The American 'potato state' of Idaho has to deal with low temperatures very early in the season. This while not all potatoes have been harvested yet. Growers try with all their might to save what they can.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), 15% of Idaho's potato acreage was still in the ground as of mid-October. This amounts to approximately 19.000 hectares, divided between French fries and table potatoes and a small portion of seed potatoes.
Extremely low temperatures
For 3 nights in a row, the temperature dropped to about -6,6 degrees Celsius at night. In the most extreme case, the temperature even dropped to -10 degrees. This will certainly damage the potatoes. How exactly this will work out is still unknown. It is unusual for temperatures to drop so far at the end of October. Snow has also fallen locally.
The frost was followed by a few days of warmer weather, but it is now colder again. Another heavy frost is expected before the middle of this week. Growers must leave their frozen potatoes in the ground for at least 10 days before harvesting, so little can happen. Rain also makes harvesting more difficult.
50% frost damage
Insiders estimate that there are actually slightly fewer potatoes in the ground than the ministry describes. The estimates from the sector itself mention more than 7.500 hectares of chip potatoes and another area of table potatoes. Samples show that 50% of affected potatoes are frozen. There is little hope that these potatoes can be processed.
It is a disaster again, not only for growers, but also for the industry. The planting season started late and wet, which meant that growth was not ideal. French fries producers in particular were already dealing with tight supplies. The frost damage further reduces the volume. Factories are obliged to enter the open market and buy table potatoes in order to have sufficient raw material. This has a price-raising effect.
Lower production
Idaho calls itself 'the potato state'. More than 33% of all potatoes in the United States are grown here. The total area is approximately 125.500 hectares and the production is approximately 6,5 million tons. Even before the frost damage, this was 10% lower than average due to a late season. It is also happening elsewhere in the United States weer growers are bothered.