diseAse identiFiCAtiOn Jeff Miller jeff@millerresearch.com
MArKet rePOrt Ben eborn napmn@napmn.com
POtAtO GrOwers OF wAshinGtOn dale Lathim
editOriAL inFOrMAtiOn
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A turnkey Operation
Story and photos by Denise Keller, Editor
At the time of year that most potato growers are nearing the final stage of the season, operations are just shifting into high gear for Jordan Erickson. In addition to growing potatoes in Eltopia, Washington, Erickson Farms harvests spuds for growers throughout the Columbia Basin of Washington and Oregon. Custom harvest work accounts for the bulk of the business and comes with both challenges and opportunities.
harvesting
Erickson Farms, with Jordan and his dad at the helm, has been doing custom work since 2004. When other growers lack equipment, manpower or time to haul seed, till fields or harvest potatoes, the Ericksons step in. The operation covers a lot of ground, stretching from
Odessa, Washington, to Pendleton, Oregon.
“I’d like to say we have a pretty good name around the area. There are a lot of people who know if they call us, they know we can get the job done. We try to make it a turnkey operation,” Erickson says.
Erickson supplies the necessary equipment and labor, coordinates with any processors involved, and lines up trucking and other logistics.
“That person can literally go on vacation or go harvest corn, wheat, onions or carrots. They don’t have to worry about their potatoes. They just know the job is going to get done right,” Erickson says, noting that by harvesting the crop as if it was his own, he has built a good reputation for keeping quality
high and bruise numbers low.
With a fleet of 14 harvesters and 28 10-wheelers, Erickson can handle seven jobs at once and has harvested up to 6,500 tons per day. This puts a lot of wear and tear on the harvesters and requires regular maintenance to keep equipment in working order, he points out.
In addition to well-oiled machines, the business requires reliable employees, which has proven challenging in recent years. With the state’s increasing minimum wage and overtime requirements, it’s become difficult to stay competitive as an agricultural employer.
Despite the challenges, Erickson would like to grow this side of the business and possibly offer custom harvesting of crops
Jordan Erickson sorts debris from Alverstone Russet potatoes at a trans-loading site.
Erickson Farms’ fleet includes 28 10-wheelers and 14 harvesters.
other than potatoes.
“The only time our company is actually being productive and making money is when we have tractors in the field. So the more work we can pick up and keep them busy, the better,” he says.
Growing
Erickson Farms also grows earlyseason processing potatoes for another farm. Varieties include Ivory Russet, Ranger Russet, Clearwater Russet, Shepody and Hamlin Russet, which was added to the mix this year and will replace Shepody next year. 2025 was a stellar year for growing early- and midseason potatoes, Erickson says, reporting high quality and yield. Shepody, which the grower describes as a hit-or-miss variety, fared especially well, yielding up to 29.97 tons/acre, compared to the more typical 24 tons/acre.
While yield and quality were up, acreage was down due to reductions in processing contracts. This year, Erickson grew 650 acres of potatoes, a reduction of almost 70%. Contract cuts also reduced his custom harvest work by 50% to 2,500 acres this year.
“I’ve fluctuated a couple hundred acres, but this big of a swing? This is something I’ve never experienced, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how it lines up at the end of the year,” Erickson says. “If we were going to continue at this rate, we’d have to downsize. We wouldn’t be able to have all the tractors and trucks that we have now. It’s not a fun time right now.”
On the plus side, less acreage means lower costs for some expenses such as labor, fuel and equipment repair. In addition, Erickson is trying to compensate for the acreage cuts by maximizing efficiency. He’s able to make fewer passes in the field by utilizing better tillage equipment. In addition, some of the new varieties like Hamlin Russet require less fertilizer and insecticide and come with improved tolerance to diseases like common scab, powdery scab, Verticillium wilt and soft rot.
Learning
Jordan Erickson is a second-generation farmer. His dad, Chip, moved to the area from California in 1970 and started
Jordan Erickson looks over Russet Nortkotahs coming onto the harvester.
growing alfalfa, wheat and asparagus. He added potatoes to the rotation in the mid-1990s. About a decade later, in a year that Mother Nature had dealt him a rough hand, he met some growers who needed help harvesting their potatoes. He worked for them again the next year and soon began to focus solely on custom harvesting, adding some potato acreage back into the business five years later.
