In early fall 2008, potato processors were ready to pay top dollar for the next year's spuds.
The 2009 crop was looking to be lucrative for growers. Then the bottom fell out of the economy and by January, processors were back at the negotiating table, asking growers to accept fewer dollars.
The relationship between grower and processor is symbiotic -- they need each other for survival -- so the growers agreed.
About 87 percent of potatoes harvested in Washington are processed for french fries and similar products.
Although the average contract price increased 20 percent, that was just enough to cover growing operational costs, said Dale Lathim, executive director of the Potato Growers of Washington.
Fewer acres were planted as well. About 145,000 acres were planted for this year's harvest, compared with 155,000 for the 2008 harvest.
It's too early to tell how many acres have been harvested and how many tons of potatoes have been produced.
But Karen Bonaudi, assistant executive director of the Washington Potato Commission, said flatly, "Acreage is down."
Potato harvest is now wrapping up in Washington, where spuds are the state's second-largest crop behind apples. Idaho is the only state that produces more potatoes than Washington.
Washington's 2008 potato crop was valued at $693 million, which was 7 percent higher than 2007, when 10,000 more acres actually were planted.
The Washington Field Office of the National Agriculture Statistics Service does not have any estimates or projections yet for this year's state crop.
Lathim said contract negotiations are ongoing for the 2010 crop and final deals should be reached in January.
"We try to make sure the contracts cover the growers' costs ... and leave some room for profit," he said.
Lathim wouldn't elaborate on specific potato prices, but he said growers are looking at a "reasonable profit margin in 2010."
-- Drew Foster: 509-585-7207; dfoster@tricityherald.com
Similar stories:
Northwest potato crop recovers from slow start
Northwest potato crop recovers from slow start
PENDLETON -- An above-average growing year has pleasantly surprised Columbia Basin potato farmers who saw the season off to a slow start.
Cool spring temperatures caused problems, but good growing temperatures in July, August and September rendered yields of about 35 tons to 40 tons per acre.
Potato grower Greg Juul said this year's crop is of good quality and the few diseases present were manageable, the East Oregonian reported.
Wine grape harvest to be down about 16 percent
Wine grape harvest to be down about 16 percent
With the beginning of harvest a month away, Washington wine grape growers are receiving confirmation of what they have seen in their vineyards: The 2011 crop will be down significantly.
According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture's crop estimate, Washington wine grape harvest will be down about 16 percent, or about 135,000 tons down from a record 160,000 tons last fall. If the estimates are close to what vintners see in September and October, the crop will be at its lowest since 2007, when 127,000 tons were harvested.
"By the time we got to April and May, our initial crop estimates reflected this," said Co Dinn, director of winemaking for Hogue Cellars in Prosser, one of Washington's largest wineries. "We were braced for a big decrease."
Yakima Valley hops industry smarting
Yakima Valley hops industry smarting
MABTON -- Diana Puterbaugh faced some skepticism in 1997 when she launched an online hop-sales business to serve craft and home brewers.
It took a couple of years before her brainchild, Hops Direct LLC, started to see some interest.
Now, the operation she owns and operates from the family's 700-acre farm on Green Valley Road is thriving, selling leaf hops and pellets to buyers around the globe, as far away as Israel.
Washington farmers see high value for 2010 crops
Washington farmers see high value for 2010 crops
YAKIMA -- Higher food prices at the grocery store might not be good news for consumers, but those prices are resulting in big returns for Washington farmers in an industry that is proving to be a bright spot in an otherwise slumping economy.
After two years of disappointing declines, the value of Washington's agricultural production increased 12 percent to $7.93 billion in 2010 -- the second-highest value on record behind only 2007 -- and experts said the good days of agriculture could continue this year.
"There's no reason to think otherwise," said Mike Brady, an agricultural economist at Washington State University in Pullman. "Agriculture is strong, farm incomes are up across the U.S., and ... the processing industries provide a lot of additional value to the region."
Wheat yields all over map this harvest
Wheat yields all over map this harvest
WALLA WALLA -- After a delayed start, the wheat harvest is in full swing throughout Walla Walla County.
After being pushed back by cool temperatures and wet spring weather, farmers have been at work to make up for lost time, reaping hundreds of acres across the county's rolling countryside.
This week, the winter wheat harvest was ongoing and in some places nearly ended while spring wheat harvest was expected to be under way in the next couple of weeks. In Umatilla County, wheat harvest was also reported fully under way.
Print
Email Story
