MALTA, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Idaho is famous for it’s potato industry, being one of the leading providers in the country. but there is a forecasted potato acreage decrease.
“The potato is an important crop in Southern Idaho,” Brian Hansen, a potato farmer from the Magic Valley, said.
Hansen knows how important the potato industry is to the world.
“Potatoes are one of the biggest vegetables in the United States. They have a big impact on economies all over the world. People love potato products, from french fries to baked potatoes to, you name it, hash browns,” Hansen said.
Although potatoes have always been an easy sell, The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation is predicting a decrease in acreage for 2025, and one of the states affected is Idaho.
“This is just a forecast, but they’re forecast to be down 5% in Idaho from 315,000 acres last year to 300,000 acres this year,” Sean Ellis, Spokesperson for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, explained.
This will be the smallest acreage since 1952.
Ellis explains that the reason for this predicted decrease is basic economics.
“Depending on what the supply and demand situation is. So right now, basically, there’s more supply in the pipeline than there is demand,” Ellis said.
According to the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, major processors for frozen potatoes cut contracts significantly this year, ranging from 5% to 15%, with some farmers being zeroed out completely, leaving them with the next question on what to do next.
“Some of the other options are corn for dairies, and sometimes that can be a good option. Barley, sugar beets are limited, but can be an option as well,” Hansen said.
Ellis also says that usually farmers grow other crops than just potatoes.
This decrease in contract acres also opens the possibility of more open-market potatoes that some farmers impacted might turn to.
“You know, the table potatoes, the bakers, the potatoes that people take home and supply someone cook themselves. So they may grow more of those this year,” Ellis said.
The decrease doesn’t mean that there won’t be enough potatoes, in fact the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation says there will be plenty to go around.
“Idaho is still going to produce about 13 to 14 billion pounds of potatoes this year. So don’t get me wrong, there’s not going to be, there’ll be plenty of potatoes,” Ellis explained.
The bottom is that while farmers will notice the change, the consumer won’t.
“People won’t notice that, you know, your prices are not going to go up way up or way down. Just because of the acreage shift, it’s not going to have a monumental effect on, you know, availability of potato products or prices,” Ellis stated.
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