“I like growing potatoes. It’s fun. I grew up doing the dirty work,” Erickson
says. “When I was a little kid, I grew up in my dad’s pickup. I was that stereotypical farm boy. That’s how I was raised. My dad knew from the beginning I was going to farm.”
Erickson attended college for a year before returning to the farm 16 years ago, working his way up to managing the Washington custom harvest operation. Meanwhile, his dad manages operations in Oregon. Through the years, his dad has steered him in the right direction, while
allowing him to try his own ideas and make mistakes.
“He’s the reason we have what we have, and he’s taught me everything I know about farming. I know he’s helped a lot of younger farmers over the years, and they’re successful farmers too. He’s not the guy who wants notoriety or anything, but he always has a smile on his face and wants to help everybody out. He’s always been a good neighbor,” Erickson says of his dad, adding that he’s proud to introduce himself as Chip’s son. “He’s an all-around good dude.”
Leading
Comfortable on the farm, but wanting to gain a better understanding of the potato industry, Erickson participated in the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation’s Leadership Institute in February. The 10-day program provides an overview of the U.S. potato industry. The 2025 program began in Wisconsin with leadership training and industry tours and, as always, concluded in Washington, D.C., where participants spent time talking with lawmakers and using their voices to gain support for the industry.
The program pushed Erickson outside his comfort zone and gave him a clearer picture of the potato industry. It also provided new friendships and continued opportunities to network with the growers he met from across the country.
“I’ll call them and say ’I’ve seen this in my field. Have you seen this before?’ Now I have an extra person I can talk to instead of just people around here, where most of us have seen exactly the same things,” Erickson says.
Shortly after returning home, he joined the Washington State Potato Commission’s research committee, and he might get involved with Potatoes USA or the National Potato Council in the future.
“To be involved is beneficial for not only our company and our industry, but for me,” he says. “It’s going to help me be a better member of our industry, and I’m hoping that my involvement will help me grow, help our company grow and help our team grow.”
Jordan Erickson harvests potatoes from mid-July to mid-November, first digging the spuds he grows, then custom harvesting for other farms.
The Idaho Potato Commission delivers another reminder on the importance of authenticity.
If you’re not going to be 100% genuine, you better be careful! The Idaho Potato Commission playfully highlights the pitfalls of inauthenticity in its latest commercial, in which a man confesses to his girlfriend that he hasn’t been 100% authentic. Fortunately, she takes it in stride – until he reveals the potatoes he’s served aren’t genuine Idaho® potatoes either, reminding viewers why it’s so important to look for the “Grown In Idaho®” seal. The ad will air nationally on popular networks including TBS, TNT, Food Network, Discovery, HGTV, ID, Hallmark, and TLC. Additionally, it can be seen on streaming platforms like HBO Max, Discovery+, Hulu/Disney+, and Tubi.
View the spot anytime at IdahoPotato.com
PLAntinG essentiALs BUyers' GUide
Greentronics greentronics.com
Conveyor Scale
All star Manufacturing & design LLC allstarmfgllc.com
Better Built Potato Seed Cutter
All Star Manufacturing and Design offers potato seed cutters designed to cut both long and round potato varieties. The company is always striving to make improvements in its equipment and has a new optional electronic control system for 2026 that allows users to save settings that can be recalled later for even quicker setup. This feature will be particularly useful when cutting different varieties and sizes in a season.
Potato seed treating involves setting a chemical application rate. It’s set for an estimated average flow rate of seed potatoes through the treater. In practice, potato flow rate will vary, leaving potential for poorly treated seed to reach the field. To avoid this, some operators will err on the side of caution and set the rate a little higher than necessary. While this reduces risks in the field, it also leads to waste and higher costs.
To solve this problem, growers can install a scale from Greentronics in the conveyor ahead of the treater. The scale can be equipped to output a signal proportional to the flow rate over the scale. This output becomes the input for the chemical application pump. With this connected, the pump will apply chemical according to the flow rate measured by the scale. This offers greater uniformity in chemical application and reduced waste and cost.
