Wheat commission meetings planned

BOISE — The spring Idaho Wheat Commission meeting and Research Review will be held in Boise next week, according to a news release.

The regular commission meeting will be at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the commission building, located at 821 W. State St. in Boise.

Agenda items will include a review of financial statements, marketing and education and communications updates, as well as industry updates from industry partners.

The commission’s research review will be at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place Inspire Room, located at 1000 W. Myrtle St. in Boise.

The research review will cover research proposals submitted to the commission by the University of Idaho College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and other research entities. Research proposals will include topics such as wheat variety improvement research, capital outlay and research equipment, and weed and pest mitigation research.

All interested producers are welcome to attend. If hearing impaired or handicapped, assistance will be provided upon request. Teleconferencing services through are also available upon request. For additional information call 208-334-2353.

Idaho NW potato crop increases a bit

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Potatoes planted in Idaho totaled 315,000 acres, up 2 percent from 2017, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Harvested area, at 315,000 acres, is up 2 percent from last year. Production totaled 140 million cwt, up 4 percent from 2017. Yield is estimated at 445 cwt per acre, up 10 cwt from the previous year.

Potato production in the rest of the Northwest Region also was up, NASS reported.

In Oregon, potatoes planted totaled 46,000 acres, unchanged from 2017. Harvested area, at 46,000 acres is up slightly from last year. Production totaled 28.1 million cwt, up 11 percent, while yield is estimated at 610 cwt per acre, up 60 cwt from 2017.

Potato planted in Washington totaled 165,000 acres unchanged from 2017. Harvested area, at 165,000 acres, up 1 percent. Production totaled 106 million cwt, up 6 percent, while yield is estimated at 640 cwt per acre, up 35 cwt from 2017.