b'were the year before. But that all came to an abrupt halt in Aprilit was pretty much stagnant (in regards to supplying growing degree units), and by the time May arrived, we were behind where we were last year, he says. We were lucky though, a little further south barley got hit hard (with frost) and those farms lost anywhere from 30-80% of their yield potential.A positive in the otherwise grim agricultural outlook many are facing this year, Dirks says that his recently har-vested wheat crop is one of the best he has grown and is optimistic for corn in the region, sharing that there is still time for the crop.Weve got good, mellow soil this year, and we arent going to be lacking any growing degree units. If we can get some moisture, we will have a good corn crop,Karl Dirks owns a farming operation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed where he grows he says.corn, soybeans and wheat.Potatoes Up in DemandBased 50 miles north of Denver, Strohauer Farms has been growing and supply-ing potatoes to northern Colorado and beyond for more than four generations. Our family has been growing pota-toes in Weld County since 1910, says Amber Strohauer, My parents work full-time on the operation, and I had the opportunity to come back as the fourth generation to work on the farm. Today, Strohauer serves as Business Development for the operation that hasEven though COVID-19 has affected Stohauer Farms, Amber Stohauer says their potato grown to produce shallot onions, wheat,farm has been booming. corn and triticale in addition to potatoes, helping to secure both retail and foodThe majority of what we produce indemand. I have never seen so many service market opportunities.the South is shipped out; we dont usuallywalk-ins in one day as what we say For us, 2020 has been a very opti- bring anything into Colorado to packageduring COVID-19. The door never shut. mistic outlook, and we feel really fortu- in our own branding. The Colorado pieceStrohauer credits much of this suc-nate that we are here (north of Denver)of the operation sees all of the brandingcess to the business proximity to the and situated a little differently than otherand retail, Strohauer shares, noting thatDenver area and the areas booming farms. We have always been more retailthe operation currently packs around 200local and organic food movement. She focused than food service, although wedifferent sizes of potatoes.also shares that, she believes, the United do both, and that has allowed us to thriveThe challenges created by the pan- States is revisiting a simpler time, at least during the pandemic, she says, We havedemic for the Strohauer operation havein terms of family togetherness. been busier than ever, and we know howbeen positive for the business, withThe one thing that we have seen fortunate we are. demand and consumption of fresh pota- throughout this pandemic, is families In 2013, the La Salle, Colo., companytoes peaking during the March-April initialcoming together to share meals. And as expanded operations to Clayton, N.M., asstay-at-home orders.a potato grower, that makes me excited; well as securing fields in Texas, using bothIt has been challenging to stay year- people are familiar with potatoes, they of the new locations to produce Russet,round this year because we had to movestore well, and families are adjusting Yukon and fingerling potatoes bothso much product for demand, Strohauerto eating at homeall of which have conventionally and organically to fill thesays. We arent a 24/7 packing ware- helped to drive demand for the crop, early-crop gap for packers.house, so it was hard to keep up withshe says. 14/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2020'