Lockwood Manufacturing lockwoodmfg.com
Planters
With the 2025 potato season wrapped up, it is time to think about planting the 2026 crop. Lockwood is known for offering accurate, efficient planters. The company’s Air Cup and Belted Cup planters offer the best options available. New for 2026, Lockwood’s Air Cup planters will include advanced urethane “cups” designed to improve seed retention and placement. This makes the already accurate planters even better. Also new for 2026 is the ability to provide Surepoint liquid application systems directly from Lockwood’s company headquarters in West Fargo, North Dakota.
PLAntinG essentiALs
BUyers' GUide
Web Belt Sizer
The Mayo Web Belt Sizer is an accurate method of sizing round seed potatoes for optimal growth and yield. The reinforced rubber belt web screen is known for accuracy, durability and high capacity. The product is used for many sizing applications and comes in stainless steel or painted mild steel.
Micro-trak systems
micro-trak.com
ProPlant
The hardworking team at Micro-Trak is dedicated to helping growers achieve greater precision, reliability and efficiency in every pass. The company backs its solutions with a three-year warranty, a loaner program, and flexible manufacturing to meet both small and large-scale needs.
Designed with growers in mind, the ProPlant system is built to optimize potato planting by delivering programmable planting rates, on-the-go adjustments, auto section control and VRA planting capability – all while requiring less than 3 gallons of hydraulic flow per planter section. Wireless remote control makes calibration a quick, one-person task, and “as applied” maps ensure accurate records of every acre. By eliminating drive wheel inaccuracies and simplifying setup and operation, ProPlant helps potato producers save time, reduce waste and maximize yield potential. With MicroTrak, planting potatoes becomes easier, smarter and more profitable.
Potato Seed Cutters
Milestone potato seed cutters are designed and built to be the ultimate example of capacity, technology and raw performance. Designed and proven to produce a uniform and blocky seed piece, new Milestone seed cutters incorporate several improvements and enhancements over older generations, such as smart coulter/sizer adjust, full-width one drop belt, quick adjust trim section and reinforced cutting table support. All Milestone potato seed cutters are backed by knowledgeable and responsive support that customers can rely on when they need it the most.
trichoderma as a tool Benefits of Trichoderma for Crops, Fertilizer
Use and Microbial Partnerships
By Ching-Ting Feng, Ph.D., Plant Products Division Manager, JH Biotech, Inc.
Beneficial fungi of the genus
Trichoderma are now widely recognized as valuable allies in sustainable agriculture. They promote crop growth, suppress harmful diseases, improve fertilizer efficiency and cooperate with other beneficial microbes in the soil. Instead of being a singlefunction inoculant, Trichoderma acts like a multi-tool that strengthens both plants and soil ecosystems.
Plant Growth and nutrient Use
One of the most visible advantages of Trichoderma is its ability to stimulate plant growth. These fungi release compounds that mimic natural plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellins, encouraging stronger root development and more efficient nutrient absorption. They also help plants regulate stress hormones, which allows crops to better tolerate drought or other challenging conditions. Because roots colonized by Trichoderma can explore soil more effectively, fertilizer inputs are used more efficiently. Farmers often find
that with Trichoderma inoculation, crops maintain good performance even when chemical fertilizer rates are reduced. This makes it a practical tool for lowering costs and minimizing nutrient losses to the environment.
disease suppression and natural defense
Trichoderma is best known for its disease control abilities. It directly attacks harmful fungi by competing for space, producing antifungal enzymes and, in some cases, even parasitizing pathogens. At the same time, it stimulates a plant’s natural immune system, preparing crops to defend themselves more effectively. When combined with other beneficial microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), disease protection is even stronger. Together, they can reduce the severity of root diseases like Fusarium wilt and root-knot nematodes while boosting plant vigor. This integrated protection reduces the need for chemical fungicides, supporting safer and more sustainable crop management.
