Potato Bytes

Potato News
Friday,April 4,, 2008
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Northern Plains Potato Growers Association

Office News

From the NPPGA President, Duane Maatz – Spring is here. The snow in the shelter belts is only 4 feet deep. That’s progress.

Our Budget Committee planning for the next fiscal year will meet on Monday. The real questions surrounding this activity will be our level of production. The North American Potato Market News has ND in a steep decline in production. We do not believe it will be as severe as reported, however we are concerned about acres. Part of our mission is profitability and we realize that competing crops are attracting acres not only on price, but also on cost of production and risk levels. If reduced acres bring more profit to the farm gate then this is the right move. I hope these decisions are business based and not droned by outside forces.

The largest area of reduction is in process potato acres. Chip potato volume is also in decline along with the ensuing seed acres. Fresh table potatoes appear to be performing at a similar level of production as in 07, although there will be also be slight reductions in total red potato production.

This all makes for an interesting season to budget. Our current level of funding was established in 1986. Financially, we are far behind other associations yet we continue to provide information and services in our declining economy. It is not as if our industry needs have gone away. Certainly times have changed and we have changed with them.

If this is a good time of year for me to visit your farm please let me know. I’d be happy to tell you more about the workings of the Association and get to know you better.

North Dakota Potato Breeder, Dr. Susie Thompson is looking for a two row potato harvester. If you have a machine that could be utilized by the NDSU Breeding Program, please call Susie at 701 799-8536.

 From NPPGA Marketing Director, Ted Kreis – Fewer Potatoes being Planted - The North American Potato Market News is forecasting the U.S. will plant 74,600 fewer acres of potatoes for the fall crop. The largest drop will occur in Idaho, down 35,000 acres (10%), and North Dakota, down 17,000 acres (17.5%). Most of the cuts in North Dakota will be in processing potatoes, both frozen and chip, while the fresh acreage will only be down slightly.

A large chip manufacturer again made large cuts in North Dakota contracts; fortunately a North Dakota fry plant has contracted most of those round whites for fry production. High transportation costs for getting raw product to chip plants outside the region is a key factor for the cuts.

Attractive crop options are also key factors for loss of potato acres in both Idaho and North Dakota. USDA reports as much as 200,000 more acres of wheat will be raised this year in Idaho, three-fourths of that is winter wheat, already planted. In North Dakota, soybeans, dry edible beans, corn, canola, sunflowers, wheat and other small grains, are all attractive options.

Fresh Demand Slows – For the first time this season, area fresh shippers are reporting business as slow. This is typical for the week or two following Easter. Red River Valley shippers are also seeing increased competition from other growing regions, particularly Florida. None the less, the Valley is still on track to finish one month earlier than last year. The last potatoes should leave the Valley the first week in June.

BYTES TRIVIA – Last week’s Trivia winner was Tamas Houlihan, Editor of the Badger Common’Tater. Tamas knew the earliest opening day Major League Baseball game was played this year (2008). The game was played in Tokyo Japan, Red Sox vs. Athletics on March 24th. The teams split the two game series, both games count in the regular season standings.

Here is this week’s Trivia question: What U.S. city was Jerry Springer the mayor of? Send your answer to tkreis@nppga.org. The winner will receive a ruler-calculator.

THIS WEEK’S DEEP THOUGHT: If a chronic liar tells you he is a chronic liar do you believe him?

Industry News

From the North Dakota Dept. of Ag ~ Project Safe Send Collection Sights Announced - Project Safe Send, North Dakota’s annual collection of unusable pesticides, will be conducted at 16 locations in July. "This is a good time to look through your barns, sheds, garages and storage areas for unusable pesticides," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. "With 16 collection sites across the state, it should be easy for everyone to participate in Project Safe Send, and get rid of their unusable pesticides safely and at no charge.”

The collections are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (local time) at the following dates and sites. All collection sites are at North Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance facilities, except the collection in West Fargo, which will be held at the county highway shop.

More information about Project Safe Send can be found on NDDA’s website, www.agdepartment.com (click on “Hot Topics”). Authorized by the North Dakota Legislature, Project Safe Send is funded through the fees paid by pesticide manufacturers to register their products in North Dakota. Since 1992, more than 2 million pounds of waste pesticides have been collected through Project Safe Send.

   Items for Potato Bytes? - If you would like to submit an item or announce an upcoming event in Potato Bytes, or if you have a story idea for the Valley Potato Grower magazine, please call (218) 773-3633 or send an e-mail to communication@nppga.org.