N.D. potato acres down

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The Agriculture Department says potato acres in North Dakota this year are down 2 percent from last year, to 80,000.

Russets account for 56 percent of the acreage, up from 50 percent last year. White potatoes are next highest, at 24 percent, followed by reds at 19 percent and yellows at 1 percent.

Nationwide, planted potato acres are pegged at 932,900, up slightly from 2008.