Partnerships with Other Microbes
Trichoderma often works in harmony with AMF and other beneficial soil organisms. These partnerships improve nutrient exchange between plants and microbes, increase root colonization and strengthen tolerance to stress. In vegetable crops such as melons, onions and tomatoes, the combination of Trichoderma with AMF has been shown to increase yields, enhance nutrient uptake and suppress soil-borne pests. This synergy demonstrates that the future of soil health lies not in using one organism alone, but in designing microbial communities that cooperate to benefit the crop.
tolerance to stressful environments
Beyond pathogens, Trichoderma helps crops withstand environmental stresses such as drought, salinity and heat. It does this by regulating antioxidant systems within plants, stabilizing cell metabolism and reducing the damage caused by excess reactive oxygen molecules. In practice, this means plants stay healthier for longer under stressful conditions, making the best use of limited water and nutrients.
marter Fertilizer Use
Because Trichoderma can solubilize nutrients like phosphorus and release them into plant-available forms, it plays a direct role in nutrient cycling. It also keeps roots healthier by preventing disease, which ensures plants can take up fertilizers consistently. Studies show that even with lower fertilizer application, crops treated with Trichoderma maintain strong growth and nutrient balance. This makes it a promising tool for farmers aiming to cut costs, meet environmental regulations, or move toward organic and regenerative practices.
Arrows point to hyphae of Trichoderma harzianum entwining and parasitizing the hyphae of Fusarium oxysporum F3 strain.
Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association “Quality as High as our Mountains”
RUSSET VARIETIES:
Russet Norkotah S3
Russet Norkotah S8
Rocky Mountain Russet
Silverton Russet
Rio Grande Russet
Canela Russet
Mesa Russet
Mercury Russet
Fortress Russet
Crimson King
COLORED VARIETIES:
Columbine Gold
Colorado Rose
Rio Colorado
Red Luna
Purple Majesty
Masquerade
Mountain Rose
Vista Gold
Seed Growers:
Zapata Seed Company
Worley Family Farms
SLV Research Center
San Acacio Seed
Salazar Farms
Rockey Farms, LLC
Pro Seed
Price Farms Certified Seed, LLC
Palmgren Farms, LLC
Martinez Farms
La Rue Farms
H&H Farms
G&G Farms
Bothell Seed
Allied Potato
shaping the soil Microbiome
Another benefit of Trichoderma is its ability to shape the broader soil community. By interacting with other microbes, it encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi that further support plant health. In some cases, it acts as a “microbiome modulator,” building a more resilient network of organisms that help crops thrive. This not only improves current yields but also contributes to long- term soil fertility and stability.
Conclusion
Trichoderma offers a wide spectrum of benefits: promoting plant growth, improving nutrient efficiency, suppressing diseases, supporting stress tolerance and fostering positive microbial partnerships. Its versatility makes it an essential tool in modern sustainable agriculture. When paired with good fertilizer management and other beneficial inoculants like AMF, Trichoderma helps farmers reduce chemical inputs, stabilize yields under stress and protect soil health for the future. By harnessing the power of this fungus, growers can move closer to a resilient and environmentally friendly farming system.
Author’s note: To learn more about the effects and application programs of Trichoderma products, please visit
Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho. He can be contacted by phone: (208) 531-5124; cell: (208) 431-4420; jeff@millerresearch.com
You have your tubers in storage now and everything looked good (on the outside). Unfortunately, sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Tubers that may look healthy on the exterior can have problems on the inside.
What is causing the issues shown in these photos? Can you name management practices that can limit these problems?
A D B
inseCt
BiOLOGy QUiz
This material is provided courtesy of Josephine Antwi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Irrigated Crop Entomology at the Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center. She can be reached at josephine.antwi@oregonstate.edu.
The images here show potato leaves infested with eggs from common potato pests. The eggs look different and originated from two different pests. Can you guess which potato pests laid these eggs?
Clue: In Photo A, you can also see the type of damage this pest left behind.
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wsPC welcomes director of research and industry Outreach
The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) has appointed Shashi Yellareddygari as the new director of research and industry outreach. He replaces Matthew Blua after his retirement in July.
Yellareddygari brings experience in agronomy, plant pathology and applied research. Most recently, he worked as an agronomic service representative in Ohio, where he provided technical expertise and agronomic guidance to growers and sales representatives. Before that, he served as a field agronomist with Bayer. Earlier in his career, he worked as a research scientist at North Dakota State University, focusing on potato disease management.
iPC names new Foodservice Promotion
director
Michael Ybarra has joined the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) as foodservice promotion director (West), following the retirement of Armand Lobato.
Ybarra has nearly three decades of experience in foodservice and produce, with leadership positions at U.S. Foods, Sysco, FreshPoint and Alliant Foodservice. He has served as a produce specialist, buyer, and director of national sales and has also worked closely with the military and managed business for major hotel and restaurant accounts.
His favorite preparation of Idaho potatoes is oven-roasted.
redox Product Gains Certification
Mainstay Calcium 2.0, a biostimulant product from Redox Bio-Nutrients, recently received the Certified Biostimulant label from The Fertilizer Institute. This indicates that the product meets industry recognized standards for efficacy, safety and composition.
The certification label provides benefits to manufacturers, ag retailers and growers, according to Redox president Colton Moon.
“Ag retailers can assess products more confidently for shelf space, and it provides growers with confidence in product compliance with an industry program and allows them to make an informed decision about which product is right for them and their needs,” Moon said.
tessenderlo Kerley Acquires
Metam Fumigant Labels
Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. has acquired Eastman’s U.S. and Canadian crop protection metam sodium (CLRTM 42%) and metam potassium (KLRTM 54%) product labels. The acquisition creates a stronger, more accessible product line designed to help growers protect their crops, improve soil health and maximize yield potential, according to Tessenderlo Kerley. The company says its distribution network and field support teams will ensure U.S. and Canadian growers have timely access to metam products and expert guidance on application best practices. Tessenderlo Kerley also plans to launch updated stewardship and training programs focused on safe handling, regulatory compliance and integrated pest management.
The eggs in Photo A were laid by a potato psyllid.
Potato psyllids are late-season insect pests of potato. Feeding injury by potato psyllids results in psyllid yellows, which causes yellowing in potato leaves. Potato psyllids can also transmit the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, which causes zebra chip disease.
Females (Photo 1) lay orange-yellowish eggs that are typically supported by thread-like stalks (Photo A). Females typically lay eggs on the underside of leaves. Under ideal environmental conditions, a single female can produce over 1,000 of these eggs in her lifetime. Nymphs that hatch from these eggs go through four or five developmental stages before reaching the adult stage. Optimal survival and development of nymphs occur when temperatures are between 75 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
The eggs in Photo B were laid by a two-spotted spider mite.
Two-spotted spider mites are arachnid (same group as spiders) pests of potato. Visual indicators of their presence include a pale, rusty/bronze appearance caused by feeding (Photo 2). They also create webs when populations are high. Webs serve as protection from natural enemies and other environmental stressors and as a dispersal route from plant to plant.
A single female can lay several hundred eggs in her lifetime. Eggs are small, about 0.14 mm long, and can only be seen with a hand lens or microscope. When they first emerge from eggs, nymphs may look like insects because they have six legs. However, after subsequent molts to older developmental stages, they develop the eight legs typical of mites. Two-spotted spider mites can survive temperatures higher than that of potato psyllids, between 50 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Their populations can be especially high under dry conditions.
For more information about potato psyllids and two-spotted spider mites and recommendations for their management, refer to the Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
1
2
Our isolated northern location along with our group of 10 experienced growers have been producing exceptional seed potatoes with increased energy and the lowest possible disease levels for over 60 years.
Our longevity and historical performance have made us a valued resource and seed potato supplier to growers across North America and the world.
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Kerian Sizer
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KnOw yOUr diseAse Answers (FROM PAGE 15)
Each photo shows tubers affected by a different virus.
Photo A = Potato mop top virus (PMTV)
Buyan Ranch
Some of Montana’s Finest Certified Seed Potatoes
Umatilla (G2 & G3) Clearwater Russet (G2 & G3)
Isolated Area • Strict Roguing & Sanitation Hawaii Seed Plot Tested • Virus Tested 242 Bivens Creek Road • Sheridan, MT 59749 Bill: 406-596-5142 • Marcus: 406-596-7353
PMTV persists in the soil in the organism that causes powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea). You can test your soil to see if the powdery scab organism is present, and some labs can also tell you if PMTV is present. Unfortunately, no fungicides have proven effective in controlling powdery scab in a significant manner. The best method of control is to avoid planting susceptible varieties if you know the virus is in the field.
Photo B = PVYNTN
Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the biggest problems with potato seed due to the difficulty of managing the disease in the field. Planting clean seed is the most effective way to avoid symptoms like those shown here.
