This year’s Idaho potato crop is expected to bring in a smaller harvest, with acres down roughly 8 percent year-over-year.
CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission Jamey Higham says that one of the main reasons is higher input costs. The more profitable crops and water curtailments discouraged some growers from planting potatoes this year. While there are a variety of challenges impacting producers right now, he says that potato farmers remain optimistic.
According to Higham, “You have to think that last year was up 6 percent from the year before. So versus the 2020 crop, we’re down 2 percent and it’s the lowest number we’ve seen in quite a while, but we’re expecting a much better yielding crop and a higher quality crop.”
Unlike many producers across the country, Idaho potato farmers have enjoyed this year’s weather. He says that the cool start to spring and delayed heat have been much better-growing conditions than last June’s heat dome.
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