Michael Bennet, a Democrat from the state, sent a letter to Rayne Pegg, the administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, urging that something be done to help potato farmers in Colorado. A recent record crop, along with dwindling prices and demand, could end up hurting spud growers in the state.
"Given the high risk and per acre costs of potato production, losses of these magnitudes will severely impact the potato industry's ability to obtain financing at a time when credit is already very difficult to obtain," Bennet wrote in his letter, which is available on his website.
In order to help farmers, Bennet is calling on the USDA to remove surplus potatoes from the market through its Section 32 program.
Bennet is not the only senator who has tried to provide some relief to agricultural producers through federal help. New Mexico Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman announced recently that disaster loans are available for farmers and ranchers who have been affected by drought conditions in the state.
