12/03/07 United co-op planting, marketing intentions

The United Potato Growers of America wants its growers to cut production next year by 20 percent from the 2004 base. WRIGHT "That really on represents less than a five percent reduction off of last year's planting." Jerry Wright of United Idaho says that's about a five to eight thousand acre reduction in Idaho from the 139 thousand acres of fresh potatoes planted this year in addition to 22 thousand acres of spuds for dehydration. Wright says they have lenders who are willing to give them money for a new program next year. WRIGHT "United under the Idahoan name would go out and purchase all fresh potatoes in the marketplace from growers that are willing to sell them to the United Idahoan fresh potato plan for which they would get a significant cash down payment up front." United would take that one pile of purchased potatoes and sell them out to packing sheds at a base price that would lock in better returns for growers and stabilize market pricing. Wright says it's a more coordinated way to get stable pricing because with a variety of sources lower prices often are the result of one seller pitted against another. The United effort has changed the industry dramatically in three years. More about that tomorrow. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott