Washington State Potato Seed Report 2023

A total of 3,320 acres of seed potatoes entered certification during the 2023 growing season. This is a 416-acre decrease from last year.

Top varieties grown included Ciklamen, 488 acres; Russet Burbank, 315 acres; Chieftain, 259 acres; and other proprietary varieties.

The total acres planted include 155 different potato varieties ranging in size, anywhere from partial-acre plots to 68- acre fields. Most seed lots are less than 20 acres and include numbered clones, table stock, processing and heirloom varieties.

Acreage decreased due to one grower exiting the certification program.

Harvesting in the northwest part of the state is currently 90% completed, while the eastern region is almost 25% completed and going steady. Digging was finished around the third week of October.

Yields are high with very good tuber quality. Weather has been conducive for a smooth harvest with relatively mild weather and occasional late-season rains. Although a very dry growing season, plants maintained vigor throughout and were healthy on inspection.

Very little precipitation occurred during the actual growing season, resulting in very dry soil and required irrigating killed/shredded fields immediately prior to harvest. Harvest weather has been dry and cool.

The plants inspected had high vigor with low disease incidence. Yields have been average with very few oversized tubers.

Washington State Certified seed growers submitted seed lot samples for the postharvest test that will continue in Hawaii.

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— Benita Matheson, Plant Services supervisor, Washington Department of Agriculture