‘BUTTE’, a new long russet potato variety, was released by the Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations in April, 1977. Its tubers are similar to those of ‘Russet Burbank’ but BUTTE offers several advantages to growers and processors. BUTTE has averaged 7% more total yield and 25% more U.S. No. 1’s than Russet Burbank over 51 location-years of testing across southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, and in the Columbia Basin. Its specific gravity in these trials averaged .004 higher than that of Russet Burbank. Dehydrating quality of BUTTE is superior to that of Russet Burbank and the product has longer shelf life. BUTTE french fries well although it accumulates slightly more sugars in storage than does Russet Burbank. Its vitamin C content has averaged 58% higher and protein content 20% higher than that of Russet Burbank. BUTTE is hypersensitive to virus X and resistant to net necrosis. Other disease reactions are similar to those of Russet Burbank.

A potato cropping rotation study was initiated on coarse textured soils in 1969 to compare annual cropping to potatoes with potato-grain rotations. At the completion of the 1975 season, those treatments annually cropped to potatoes had been planted to potatoes for seven consecutive years. After this period of time, total yields were reduced by 14% or 55 cwt/acre (6 T/ha) when compared to yields from potato-grain rotation treatments. Soil fumigation with 30 gpa (285 1/ha) of soil fumigant (Shell D-D) resulted in no beneficial effects on tuber yield or quality.