Potato is a popular and important horticultural crop in North Dakota (ND), Minnesota (MN), and the Northern Plains. In 2020, ND ranked third in US acres harvested at about 77,000 acres (+31,130 ha), with a value greater than $223M in 2019 (NASS 2020), ranking fifth for value among all crops in ND. Northern Plains production is -60% processing (French fries/other frozen and chips), with the remainder fresh and certified seed. In 2020, the fresh sector dramatically increased as consumers cooked at home. Potato is management, labor, and input intensive, compared to other crops. North Dakota ranks second and MN seventh for certified seed production, accounting for 18% when combined for US certified seed. In 2020, more than 34% of acres eligible for certification by the North Dakota State Seed Department (NDSSD) were planted to cultivars (and/or selections thereof) and promising advancing selections developed by the NDSU potato breeding program. Similarly, more than 32% of acres eligible in MN were ofcultivars developed at NDSU. The NDSU potato breeding program initiated in 1930 is the core of the potato improvement team, conducting breeding and germplasm enhancement efforts, selection, evaluation, and development of improved cultivars for stakeholder adoption. Our focus is on incorporating durable and long-term resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors, enhanced nutritional and quality attributes, improved economic and environmental sustainabil-ity, high yield potential, and expanded marketability. The primary goal is to aid in reducing input costs for producers, provide high quality raw material for the fresh market, processing and/or industrial applications, and to provide nutritious, flavorful, unique and convenient food choices for consumers, particularly emphasizing the development of early maturing cultivars across all market types due to our short growing season.
展开▼
