GRAFTON (AP) - Some sugar beet growers in the northern Red River Valley say their crops are weathering dry conditions well. And potato farmers say their crops are hanging on but need rain soon.

Potato grower Doug McCann of Grafton said his potatoes will be in trouble without moisture.

"They won't hold on for too much longer," said McCann, who raises about 1,100 acres of potatoes.

Sugar beet farmer Allen Tucker, of St. Thomas, said his crop is holding up well despite the dry, hot weather that has hit the state. He said his crops have not been soaked with a good rain since May 10.

"We were expecting them to be suffering more than they are," Tucker said. "But they continue to go the right direction."

Tucker said the dry conditions have helped to control weeds and disease. But he said insect problems have increased.

Tucker said he expects a low yield but high quality when the harvest starts this fall.

Al Cattanach, an agronomist for American Crystal Sugar Co., said he's surprised at the condition of the sugar beet crop in the northern Red River Valley. He said the sugar beet crop has tapped into subsoil moisture.

"We're living off the wonderful ability of these soils in the Red River Valley to store 2 inches or more of available water per food and that's keeping us going."

Tucker said sugar beet roots have gone down as much as 4 feet in some fields to seek water.

McCann is hoping prices for potatoes will be strong this year. He said too-wet conditions last year "drowned out half of the valley's crop and led to a very good price year. This year it looks like we're going to kill half of them on the drought. So I'm hoping and thinking that the price will be similar to last year, somewhere between very, very good and extremely good."

Duane Maatz, president of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, said summer potato crops in Florida, Texas and California are smaller than in the past and demand for potatoes has been holding steady.

"I guess the optimistic part of this whole thing is the reaction from a good demand and a low supply is increased price," Maatz said.