Potato Bytes 05.10.2022
News from the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
Serving the potato industry in
North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.
NASS
Planting Falls Way Behind In North Dakota and Minnesota

Last year at this time, 39% of North Dakota potatoes had been planted. So far this year, no potatoes have been reported planted in the latest USDA-NASS Crop Progress & Condition Report. Average potato planting progress for this date is 24% complete.

Things aren't much better in Minnesota where only 8% of the potato crop has been planted. That compares to 74% last year and 54% average.

Other North Dakota Crops
Spring wheat planted was 8%, well behind 63% last year and 37% for the
five-year average. Durum wheat planted was 3%, well behind 37% last year and 23% average. Corn planted was 1%, well behind 33% last year, and behind 18% average. Canola planted was 2%, behind 18% last year and 14% average. Sugarbeets planted was 2%, well behind 91% last year and 62% average. Oats planted was 11%, well behind 47% last year and 32% average. Barley planted was 6%, well behind 60% last year and 33% average. Dry edible peas planted was 4%, well behind 43% last year and 32% average. Flaxseed planted was 3%, behind 14% last year and 10% average.

Other Minnesota Crops
Corn planting reached 9% complete, compared to 48% last year and the 5-year average of 81%. Soybean planting was 2% complete, compared to 59% last year and the 5-year average of 25%. Planting progress for spring wheat is at 2%, compared to 93% last year and 63% average. Oats at 23% compares to 86% last year and 58% average. Barley at 5% planted, compared to 85% last year and 43% average. Sugarbeets at 8% planted compares to 59% last year and 25% average.

The entire Northern Plains has been plagued by below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation this spring.
Register for the 2022 NPC Summer Meeting!


This year’s National Potato Council (NPC) Summer Meeting is co-hosted by 2022 President Jared Balcom (Pasco, Wash.), 2021 President Dominic LaJoie (Van Buren, Maine), and 2020 President Britt Raybould (St. Anthony, Idaho).

The 2022 NPC Summer Meeting will be attended by potato growers and industry leaders from all major production areas in the United States. Attendees establish and implement potato industry public policy priorities on a national level. Discussions will be held on top issues for the potato industry such as trade policy, immigration and transportation. The business of NPC will be conducted at committee meetings and Board of Directors Meeting.
 
The day after the Summer Meeting, on Saturday, June 18, there will be a PILI Alumni Summit and a Potato LEAF Pedal Bar Party. Stay for the weekend to make the most if your trip. Find out more here
Potato Bytes Landmark Trivia

Last Week's Famous Landmark


Last week's Trivia landmark was the Venus de Milo statue (sometimes called the Aphrodite de Milos). It is one of the most recognizable pieces of ancient art in the world. The marble statue was created in Greece between 150 and 125 BC and is currently displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

It was answered correctly by Karen Radke, Brett Miller, Dorothy Viker, Vicky Boyd, Patrick Beauzay, Keith Bjorneby, James Staricka, Butch Kraska, Geoff Price, Duane Maatz and James Troyer.

Name this Famous Landmark

Send your answer in by clicking on the red tab below.


All those answering correctly will be recognized in the next Potato Bytes.
USDA to Gather Information About Adoption of Conservation Practices

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey beginning May 30 to 1,068 North Dakota farmers and ranchers. The new survey is a joint project between NASS and
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) aimed at better understanding conservation practice adoption and the role of technical and financial assistance. The survey results will be used to guide the implementation of NRCS programs in the future.

There are two versions of the survey this year – one requesting information on crop conservation practices and one for confined livestock conservation practices. If NASS does not receive producers’ completed surveys by June 13, they may reach out to schedule telephone interviews.

“Gathering information about farmers’ and ranchers’ motivation for and adoption of conservation practices allows USDA to understand the use and awareness of its programs,” said Darin Jantzi, NASS’s North Dakota State Statistician. “Effective implementation of USDA programs helps both producers and conservation efforts.”

NASS encourages recipients to respond securely online at www.agcounts.usda.gov, using the 12-digit survey code mailed with the survey. Producers responding online will now use NASS’s new Respondent Portal. On the portal, producers can complete their surveys, access data visualizations and reports of interest, link to other USDA agencies, get a local weather update and more. Completed questionnaires may also be mailed back in the prepaid envelope provided.

Results from both versions of the survey will be available Sept. 15, 2022, at
nass.usda.gov and in NASS’s Quick Stats database at quickstats.nass.usda.gov.
Coming Events @ a Glance


May 21 - 24

June 16 - 17

July 21
  • NPPGA Golf Open - Grafton, ND

August 25

September 6 - 10