Report shows flat Idaho potato production costs

A new University of Idaho economic report shows potato procution costs have held steady.

UI Extension Economist Paul Patterson estimates southwestern Idaho growers invested $6.79 per hundredweight, down 1.3 percent from 2012. Southeast Idaho growers saw a 0.3 percent decrease, with a $6.52 production cost, and Southcentral Idaho growers invested $6.74, up 0.7 percent.

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His model farm raises Russet Burbanks — without fumigation in southcentral and southeast Idaho.

Patterson explained cheaper seed potatoes and fertilizer kept production costs in check.