Idaho potato production faces setbacks from low prices and water scarcity

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Another Idaho potato harvest is coming to an end, but farmers faced several challenges getting this year's crop out of the ground.

Sean Ellis from the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation says farmers planted about 300,000 acres of potatoes this year, down from roughly 315,000 acres last year. The decrease was driven by several factors, including water availability and potato prices.

"There's a combination of pricing and the water situation, and I would say pricing was the biggest factor," Ellis said.

The smaller crop also comes after a year of strong production. Last year's large supply left farmers with an excess of potatoes, pushing prices lower.

“They were so good at producing potatoes, they produced a huge supply of potatoes,” Ellis said, “And there's too many potatoes. So the price they get goes down, and it'll correct itself. It's a cyclical thing.”

Water was another major concern this growing season. Idaho experienced a difficult snow season last winter, leading to concerns about water supplies heading into the growing season.

Potatoes are considered a high-water crop, making water availability especially important for farmers.

"Certainly water had a major impact this year in Idaho for farmers," Ellis said.

Despite the challenges, Idaho remains one of the country's leading potato-producing states.

"We're still the major player in potato production in the US. And we're still going to produce a lot of potatoes. So there's not going to be any shortage of potatoes or French fries," Ellis said.