The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-07
The Seed Potato Industry

The farmers of North Dakota deserve no little praise
for the rapid strides they have made during the past
half dozen years in the production or introduction OF
better seeds. This includes cereal and root crops, legumes
and garden plants. A notable improvement has been
made in potato culture, and large areas are now unoer
state certification both in the eastern and western pof-
ton Of the state. In 1928 Mckenzie county FARMERS
produced enough certified Early Triumph seed potatoes
to send a train load of "a cars to the state OF LOUISIANA
and about an equal amount was sold IN carload OF less
than carload lots.
At Arneeard and watford City the growing of seed
potatoes for southern markets has become an estapilsneo
and profitable business, but it should be noted tnat the
growers had to spend several years in the school OF nara
knocks before achieving success. Neighboring commun-
tiles. wishing to share in this profitable business, nave
gone in for potato certification, but have not MADE as
rapid progress as they had expected.
The result has been that growers who are easily oS-
couraged have dropped out, leaving here and tnere .
handful Of fighters who are grimiy piooolne aons'
etermined to wiring from nature her 1nnermost secrets
about the little round tuber. They have learned their
primary lesson, namely, that the potato game Is not
mastered in a single season, and are now safely on the
road to success.
North Dakota, like the state of Maine, is richly en-
dowed with all the elements necessary to produce pota-
toes of the highest quality; but the Maine YANKEES nave
been in the business longer and have more eApefienoo'
Maine has led all other states in potato production tor
.orer wears and Aroostook county in that state is the
acknowledged potato center of the United States. In
1929 Maine produced ~5O,12O,o0o bushels of first class
notatoes. and a considerable portion OF these were shipped
south for seed.
North Dakota has not, as yet. gotten very lar Win
notato growing as an industry, due largely 10 the lacs
that this state is far removed from the large markets.
and must depend on an expensive rail haul. which makes
the growing of potatoes for ordinary table use unpro1lt-
able. except in short crop years when high prices RUE
II is different with seed potatoes, which command a SUI
ficient price to make the grower a profit, even with hlsh
freight rates.
Potatoes make bulky freight, but it is believed mat Inc
shipping problem can be solved, at least as lar as west.
ern North Dakota is concerned, by the INTRODUCTION VI
barpes on the Missouri river. Such barges could serve
the double purpose of carrying Ignite coal ana pota-
+oes-licnite for the intermediary markets, and potatoes
for the communities on the Mississippi south OF 81
louis. whether such barges could make the return trip
upstream with or without pay loads, and without IL
rancial loss. is a nut that will have to be cracked by tne
tradesmen and the engineers.
There are several barge lines in successful operation.
the one nearest to us being the one at Minneapolis IL
euch a barge line could be established on the upper MIS-
souri, river. it would open a cheap and fairly direct route
"a southern markets, and would make every county along
the river a potential field for the growing OF certified
notatoes and other seeds. Wherever seed potatoes nave
been grown successfully year after year, the lana naS
doubled in value.