In northwest North Dakota and northeast Montana (a.k.a. the MonDak region), almost unlimited potential exists to produce and process high value crops through development of center pivot irrigation systems. The irrigated production of high value crops would promote use of the region's water and agricultural land resources to improve its economy and population growth. Considerable interest has been created for commercial potato and potato seed production under center pivot irrigation in the region. This applied research project will demonstrate the potential yield and quality of irrigated potato production in the MonDak region under center pivot irrigation on light (sandy) to medium (loam) textured soils.

The specific objectives of this study were to 1) Determine the potential yield and quality of potatoes produced using center pivot irrigation systems in fields of various soil textures in the MonDak region. 2) Evaluate the economics of production of two potato varieties in the MonDak region. 3) Identify the limiting factors of potato production in the MonDak region and to determine whether they are manageable.

Currently two frozen French fry potato processors are offering contracts in the region: J.R. Simplot Co. of Grand Forks ND and Cavendish Farms (formerly Aviko‑USA) of Jamestown ND. The farmer cooperators involved in this study have contracts with both processors.

Two potato varieties were grown. Shepody is a white, medium-maturity variety for early harvest and Russet Burbank is a russet, late-maturity variety for regular harvest. Shepody produces fewer but larger tubers than Russet Burbank. The earlier maturity of the Shepody variety allows for an earlier startup of the processing plant while the superior storage properties of Russet Burbank allow for yearlong processing.

Six fields were selected as test fields on the basis of potato variety and soil texture. These test fields were located at two sites in Williams County North Dakota: the 29-mile region about 26 miles north of Williston and the Nesson Valley region about 25 miles east of Williston.  All test-fields in this study had center-pivot irrigation systems

There were two test fields in the 29-mile region. The soil texture of both fields was sandy loam. Both were irrigated with groundwater. Russet Burbank was the only potato variety grown in these fields. The potatoes were grown under contracts with both processors and were stored on-site for delivery during the upcoming spring.

There were four test fields in the Nesson Valley region. The soil texture of two of these fields was loamy fine sand.  The soil texture of the third field was loam and silt loam. The soil texture of the fourth field was predominantly loam with a small area having a soil texture of sandy loam. One of the sandy fields was irrigated with river water; the other three were irrigated with groundwater. Both varieties were grown on two of the test fields, one of each soil texture. The potatoes were grown under contracts with both processors for direct haul to the processors.

Certified diseased free potatoes were planted in mid April to early May. A private crop consultant aided in irrigation, nitrogen, disease, and insect management. The research measurements of soil water content and meteorological data also were made available to the farmers to aid in irrigation scheduling. Harvest began in mid-August and was completed in early October.

            Economic analyses for Shepody and Russet Burbank production sites are given in the following tables. (References to specific co‑operators have been removed for confidentiality reasons).