Idaho Economist predicts potato production costs for 2009

Idaho potato farmers are likely to pay more to grow spuds this year than in 2008, despite the recent drop in diesel and nitrogen fertilizer prices.

"My guess is that the overall cost increase will be somewhere between zero and 5 percent,"said Paul Patterson, a University of Idaho Extension ag economist.

Patterson's projection is based on cost information available in early January.

Production costs can vary widely from farm to farm, depending on the size of the operation, location, varieties grown and other factors, Patterson said.

He said seed costs, on average, will be up 25 to 35 percent from last year and chemical costs will be up about 5 percent.

Fertilizer costs will be down about 10 to 15 percent, and machinery costs should be down 15 to 25 percent, he said.

Overall operating costs for Idaho potato farmers will be close to the same as 2008, while ownership costs will be up about 8 percent, Patterson estimated.