Maine Grower Planted On Time

Despite a mid-May snow storm and cold wet conditions, Maine growers were able to finish planting their 2004 crop on schedule, according to the Maine Potato News.

Growers worked on Sundays to complete their field work. Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said the start of planting season was about average in late May and early June. The start was reportedly better than last year's planting date.

Flannery told the news tabloid that growers still held a lot of potatoes in storage. He thought because of that and the poor market for the 2003 crop, acres could be down from 65,000 by about 3,000 acres.

Maine growers are adding more mustard and oilseed crops in their potato rotations to add more nutrients back into their soil and provide another cash crop for growers.