Aug 24, 2022Red River Valley fresh crop expected to rebound this year
After two straight disappointing years, the Red River Valley (RRV) is expected to produce a more normal-sized fresh crop this fall.
Weather played a large part in declining red production each of the last two years. Coupled with declining acres, the 2020 and 2021 red crops each fell more than 25% below the 5-year average.
Big increases in RRV yellow planted acres each of the past two years caused yellow potato production to be up substantially despite weather challenges.
This year, many potatoes went in late after a cool, wet spring, but the crop progress has pretty much returned to average levels with near ideal weather conditions over the summer.
Barring any surprises from Mother Nature this fall, look for reds and yellows to both be up this year with possibly the largest fresh crop in the Red River Valley since 2014. How does this fit in with the national forecast? With heat stress in the West and fresh acres shifting to processing, demand could potentially be favorable.
– Ted Kreis, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
