Outlook for Idaho's potato crop good

Though it’s still early in the season, the outlook for Southeast Idaho’s staple crops — potatoes, wheat and barley, said Tom Kurtz, deputy director for the Idaho field office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

“It’s going to definitely be better than what it was in 2009, and 2010 was better than 2009,” Kurtz said. “I think in 2011, it’s also got potential to be better what it was in 2010, but it’s not finished yet.

“If you think about Eastern Idaho, a lot of potatoes, wheat and barley are grown over there, and all three of those are expected to do well this year.”