As Wisconsin’s potato industry prepares for the annual Grower Education Conference & Industry Show next week, a shadow of oversupply looms over the national market. While Wisconsin farmers have managed to maintain steadier prices than their Western counterparts, record yields and excess processing stocks have had a downward effect on open-market values nationwide.
In major producing regions like Idaho, uncontracted potatoes are currently fetching as little as $2.00 to $3.00 per hundredweight, says WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan.
He says this is a figure that falls well below the estimated $12.00 required to break even. This surplus is largely due to Western growers diverting excess processing potatoes into the fresh market after major fryers reached capacity.
“We are in a big oversupply issue situation right now, and so prices are very low,” Houlihan explains. “They’re really hemorrhaging, and unfortunately, it affects every state and all potatoes.”
Despite the national downturn, Wisconsin remains a relative bright spot. Local growers have successfully marketed their fresh crops in the $15.00 to $16.00 range. However, with production costs rising, the safety net is thinning.
Beyond pricing, the upcoming convention at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Feb. 3-5, will address the looming regulatory “chopping block” for essential crop-management tools such as neonicotinoids and sprout suppressants.
“We feel like we can still use it legally here, but we’d better be prepared for the day that our government says no more,” Houlihan warns regarding the potential ban of certain pesticides. “We’re trying to stay ahead of the curve and meet the marketplace demands that we’re starting to see.”
Learn more about the upcoming conference: https://wisconsinpotatoes.com/events/2026-grower-education-conference-industry-show/
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