Harvest of Idaho's 2003 potato crop is beginning in earnest in western Idaho.
As of August 25, 8 percent of the crop had been dug in southwest Idaho. The state total stood at 1 percent. Potato condition reports show that 79 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition.
Potato vines killed or dying stood at 30 percent, compared to 16 percent last year and a state average of 15 percent.
Soil moisture figures show the crop to be 79 percent short to very short. Some areas, especially in southern Idaho, got good rainstorms last week, which actually boosts their rainfall figures to date over last year's.