The North Dakota and Minnesota potato crop appears to be in reasonable problem as harvest gets underway.
There are some areas that look good and some that are poor since they have actually been damaged by damaging weather condition, such as solid winds, claimed Andy Robinson, North Dakota State College and University Expansion agronomist. The winds– some approximately 100 mph in central North Dakota– fractured the stems of potatoes which permitted bacteria to enter, leading to damage to the plants.
In general, the potato crop in North Dakota and Minnesota likely will be average, Robinson claimed.
North Dakota farmers are expected to collect 71, 000 acres of potatoes this year, 1, 500 less than last year, the the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service claimed in its June planting report. In Minnesota 2025 gathered acreage was estimated at 40, 500, down from 42, 600 in 2024
Complete U.S. collected potato property is pegged at 912, 000, down 18, 000 acres from 2024, NASS claimed.
In North Dakota, the potato crop was ranked 12 % fair, 71 % excellent and 17 % excellent since Aug. 24, 2025, NASS stated. Minnesota’s potato plant was rated 3 % reasonable, 68 % excellent and 29 % superb since Aug. 24, the agency stated. [
*****]
Sander Dagen, that possesses Dagen Heritage Farms near Karlstad, Minnesota, with his daddy, Justin, is hopeful that returns of their licensed seed potatoes will be average to above standard.
The Dagens grew 12 selections of Russet, red, yellow and round, white damaging seed potatoes on 550 acres. Dagen Heritage Farms will certainly market their qualified seed potatoes to farmers in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington and Massachusetts.
Rainfall this summertime in northwest Minnesota, where the Dagens raise their potatoes, was sporadic.
After a fairly dry June, good rains dropped in July, but in August, when the plant was “bulking” or adding weight to the tubers, it transformed dry once again, Dagen said.
“Return is still being established, depending on if we get any kind of rain,” he said on Aug. 28, 2025
On the other hand, Dagen is pleased with the high quality of Dagen Heritage Farms’ seed potatoes.
” I think the quality is going to be a few of the most effective we have actually had in 5 years,” he stated.
Dagen Heritage Farms planned to start gathering early season potato selections Sept. 3, 2025
The seed potato harvest generally lasts a number of weeks, wrapping up in mid-October.
Statewide, 15 % of Minnesota’s potato plant had actually been gathered since Aug. 24, 2025, according to NASS. [
*****]
In North Dakota, the potato harvest had not yet begun as of late August.
Carl Hoverson, who farms with his boys Casey and Mike, plans on releasing the potato harvest on Sept. 10 Hoverson Farms, near Larimore, annually raises regarding 5, 400 acres of potatoes in the Red River Valley.
Climate damage to the crop was very little this summer, Hoverson claimed.
Hoverson Farms anticipates that this year’s potato crop will certainly be typical to above average.
“I assume, overall, it’s good,” Hoverson claimed. “If annually would certainly be like this set, it would certainly be ideal,” he stated.
Ann is a journalism veteran with almost 40 years of reporting and editing and enhancing experiences on a range of topics including agriculture and company. Tale ideas or inquiries can be sent out to Ann by email at: [email protected] or phone at: 218 – 779 – 8093