Oct 3, 2025Warm weather slows potato harvesting in Red River Valley
A recent wave of warm weather has slowed potato harvesting in North Dakota and Minnesota, dropping progress in both states below the five-year average.
With daily highs reaching 80° F — about 15 degrees above average — afternoon temperatures are too warm to put freshly dug potatoes into storage, forcing harvesters to stop working by noon or earlier, according to the Northland Potato Growers Association.
For the week ending Sept. 28, USDA Crop Progress Report showed the North Dakota Harvest at 55% complete, below the five-year average of 61%. In Minnesota, harvest is 62% complete, 6 points behind the five-year average.
The North Dakota crop rates at 17% excellent, 62% good, 20% fair and 1% poor.
The story is the same in Michigan, where approximately one-third of the state’s potato crop is in storage. With warm weather forecast for the next week, reports indicate yields slightly below average, according to the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.
Chip potato solids are below average, with growers concerned about the longevity of this year’s storage potato crop in the face of hot, dry harvest conditions. Chip manufacturers have indicated that they may trim contract volumes in the early southern growing regions.