Photo C = Corky ringspot (tobacco rattle virus or TRV)
TRV is vectored by the stubby root nematode. There is zero tolerance for TRV in potato seed. Management of the nematode vector with nematicides or fumigants has been effective in reducing TRV.
Photo D = Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)
Of the four viruses in this month’s quiz, TSWV is the least common in potato. The virus can be spread by thrips and is most often observed in greenhouse settings. Clean seed and insect control can reduce the spread of this virus.
Farm Bill, trade, Ag Labor and economic relief: nPC’s take on what’s next
By Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council
As we write this in mid-September, we are again approaching a major crossroad in Washington, D.C., with a packed policy agenda that directly impacts the future of the potato industry. The coming weeks will be a whirlwind, with another potential government shutdown looming and the window quickly closing to pass a long-term Farm Bill and ag labor reforms to support the agriculture community.
By the time you read this, we’ll know whether Congress has met its Constitutional obligation to pass a budget by the
end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Should Congress not approve the funding bills or enact a short-term stopgap measure, we will face a government shutdown. Depending on the duration, it may cause significant disruption to the agencies and services upon which our growers rely.
This fall, the current Farm Bill extension will also expire. While NPC and our partners were successful in securing permanent funding for key specialty crop programs under this summer’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”– a huge win for our industry – we still need a new Farm Bill or another extension to keep all the essential programs running. We’ve been through this extension cycle before, and we are
Growing Quality Seed For 70 Years!
working tirelessly to ensure our priorities are not lost in the political machinations.
To add to the complexity, Congress also has a narrow window to act on agricultural labor reform. As growers remember, members of both the House and Senate have said for years that they support reforming the H-2A program and dealing with the current undocumented labor force, but only after the border is secure. With the Trump Administration’s actions, that requirement has been met and the border fully secured. Congress no longer has a reason to delay action on this key competitive issue for U.S. farms.
Another major item on our radar is the recent release of the second report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. While the first report raised serious concerns across production agriculture, this second one is a marked improvement. It’s clear the commission listened to input from industry experts, growers and other professionals who understand our systems, rather than just reacting emotionally. The new report is more grounded in common sense.
SCHUTTER SEED FARM
Following that report, the MAHA philosophy is likely to be applied through various rulemakings impacting school meals, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, pesticide regulations and others. First on the agenda, the administration is likely to create a new definition for “ultra-processed” foods and then seek to limit their consumption, especially in programs like school meals. NPC will be closely monitoring these developments to ensure that potatoes, a nutrient-dense whole food, are not unfairly targeted. We’ve already had a big win on the Dietary Guidelines front, where our collective efforts to keep potatoes classified as a vegetable were successful. This new administration is not expected to revisit that issue, which is a great relief.
On the topic of international trade, the political environment is as complex as
Left to right: Sid, John, Jonathan, Carl, Nick and Cliff.
ever, but for the U.S. potato industry, we have seen some unexpected opportunities emerge. Our major export markets are largely unimpaired by the current tariff environment. In fact, the pressure being applied on a number of countries has created leverage to open up new markets for U.S. agriculture.
Japan is a prime example. For years, Japan has been a closed market for U.S. fresh potatoes, representing a potential $150 million market for our growers. The administration’s focus on trade has created the momentum needed to finally pry that door open. We are looking forward to a rescheduled trip by the Secretary of Agriculture to Japan, where we can continue to push for access to this incredibly valuable market.
Lastly, there’s the ongoing discussion about economic relief. The July “MASC” payments to growers were a critical lifeline, but the economic turmoil continues.
While the "program crops" in Title I of the Farm Bill are looking for additional economic disaster relief, we want to make sure specialty crops are part of that discussion. We’ve learned from past programs, like CFAP 2, that the most effective relief programs for our industry are simple and efficient, not ones that try to shoehorn us into a framework designed for other commodities. We are making the case to Congress and the administration that they already know what works for specialty crop growers. We are urging them to embed the successful elements of those past programs into any new policy.
These are challenging times, but the National Potato Council is committed to advocating for our growers on all these fronts. With a unified voice, we can navigate these issues and ensure the continued health and prosperity of the U.S. potato industry.
2025 Potato supply
U.S.potato production in the reporting states is currently expected to match production from the 2024 crop, according to North American Potato Market News’ (NAPMN) estimate as of press time. Though overall production is expected to be relatively stable this year, there have been some significant shifts in production intended for each of the industry sectors.
