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WV landowners urged to grow potatoes

State Agriculture Commissioner Helmick envisions potatoes in 50 of 55 counties

 

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Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick is on a mission to create jobs by convincing West Virginian landowners to produce potatoes  lots of potatoes.

         Helmick plans to help West Virginians with tillable land plant five, 10 or 15 acres of potatoes at a time. He envisions an average of 60 acres planted in potatoes in 50 of the states 55 counties this year.

         That would total 3,000 acres.

         Compared to the big guys  the states of Idaho and Washington  that is a pittance, Helmick said. However, its big for us.

         The 2012 Census of Agriculture found that just 335 acres in West Virginia were devoted to potato production. Idaho harvested potatoes from 345,217 acres that year. Washington had 163,925 acres of potatoes.

         The big guys get 1,000 bushels an acre, Helmick said. We think we can get 400 bushels to the acre.

         Last year the state Agriculture Department contracted with Black Gold Farms of Grand Forks, N.D., to test grow 14 varieties of potatoes on department-owned land at Lakin and Huttonsville. Black Gold reported that the Atlantic and Snowden varieties produced particularly good yields at Lakin.

         Atlantic and Snowden potatoes have white flesh. They are primarily processed into potato chips.

         Weve learned a great deal but we also had our eyes opened to a number of issues we have to address, none of which we feel are insurmountable, Helmick said.

         The Black Gold analysis says the Lakin property  we like to call it our western property, on the Ohio River  is quality land. We know we can grow white potatoes, cabbage, corn and a number of products on land on the western side of the state. Thats what weve determined from the analytical work that Black Gold did.

         They also said that the land in Randolph County, our Huttonsville land, would be a challenge. They pointed out things we need to know as we move forward in north-central West Virginia and Randolph County and all of eastern West Virginia.

         Black Gold said nitrogen needs to be added to the Huttonsville soil. The analysis also opens our eyes to the fact we have to maintain the volume of water more closely than we had anticipated, Helmick said. Obviously its ideal if you can just plant the potatoes and the good Lord will give you enough water every day. Thats not the way its going to work. We know were going to have to start looking at an irrigation system.

         This year we will do what Black Gold told us to do and we look to have a significant crop, he said. Were going to plant some different varieties. But the work we do at the Department of Agriculture is now and will always be just a guide to private growers.

         As time moves on we want private growers throughout West Virginia growing the product. We want to help them learn how to grow different products.

         Helmick envisions landowners interested in growing potatoes contacting his office and having a West Virginia University or West Virginia State University extension agent verify that the landowner has suitable property.

         Because you cant buy a tractor to plant 10 acres, Helmick wants to enlist farm-equipment dealers to provide tractors and other equipment needed to plant potatoes.  He envisions the landowners paying a fee for the services.

         A local conservation district supervisor would oversee the operation for the first one, two or three summers, Helmick said.

         Well also teach them (landowners) the financial end of it  not only how to grow it but how to grow it to where its economically feasible to make a job of it and create a job that will see an improved lifestyle, Helmick said.

         Were not going to invent a wheel. What were doing is going back and re-inventing something that was once there, using modern technology. The technology that was used when agriculture was abandoned in West Virginia in the 1930s and 40s and somewhat in the 50s was totally different. Modern technology will allow us to get more product per acre. It will also teach us to grow inside product. But right now, in this coming year, were going to focus on the potato industry.

         If Helmick succeeds in having potatoes grown on 3,000 acres and the average yield is 400 bushels per acre, the crop will total 1.2 million bushels of potatoes.

         Weve never seen that many potatoes in West Virginia, he said. Were going to have to figure out where were going to sell all of these.

         There is time between now and the harvest to resolve that issue, Helmick said. He thinks growers will find a ready market.

         Americans consume 128 pounds of potatoes per capita annually. In West Virginia, thats 237 million pounds of potatoes.

         The Department of Agriculture has provided potatoes to correction facilities and other state agencies for many years. Helmick thinks West Virginia schools, colleges and universities are large potential markets.

         The price state agencies pay Helmicks department for potatoes is based on the wholesale price determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

         Price could be a critical issue for growers who sell potatoes in the competitive open market. An article in the July 9, 2014, issue of the Idaho Falls Post Register noted that the market price at that time was below the cost of production.

         Last year the state Agriculture Department bought a potato-processing machine and installed it at the departments Huttonsville farm. The machine washes and dries potatoes, sorts them in three sizes, and bags them. The department also bought a potato digger to help with harvests. In addition, Helmick is thinking about buying some portable equipment.

         Helmick likes to call growing and selling produce in West Virginia a $6-billion-dollar opportunity. Its a reference to the fact that less than $1 billion of the $7.3 billion worth of food consumed annually by West Virginians is raised in the state.

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