Idaho potato growers plant potatoes without deal

Idaho potato growers are taking to the field this spring without a collective agreement with major processors.

The collective bargaining process broke down in Idaho last year following a dispute with ConAgra Foods. Growers blamed ConAgra, and the company pointed back at the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative, the growers' bargaining association.

SIPCo has held meetings with all three of the major processors, ConAgra, J.R. Simplot Co. and McCain Foods, this year. But there have been no official contract negotiations for the new crop, co-op officials said.

Idaho farmers will continue to grow processing potatoes under contract this year, but they'll do it on their own.

The contracts will lack any endorsement from SIPCo, and co-op officials said they question whether the contracts will be profitable for growers.

"The ability to negotiate and bargain for a statewide price has been lost this year,"said Mike Leavitt, SIPCO's executive director.

With the collective bargaining process in limbo, the Idaho co-op faces an uncertain future.

But Idaho growers haven't thrown in the towel. Most still want a bargaining association to represent their interests, Leavitt said.

Processing potato plantings are expected to decline about 12 to 13 percent this year in Washington and 10 to 15 percent in Idaho, according to bargaining associations in the two states.

Acreage in south-central Idaho's Magic Valley is expected to drop about 7,000 acres because of the closure of a french fry line at the ConAgra plant in Twin Falls scheduled for this fall, SIPCO officials said.