Lamb Weston angers Idaho Potato Growers with move towards joint ventures

Lamb Weston, a division of Con-Agra Foods, has decided to grow a larger share of its own potatoes this year through joint ventures or custom-farming arrangements, according to industry officials in Idaho.

The move away from traditional contracts with independent growers has angered many Idaho producers who thought they had acreage commitments for the crop they will plant this spring, said Dan Hargraves, executive director of the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative.

Last fall, ConAgra told its Idaho growers that they could expect a contract for about the same acreage this year as in 2008, Hargraves said.

"Based on that information, growers went ahead and fumigated ground, fertilized ground and made millions of dollars in investments last fall,"Hargraves said.

"ConAgra has not honored one of those commitments to our growers. Not one,"Hargraves said.