Table 1 outlines our current usage projections for the 2025 crop, along with a three-year history of usage, as reported by USDA. Please note that relative demand between the industry sectors and market forces could alter the distribution of the 2025 potato crop, relative to our current outlook. In the remainder of this article, we lay out our projections for the various industry sectors in greater detail.
table Potatoes
Program states shipped 84.7 million cwt of table potatoes from the 2024 crop. That is 4.1 million cwt less than they shipped a year earlier. We believe
that supply conditions and market forces will support a 4.3 million cwt increase in 2025 crop-year shipments, to 89 million cwt, a 5% increase. We expect most of the increase in table potato sales to come from Idaho, where some growers planted table potato varieties after receiving processing potato contract reductions.
In addition to increased sales, the product mix could shift toward russets again this year. Low prices and an increase in supply could boost russet table potato movement, which will likely offset red potato sales and possibly yellow potato sales. Early-season red potato shipments are down 22.8% from a year earlier. Red potato shipments will likely fall short of the 2024-25 pace throughout the storage season. Earlyseason yellow potato shipments are running 2.6% behind last year’s pace. Yellow potato shipments from the storage states could be relatively flat this year.
The russet supply situation is complicated by its intersection with the processing industry. Early russet table
potato shipments have been running 7.2% ahead of the 2024 pace. Most of the increased movement is from Idaho. However, shipments have slowed down recently. Packers shipped 1.09 million cwt of russet table potatoes during the week ending Sept. 27. That is 36,000 cwt more than the previous year’s shipments, a 3.4% increase. The Idaho Grower Returns Index fell to $3.10 per cwt by Oct. 1, compared to $7.86 per cwt a year earlier. Fresh shippers from other areas are struggling to compete with those prices. We expect strong russet table potato movement and poor open-market prices throughout most of the season.
Frozen Processing
Processors in the eight reporting states used 163.4 million cwt of potatoes from the 2024 crop for frozen processing. That is 12.7 million cwt less than year-earlier usage, a 7.2% downturn. NAPMN expects fryers to use 170 million cwt of potatoes from the 2025 crop. That is 6.6 million cwt more than last year’s reported usage, a 4.1% increase. We believe the expected increase will be supported by relatively strong domestic and export demand for French fries and other frozen potato products. North American fryers shipped 2.6% more frozen potato products to offshore markets during the year ending June 30 than they did a year earlier. However, North American fryers will likely face strong competition from the European Union and other exporters during the 2025-26 processing season. Global French fry exports have grown by an average of 4.4% per year during the past 10 years.
Despite significant contract reductions for the 2025 crop, we believe that raw product supplies will be abundant again this year due to strong yields in most of the major processing regions. Though local supplies could be tight for processors in the Atlantic Northeast, potatoes may be imported from other regions to cover any supply gaps. North American fryers have expanded their processing capacity during the past several years. If fryers choose to pull potatoes from the table potato pile, processing use for the 2025 crop could exceed our estimate.
table 1. Usage projections for the 2025 potato crop
situation
dehydration
Dehydrators in the reporting states used 42.6 million cwt of potatoes from the 2024 crop. That nearly matched the year-earlier volume, according to USDA reports. We expect dehydrators in the eight reporting states to use 37 million cwt of potatoes from the 2025 crop. That is 5.6 million cwt less than they used from the 2024 crop, a 13.1% reduction. It falls 4 million cwt below the three-year average pace, but it is only 853,000 cwt less than 2022-crop usage.
Though we do not have reliable data for domestic dehydrated product sales, offshore sales have been sluggish.
Reported U.S. potato flake exports during the year ending July 31 fell 30.8% short of the previous year’s sales volume. That was the smallest U.S. potato flake export volume for the period since 2009-10. Most of the U.S. dehy processing capacity is in Idaho. However, growers in Idaho and across the country indicate that there is currently very little dehydrator demand for off-grade potatoes. Dehydrators have made significant contract reductions for both fielddelivery and storage potatoes from the 2025 crop. Dehy processing use could fall short of our estimate if finished-product demand does not pick up.
