September is National Potato Month! Wisconsin ranks 3rd in the nation for potato production. Celebrate and learn more with Alsum Farms & Produce from Arena!
Potatoes have been the core of Alsum’s Farms business for 45 years. Alsum farms grows 3,000 acres of potatoes. They also grow 325 acres of pumpkins.
“We take a lot of pride in the quality [of our product],” said Larry Alsum, owner and president of Alsum Farms.
Alsum Farm’s motto is Integrity from Field to Fork. Potatoes are harvested from the field, cleaned, packed and delivered to the customer within 36 hours.
At Alsum Farms, sustainability means leaving the land better than how they found it. The team focuses on water, energy and soil conservation in their farming techniques.
“We only have one earth to live on and to protect the soil, the water and the resources is very important to all farmers,” shared Alsum.
Alsum Farms & Produce is a second-generation potato farm. The family cares deeply for their associates and recognizes the efforts they make to contribute to their success. Everyone is family at Alsum Farms.
Joe and Jeff Huber are a father and son duo working at Alsum Farms and Produce. Jeff is the Agronomy Manager and Joe is an operation manager on the farm. 
As the agronomy manager at Alsum Farms, Jeff uses the Healthy Grown program to pick what products they need to apply on the potato crop. The process starts with buying Healthy Grown certified seed and planning for the season with UW-Extension.
Healthy Grown is a collaboration between potato growers and University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension to improve farming practices, improve the environment and create a sustainable future for the next generation.
The Healthy Grown seal on bags of Alsum Potatoes gives customers confidence and security knowing that the best practices were used to grow that crop. You can find Alsum potatoes at many major grocery stores across Wisconsin like Aldi’s, Woodman’s, Piggly Wiggly, Costco and more.
The team at Alsum relies on technology to scout crops. Cameras on irrigation pivots detect disease, weed and insect pressure.
Potatoes require a half inch of water every other day to thrive. Variable Rate Irrigation is a helpful sustainability resource at Alsum Farms. Soil probes monitor the amount of water in the soil. Variable Rate Irrigation allows the team at Alsum to prescribe exact amounts of water to the fields based on soil type and weather conditions.
Rotating chemistry in the field helps to combat disease and pest resistance. Products are selected to target the pests they are trying to control.
The Alsum team establishes pollinator habitat throughout the state. Nearly 50 acres are dedicated to prairie restoration and pollinator habitat and they are always expanding these areas on their farmland.
Beyond the in-field conservation efforts, the team at Alsum believes in feeding the hungry and reducing food waste. Alsum Farms & Produce has donated more than 6 million pounds of produce to Second Harvest Foodbank in the last 25 years. The team is committed to providing high-quality potatoes to reduce food waste and eliminate hunger.
Jeff believes that taking care of the ground needs to be a priority in potato farming.
“It’s not necessarily about making the most money, it’s about doing the right thing,” shared Jeff.
The biggest conservation challenge in the central sands is wind. The soil is most vulnerable to wind erosion in the spring and fall. Hedgerows and windbreaks are planted around the fields to stop the sand from blowing. Alsum Farms also uses cover crops to help prevent erosion.
Many of Alsum’s fields are tiled so the water is filtered through the soil and the runoff does not enter nearby streams and lakes.
Alsum Farms’ goal is to increase efficiency by producing more pounds of potato per acre and continue to increase the quality of their potatoes. Alsum Farms grows three times as many potatoes as they did 25 years ago using less land, energy, water and fewer emissions per acre grown. The team continues to embrace new technology so they can ensure they are using resources appropriately.
“We are always trying to improve and looking for the next technology,” said Joe.
Jeff finds value in his Farm Bureau membership through networking opportunities. He is involved locally with Adams County Farm Bureau and has served on the state Young Farmers and Agriculturists committee. Jeff has met legislators on the state and local level and has advocated for policies that ensure a license to operate in the central sands.
Leaders of the Land® is Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s brand for sharing sustainability stories. Monthly profiles highlight farmers across Wisconsin working hard to meet their environmental, social and economic goals.
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