Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1911 — POTATO PROFITS IN IDAHO [ARTICLE]

POTATO PROFITS IN IDAHO

taken into account as a producer of profit for the man who tills the soiL We hear about the• romance of Wheal, the kingly rule of Corn, the commercial dignity of Oats and Alfalfa, of Barley and Rye, and we count them as sources of great wealth for those who make the earth their servant .. —■—L ... - But, granting to the grains and forages the credit that is due, there are wide stretches of land in Idaho producing cash yields from potatoes that make tho average grain production of states farther east appear exceedingly small. And there are so many more acres, of the same kind, that have not yet been given a chance to show what they can do, that the money-making possibilities of Idaho, so far as potatoes alone are concerned, cannot bo estimated. Idaho won national publicity in 1910 as the result of the awarding of prises of 8500 and 3250, given by Mr. D. E. Burley of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the best and second best yields of potatoes produced on a single acre of land in territory tributary to the Oregon Short Line, Pacific & Idaho Northern, Idaho Northern, Idaho Southern and Payette Valley railroads. The Oregon Short Line, together with the affiliated lines mentioned above, traverses the states of Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Wyoming, so it will be readily seen that the winning of prizes for which there were competitors from so wide a territory was an accomplishment of great importance to the vic-' torious state and of lasting credit to" the successful growers. The results of this contest, participated in by so many of the most progressive farmers in the prescribed district, were amaxing, and the following account of those results, with figures showing what the returns signify in the matter of profits from the land, should prove interesting to everyone concerned in agricultural affairs. Through Mr. L. A. Snyder, the first prize of 3500 was won by Twin Falls county, Idaho, with the “Dalmeny Challenge” variety of potatoes. The second prize of 8250 went to Canyqn county, Idaho, through Mr. W. B. Gilmore, with the "Peachblow” variety. On his winning acre of Idaho land Mr. Snyder raised 645 bushels of potatoes, weighing 38,685 pounds. The culls weighed 4,150 pounds, leaving 84,535 pounds of the finest marketable potatoes, or about 575 bushels. At 70 cents per 100 pounds, or 41 cents per bushel, the price Mr. Snyder received, the one prize acre produced in money, therefore, the sum of 8241.74, besides the 4,150 pounds, or almost 70 bushels, in culls, which were available for home use. Mr. Snyder has given to the Commercial Club of Twin Falls some further facts showing the possibilities of potato raising in his section of the country. He reports that from three acres of land he harvested 895 sacks of potatoes, averaging 110 pounds to the sack. He sold 1,500 bushels at 42 cents per bushel, receiving 3630, and he had 75 sacks left for seed. An average gross profit of 8210 per acre, when we consider how much smaller is the average gross profit from an acte of grain, gives the reader a fair idea of what the intensive potato farming opportunities of Idaho really are. Going a little more extensively into figures, we may safely presume that the average family of, say. five persons consumes about five pounds of potatoes per day. That ought to be a liberal estimate —a pound of potatoes per day for each member of the family, large or small. The 38,685 pounds of potatoes raised by Mr. Snyder on his prize acre of Idaho land would, therefore, supply the potato needs of more than 22 such families for a year, allowing each family 1,725 pounds, or 38% bushels. It is fair to say that a 330 gross yield from an acre of wheat is a good return. So we see that Mr. Snyder's prize acre of potato land brought forth as much money as would eight acres of wheat land. If Mr. Snyder were to realize from ten acres of his potato land as well as he did from the three acres which gave him 8630, he would have 82,100 at the end of season, besides more, than enough spuds for his own use and for the next season’s planting. There’s “real money” in Idaho potatoes. “The combination that won the Burley prize.” says Mr. Snyder, "was the most productive soil in the West, climate unexcelled, plenty of water for irrigation at all times, one of the best varieties of spuds, and a man with some experience and not afraid of work.” His words make clear the advantages and possibilities of the Oregon Short Line country. All of the farmers who entered the contest in which Mr. Snyder carried off first honor came out wonderfully well. Mr. Gilmore harvested 37,476 pounds of "Peachblow*' potatoes from the acre that won for him the second prize, and many others were dose competitors. Added encouragement for those who have never tried potato growing as a profit-making business is found in the fact that Mr. Snyder's potato experience began only five years ago. Up to 1905, when be moved to Idaho, he had lived upon cattle and hay ranches, had engaged in dairy, livery and mining work, but had not had experience as a farmer. He took up potato growing in Idaho . because he thought it offered an agreeable and profitable occupation, and he has made

the results of each year better than those ot the year before. Speaking a short time ago, Mr. Snyder said: “I have always said that we bave the best irrigated country in the United States. Mr. Burley gave us a chance to prove it, and It was as much the opportunity of showing that we could make good, as the money, which ihdnoed me to go into this competition.” Notwithstanding his achievement, Mr. Snyder does not believe that his record will stand. He has too great a faith in the potato Industry and in Idaho to permit such an opinion. "I do not think we have reached the limit, by a long way," he remarks, confidently, and there are thousands who are familiar with that country who are ready to echo the assertion.. The fact is that large profits from potato raising in Idaho are the rule, not the exception. H. P. Frodsham, a farmer in the American Falls district, commonly takes 500 bushels from an acre, his yield per acre thus being, at 42 cents per bushel, 3210. Someone who knows the conditions in and the possibilities of Idaho has said that “it is a maxim in southern Idaho that the new settler, with little or no capital or implements, but with a willingness to work, can plant pota'toes on his irrigated farm the first year and make a good living for his family, besides laying aside money to make all necessary payments on his land.”

William B. Kelley, who owns a ranch near Gooding, says: “We get so many potatoes to the acre that we don't stop to count the sacks.” Samuel Lewis, also living near Gooding, reports as follows: “Potatoes grow large and thick. Six potatoes from my field weighed 21 pounds. The crop runs 500 to 600 bushels to the acre, and can aways be depended upon.” The price received by Mr. Snyder for his prize-winning potatoes does not by any means represent the “top” of the Idaho market. Much higher prices have been commanded st various times, yet at the 42-cent rate received by Mr. Snyder his profits were very large. Scores of Instances may be cited to show what the lands of Idaho hold in store for those who will put forth the effort that must'precede success.

Those who have succeeded in this one task of potato raising, trace their accomplishments to industry, -of course, and to a study of conditions and needs. But they could not have reaped such harvests if industry and determination had not been fortified by ideal conditions of climate and soil. Such conditions prevail in the agricultural districts of Idaho. There the ground is rich and eager. There the climate is conducive to the outdoor task. There the scheme of irrigation has been so well prepared and is so unfailing in its supply that growing crops have water when they need it. With water, sunshine and cultivation to bless the crops at proper intervals, the growing of potatoes, or any other agricultural or horticultural Industry in Idaho, is as sure of abundant cash returns as any of man's tasks can be.