Other eight states Processing Use
This is the difference between total processing use reported for the eight states and usage reported for dehydration and frozen products. It may include usage at chip plants in the reporting states, as well as other miscellaneous uses. At 15 million cwt, usage in this category would fall by 4.5%.
Other Processing Use
This is the difference between total processing use reported for the program states and usage reported for the eight processing states. This is where most of the program states’ chip potato usage would show up. At 47 million cwt, we are projecting a 747,000 cwt reduction in 2025-crop processing use outside of the eight reporting states. Despite the 1.6% decline, projected usage in this category
exceeds 2022 levels. Chip potato usage could exceed our estimate if storage supplies are sufficient to offset the need for early new-crop potatoes.
seed Potatoes
Reported seed potato shipments from the 2024 crop totaled 20.3 million
By Ben Eborn, Publisher, North American Potato Market News
cwt, down 5.3% from the previous year. Three years of poor prices, due to excess supplies of table and processing potatoes, should encourage acreage reductions in 2026. At 19 million cwt, NAPMN expects seed movement from the program states to decline by 6.3% relative to the 2024 crop.
Key POints
• NAPMN currently forecasts the 2025 U.S. potato crop to match 2024 production due to strong yields in several major growing regions.
• NAPMN expects 2025-crop table potato shipments from the program states to exceed year-earlier movement by 5%.
• Fryers could use 170 million cwt of potatoes from the 2025 crop, 6.6 million cwt more than they used from the 2024 crop.
(published 48 times per year), write or call: P.O.
176, Paris, ID 83261; (208) 525-8397; or email napmn@napmn.com.
the necessity to Compete
By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington
Afew years ago, the frozen processing sector of the potato industry was all up in arms about the discovery that frozen potato products from Europe were being imported into the United States. What started as a trickle of product mainly servicing the cruise ship industry and some minor retail accounts has grown into a firehose of product that
accounted for more than 500 million pounds of product this past year. It now entails multiple new major retail accounts and is starting to get into some minor restaurant chains. The European foothold has gained so much momentum that Agristo (the major importer from Europe) is about to break ground on a plant in North Dakota to better serve its customers and cut down on freight costs. This will also help account for the growing region it sources from in Europe being nearly maxed out due to regulatory and rotation constraints.
The building of a plant in the U.S. is actually a good thing for growers as now they will at least get to supply some of the potatoes that have found their way into this market. As other new processors consider building plants in other parts of North America, I stand by the concept that this is a good thing for growers. Part of the reason I feel this way is that the companies we think of as North American processors also have facilities in these other countries that are looking to expand here. So if it is OK for us to “invade” their growing region, they should have the right to do the same here.
What we don’t need is for a country that used to buy a large amount of North American product to begin processing enough of its own potatoes to meet its domestic needs and then become competition to us in our export markets. This is what is happening with the three fastest growing countries for potato processing: China, India and Egypt.
Given the fact that China and India combined grow more than 40% of the world’s potatoes, it makes sense that they would become involved in processing some of those potatoes at some point. But what has happened is what I described here and what were once significant markets for our
potatoes are now extremely minor, and China and India have become our major competitors in export markets.
Again, I am a firm believer in a free marketplace, and if they can produce an equal or better product at a comparable or lower price, more power to them. However, we as an industry must find a way to compete with them. Whenever this comes up, I am reminded of our mission statement at the Potato Growers of Washington, which is to “provide our customers, the potato processing companies, with the most competitively priced preseason potato contracts in the world.” I believe we have done that over the years as we have met the call from our processing customers to help them be more competitive. However, there is nothing we can do about the strength of the U.S. dollar, the cost of freight or any artificial cost like tariffs. I believe that we need to embrace the world competition and find our niche in this ever-changing marketplace.
The heydays of yesteryear are over and will most likely never return. There will always be a robust market for frozen potato products domestically. But our share of the world market will continue to decline as those areas that have natural advantages will continue to exploit them. I see the industry heading toward the exact opposite of what we saw during the 1990s and early 2000s when the only growth we saw in North America was through exports. Domestic use was nearly flat for more than a decade. Going forward, I see North America processing transitioning to supplying our domestic markets and their forecasted low single-digit increases for the next decade. I believe the current volume of exports will hold steady, but there will be no growth over that timeframe.
