and it sets the standard for open prices. Two years into the United effort many older growers aren't willing to risk the farm just to try to hit a price home run. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott