02/13/06 Spud growers told to think less is more

Washington Ag February 13, 2006 Potato growers at last week's Washington State Potato Conference were told to think less is more when it comes to planting for the 2006 crop. That message was delivered by Idaho grower Albert Wada representing the United Potato Growers of America. Wada: "If we go back to our historical habit of planting, for instance 2004 and prior three years, and we don't have major widespread weather problems like we did across the country last year that really added to the reduced supply, we will again, not maybe, we will definitely over produce by 12 million hundredweight in the U.S. and 20 million in North America." Which Wada said would lead to another price wreck. He said if the cooperative movement and its supply-management programs were responsible for only half of the increase seen in potato prices this past season, cooperative participants have seen a huge return on investment. Wada: "Gone from about a $2 fresh price to roughly if you take a national average it is probably above a $6 fresh average. So three or four times 2004 pricing" Wada described himself as a missionary going around the country trying to convert growers into becoming believers in the United Cooperative concept. I'm Bob Hoff.