EEUU: With majority of potato crop in the ground, farmers say spring planting went well

"We had some people out the end of April...first part of May though, we had a lot of people getting out. If you remember it was still cool then and pretty dry, and then we had snow and rain and that cooled things down and we took a break, but in the last couple of weeks we had a lot of potatoes put in the ground," said Tim Hobbs.

Hobbs is the director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board. The board doesn’t have an exact total for acreage at this point, but he says it will be down slightly from last year. He says like every year, last year had its challenges...and farmers are always excited at the start of a new season.

"Spring comes and planting season comes and when you can get out and get on the ground and start new again, that generally improves attitudes," said Hobbs.

Willard C. Doyen & Sons in Mapleton finished planting on May 26th. Their planting season was eleven days long, which is a few less days than normal.

"We’re just getting ready to spray for blight today (Friday) actually. The potatoes are coming up and we’re gonna spray them and hoe them and pick rocks things like that," said Doyen.

Both Doyen and Hobbs say it’s been a good spring so far, and as far as weather going forward goes -- they need it to be just right.

"This last week was too rainy and gloomy and cold, like to see it warmer and sunnier but we do need some rain too at times," said Doyen.

Doyen has his crew working 5-6 days a week to get ready for a fall time harvest he hopes will be a good one.

"We got a nice crop last year so if we can get the crop we did last year, I’ll be happy," said Doyen.

The Maine Potato Board says a few acres of potatoes still need to be planted... And the exact number for acreage will likely be released at the end of June.