Natural-Born Potato Grower

Story by Allen Thayer

Photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

Idaho’s Russell Frisby is a natural-born potato grower.
Before launching Flying F Inc. near Caldwell, Idaho, where he grows Russet Burbank potatoes, onions, corn and wheat on 3,900 acres, he worked at Frisby Farms for his parents, Rod and Maureen, in Sand Hollow, Idaho.
Frisby went into agriculture after finishing high school in 2001. He briefly worked for Arctic Cat testing snowmobiles before going into farming full time.
“I helped my dad at his farm and helped manage it, and then in 2013, I went out on my own,” Frisby recounts.

In time, he expanded the farm and took on more acreage. Today, he employs eight people full time and hires up to 25 workers for harvest.
“Quality and yield were exceptional last harvest,” Frisby says. “There was a really good growing season for the russets in our area.”
He typically dedicates about 500 acres for potatoes. That translated into a haul of 28 to 30 tons per acre last harvest. Frisby, who grows for Ore-Ida, uses the Lockwood Air Cup Planter for his potato crop.

“A lot of equipment has doubled in size since the 1990s just to keep efficient,” he says.

“I enjoy agriculture and the lifestyle of raising kids on the farm,” Frisby shares. “I’ve always been around the farm and enjoyed it. I’m passionate about agriculture.”
He now raises three children, Kensley, 11, Bailey, 9, and Blake, 7, on his farm. He also serves on the USDA Farm Service Agency Committee in Payette County, Idaho.

 

 

Farming Future
United States tariffs are taking a toll on farmers and the storage, shipping and freight operations they need to move their crops to market.

While soybeans are most directly impacted after China pulled its contracts, Frisby says it affects more than that one crop.
“It puts pressure on the other commodities, and then it kind of trickles down by impacting other crops,” he explains.
Resolving the trade issue is key for agriculture.
“We need to be able to export commodities,” Frisby says. “When the economy is good and the dollar is strong, it seems like we struggle in the ag industry.”
Frisby says the number of potato growers in the Treasure Valley has recently gone down from a high of between 20 and 30.
“There are only a handful of potato farmers now,” he says. “There’s pressure when customers aren’t buying.”

 

 

Economic Challenges
Major parts of the Food Safety Modernization Act have gone into effect, with more on the way, since it was signed into law eight years ago. The bill was Congress’ response to a string of high-profile, deadly foodborne illness outbreaks that exposed the shortcomings of the country’s food safety system. Yet Frisby said food safety issues, along with greater pesticide and irrigation compliance, can create problems for farmers.
“It seems like we get more and more restrictions since there is a lot of pushback from consumers of new genetics, but yet they don’t want to adapt to newer resistant varieties,” he says. “We’re kind of stuck with trying to grow 30-year-old varieties in today’s society that doesn’t understand cultural farm practices.”
Inflation also concerns Frisby.
“It’s a pretty challenging environment with low return for what prior generations were used to,” the grower says.

 

 

Snow Fun
When not on the farm, Frisby can often be found on the snow. A longtime snowmobiling enthusiast, Frisby fondly remembers competing in events like the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, years ago.
“I still ride quite a bit in the backcountry,” he smiles. “I don’t go race anymore.”
His younger brother, Heath, continues racing and makes appearances at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, every year.
Frisby has turned his attention to other pursuits.
“I’ve been going and racing off-road trucks and UTVs lately,” he says. “I’ve been doing some of that in the winter now.”
That’s Utility Terrain Vehicles for the uninitiated. For Frisby, it’s a way to relax before another planting season begins anew.