WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Sweet potato growers are entering transplant season as dry conditions continue to affect planting schedules. Michelle Grainger with the Ag Wage Rate Coalition says the drought has left many producers trying to plant several crops at the same time.
“Sweet potatoes haven’t needed to be transplanted until about right now,” Grainger explained. “Typically, there’s been a lot of other crops that have been planted prior to getting to the sweet potato transplanting cycle on the calendar because of the drought that we’ve had.”
Grainger said the weather delays have producers scrambling to catch up this season. Sweet potatoes require about 120 days to reach maturity.
“Our growers haven’t necessarily been able to do that,” she continues, “So, now all of a sudden they’re log jammed, so to speak, as they’re trying to get all the crops into all the fields at the same time.”
Grainger says demand for the crop remains strong in both domestic and international markets.
