North Dakota's potato production lower in 2008

Potato production in the state is expected to reach 22.7 million cwt in 2008 from 81,000 harvested acres, which is down 11 percent from last year. The average production per acre was higher, however, with the 2008 average yield pegged at a record high 280 cwt per harvested acre. This represents an increase of 20 cwt per acre from last year's average.

Russet potatoes accounted for 50 percent of the total harvested acres at 40,500 acres and 65 percent of the total potato production.

Ted Kreis, marketing specialist for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, said it is necessary to look at the specific uses in order to understand the numbers completely, since the USDA report uses combined figures.

“As far as the fresh crop this year, it was probably one of the better crops we ever had,” Kreis said. “The quality and color of the red potatoes were just fantastic this year and the yields were running about 20 percent higher than last year. Despite the fact that we planted about 7 percent fewer acres, there was quite a bit more production than we had last year.”

About 97 percent of the potatoes grown in the Red River Valley are red potatoes grown for the fresh market, according to Kreis. Yellow potatoes, such as Yukon gold, plus a small number of russets, make up the remainder of the fresh market.

The processing potatoes include mostly the russets and are used mainly for fries, chips and a small amount for dehydration for potato flakes.

“We were expecting a larger cut in russet production this year, but when the final numbers came in we weren't down that much more actually,” Kreis said. “There again, the yields were very good this year.”