Growing potato seed requires time and precision | News

STAPLES, Minn. — 2024 marks 60 years of business for R.D. Offutt Farms. The company, which includes several commercial potato farms in the Midwest along with two seed farms, prides itself in farming responsibly. In 2023, their Twin Rivers Seed Farm located in Staples, Minn. received the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. As with the lengthy process of growing seed, conservation practices require efforts the company believes is worth the commitment.

Ron Offutt is the company’s founder and started by farming potatoes with his father, explained Jennifer Maleitzke, Director of Communications and External Affairs. Many of the potatoes in Minnesota go to Lamb Weston’s processing facility that Offutt actually built in 1981. Maleitzke explained products vary depending on consumer demand, and include french fries from quick-serve restaurants and also the Simply Potatoes products made by Michael Foods.

“We grow all of our own seed,” Maleitzke stated. Growing potato seed is a multi-year process. Agronomist and R.D. Offutt Farm’s Midwest Regional Seed Farm Manager, Jon Gilley, explained he is currently purchasing mini-tubers which will not be planted in the field for commercial production until 2029. “It’s a four year process for us, and a five year process overall,” he stated.

The potatoes grown at R.D. Offutt Farms are all russets, and the varieties grown depend on different factors. Gilley stated, for example, some varieties make excellent french fries straight out of the field, but don’t store well, while others will store for eight or nine months.

Gilley noted the selection process for potatoes is incredibly complex. “A new variety every 10 or 15 years is considered a success.” And while he stated potatoes have a lengthier seed process in relation to other crops, R.D. Offutt Farm’s production time frame is actually a bit shorter than others in the United States. This aids in the challenge of forecasting the economy and determining customer preference in future years. 

After two years at a farm in north central Nebraska, the seed is moved to Staples, Minn. for its final year of seed production before going to the commercial farms.

Charlie “Jake” Jacobson is the farm manager at Twin Rivers Seed Farm, and has just started his twenty-fifth year with the company this fall. He explained the general rule of thumb is that one of their acres will produce enough seed for 25 acres elsewhere, and so Twin Rivers produces seed for about 25,000 commercial acres.

“At every step along the way, the seed is inspected,” Gilley stated. Along with testing completed by the state, the seed is taken to Hawaii for disease testing. He noted the strength of clonal propagation is that the end product is very predictable and uniform. A risk is that if a disease is introduced, it is actively multiplied down the line. “So you have to be tidy, isolated, clean,” Gilley stated. He explained the seed farms are all about quality, planning, attention to detail, and with nothing out of place.

Though the potato seed makes the trip to Hawaii, Gilley stated an advantage seed companies have with other crops is the ability to ship to countries in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Chile. “They’re dealing with pounds, and we deal with tons,” he stated.

Besides R.D. Offutt Farms’ commitment to their seed process, the company is also dedicated to regenerative farming practices which include long crop rotation, cover crops, and minimum tillage.

Gilley stated, “We’re mostly on four or five-year rotations or longer to keep soil diseases low.” Jacobson stated their trade partners grow the other crops: corn (though they prefer not to follow this crop), soybeans, edible beans, and small grains. The extended rotation also helps the partners by introducing another crop.

Cover crop options include rye, oats, barley, and winter wheat. Jacobson noted rye is a favorite. “We do not plant until late May, so we get a real nice comeback on our rye. They can get up to a foot tall or even taller by the time we have to get into it. So rye works very good for us.” Jacobson added they don’t use rye with all crops as it can be more competitive.

The Staples farm implements minimum tillage, and they do not complete any fall tillage. On a few of their fields, Jacobson noted they may have to disc in the cover crop seed. They try to use a no till drill for at least half; and when time constraints require it, have it broadcast spread. They may then opt to have a fertilizer spread with it, such as potash or lime. “In the spring, our tillage is usually one pass with a chisel plow. Once again, the cover crop really helps — keeps the ground softer,” Jacobson noted.

Twin Rivers Seed Farm’s aim to protect water quality also includes irrigation management and the responsible use of crop inputs. Jacobson stated he’s grateful to the company to have all the tools available to do things right. He noted excess moisture can be a problem — especially for seed potatoes, and so they check moisture in the fields every day and only water as needed.

Jacobson and Gilley are both pleased to have reduced the farm’s nitrogen use significantly by applying precisely and at the right moment. Waiting until mid or late June avoids the earlier rains. “We don’t put any nitrogen on until the plant needs it basically,” Jacobson stated, and added they’ve also been able to maintain their yields.

Jacobson noted the work is worth the effort as the returns are well above the amount put in. Proud of the work R.D. Offutt Farms does, Gilley also emphasized, “The farm doesn’t farm in a vacuum. The industry supports us.” Noted academic partners include Dr. Susie Thompson, Dr. Ian MacRae, Dr. Carl Rosen, Dr. Andy Robinson, and Keith Olander.

For more information on R.D. Offutt Farms, visit rdoffuttfarms.com.