Louisiana Faces Quirky Threat From Invasive Air Potatoes

(KMDL-FM)  We don't want to startle you, but Louisiana and several other southern states are under attack. No, it's not from an overseas military power; it's from a power that's even more powerful than all of the world's military: it's Mother Nature. And would you believe she is threatening us with air potatoes?

If you are like me and have an overactive imagination, then you are no doubt intrigued by a threatening attack from something called air potatoes. Will they be dropped from the sky? Will they be deep-fried and scattered to smother and cover us? Will there be a need for ketchup?

What Is an Air Potato? Can You Eat Them?

Okay, even though we are making light of the interesting name, air potato, the problem is real, the attack is real, and the loss to Louisiana and many other southern states' economies is in the millions of dollars.

READ MORE: Wildlife Service Wants Us to Eat More Nutria, Really They Do

Air potatoes look like regular potatoes, but they are more closely related to yams than they are potatoes. The species is commonly found in Southeast Asia, China, and Australia. They grow really fast. Those last two facts are why Louisiana is under attack.

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Since the species isn't from here, it is considered an invasive species. The fact that the plant grows really quickly means it is a threat to other plants that our farmers grow for real money. You know crops like sugar cane, soy beans, rice, and corn.

The air potatoes grow so fast that they actually choke out the species that our farmers are growing to make a cash crop. That's why the LSU AgCenter and several other research institutions have been given a grant to study and fight invasive species such as air potatoes.

How Much Is Louisiana Spending to Study Air Potatoes?

The money, more than one million dollars,  will also be used to research apple snails, an invasive species that affects our crawfish crop. There will also be money for rice borers and feral hog control, too. The investment is expected be a million dollars or more and will be shared by LSU, the University of Arkansas, and Mississippi State University.

But on the bright side, you now have an instant excuse for missing a meeting, family gathering, or any event you don't want to attend. You can simply tell your host that you're being attacked by air potatoes. Feel free to use this article as your proof. I wonder if we harvested the air potatoes and dyed them in Mardi Gras colors, if we could...nah, that might hurt being thrown from a float.