Idaho's 2003 potato harvest is nearing the halfway point, with most harvest conditions in dry, dusty soil.
As of September 28, the harvest figure stood at 31 percent, but growers are going up to 16-17 hours a day, up to 11 p.m. at night, to make sure they don't get caught by early fall storms and because vines died early.
The harvest was listed as 78 percent harvested in southwest Idaho as compared to 81 percent the year before and an average of 58 percent.
In south-central Idaho, the harvest was at 37 percent, compared to 51 percent last year and 40 percent as an average.
In eastern Idaho, the harvest was placed at 23 percent, compared to 13 percent last year and 20 percent as an average.
The state's crop was listed as 80 percent good to excellent as of September 28. The state's water supplies were pegged at 80 percent fair to very poor.