Idaho congressional delegation seeking assistance for potato growers

Idaho's Congressional Delegation is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist potato producers struggling due to a high supply of domestic potatoes and low prices.  In a letter sent to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Administrator, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick are asking USDA to give favorable consideration to a pending request for purchase of fresh surplus potatoes for federal nutrition programs under the Section 32 program.

The Delegation detailed the considerable potato market challenges.  “The growing conditions for the 2009 Idaho potato crop were almost perfect resulting in record yields and excellent quality.  Therefore, the percentage of saleable potatoes is above average this year, and currently Idaho potato stocks on hand are nearly 13.5 percent more than last year’s stocks, despite Idaho shipping 4.5 percent more than 2008 volumes.  This situation has caused prices to drop, and prices have continued to be low for quite some time,” the Delegation wrote