Delegation seeks assistance for potato growers

Walt Minnick - Right for Idaho

January 28, 2010

Washington, D.C. - Idaho’s Congressional Delegation is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist potato producers struggling due to a high supply of domestic potatoes and low prices.  In a letter sent to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Administrator, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick are asking USDA to give favorable consideration to a pending request for purchase of fresh surplus potatoes for federal nutrition programs under the Section 32 program.

The Delegation detailed the considerable potato market challenges.  “The growing conditions for the 2009 Idaho potato crop were almost perfect resulting in record yields and excellent quality.  Therefore, the percentage of saleable potatoes is above average this year, and currently Idaho potato stocks on hand are nearly 13.5 percent more than last year’s stocks, despite Idaho shipping 4.5 percent more than 2008 volumes.  This situation has caused prices to drop, and prices have continued to be low for quite some time,” the Delegation wrote.

Further, the Delegation emphasized the difficulty potato producers are facing nationwide.  “Potato growers are struggling right now with their returns, which are quite low.  Without action, the combination of a high supply and low prices will drive many growers in the State of Idaho and throughout the country to go out of business.  In today’s financial market, trying to get financing for next year’s crops could be quite difficult when producers present the returns for this year’s crop,” the Delegation wrote.