Wisconsin growers weather dry spells, prepare for high-quality potato crop

Despite a stretch of abnormally dry weather this summer, high-quality product and average yields are anticipated for Wisconsin potatoes.

The potato planting season this year was delayed a week to 10 days due to cold weather, said Dana Rady, director of promotion, communication and consumer education for the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, Antigo, Wis.

That cold weather was followed by warmer temperatures in May. By late May and early June there was a long stretch of dry weather with warm temperatures, she said, with nearly 90% of the state abnormally dry the first week of June.

“There was some welcome rainfall in mid-June and mid-July, but hot temperatures have taken the top off of potential high yields,” Rady said. “With consistent irrigation, however, the crop is looking good, with high-quality and average yields.”

Growers are expecting average yields of about 420 cwt per acre, she said. Generally, potato harvest runs from late July into October. 

Wisconsin shippers move potatoes every month of the year. In the calendar year 2022, Wisconsin shippers moved 7.14 million cwt of potatoes, with peak shipments in November.

Potato acreage is also expected to be flat compared with last year's 66,500 acres, with some shifts between red and yellow varieties, Rady said.

Roughly 38% of Wisconsin’s 2022 crop went to the fresh market, she said. A small percentage of the state’s potato output is grown organically, she said.

“Yellows continue to be in high demand and are surpassing red varieties in the market, which has been a unique shift,” Rady said. “Russets continue to be a favorite, especially around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Consumers are also gravitating toward smaller pack sizes in general.”

Rady said water availability ranks high among growers’ concerns.

“Irrigation has saved the crop this year in spite of drought conditions throughout the state of Wisconsin,” she said.

Labor is also a challenge, with help hard to find especially during planting and harvest seasons.

On the bright side, prices have been firm in the 2022-23 season.

“While supply has been tight, overall demand and prices have been quite good,” Rady said.

Marketing Wisconsin potatoes

Rady said the association has a new set of objectives as part of its overall marketing plan.

“Our activities are centered around supporting that strategic framework,” Rady said.

Some of the activities include the association’s Spudmobile being on the road again, producing another video campaign with Spudly, the group’s mascot, and new marketing efforts for its Healthy Grown program that are both grower- and consumer-facing.

“We will also be working again with the grilling duo, Mad Dog and Merrill, revamping our consumer and trade websites and contributing to the Farming for the Future Foundation — Food and Farm Exploration Center, to name a few,” she said.