By Blake Jackson
Farmers in Wisconsin are delaying the potato harvest due to unseasonably warm weather. The heat increases the risk of disease and can make it difficult to properly cool the potatoes for storage.
Producers are targeting October 15 as the cutoff date to get the crop out of the ground, but some farms are harvesting early in the morning to take advantage of cooler temperatures.
The state is expected to bring in an average yield this year despite the prolonged drought conditions. The use of irrigation has helped to mitigate the lack of precipitation, but it has also lowered water levels at some lakes in the Central Sands region.
Wisconsin is the third-largest potato producer in the U.S., but it is facing increased competition from Idaho. Idaho reported an additional 35,000 acres planted this year to meet demand from recently expanded processing plants.
Despite the competition, Houlihan expects to see some farmers in Wisconsin grow their production in the near future to meet increased demand from the food service industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-npantos
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Harvesting