STAT Communications Ag Market News

Fall Potato Output Down 2%

WASHINGTON - Nov 9/17 - SNS -- Production of fall potatoes for 2017 is forecast at 399 million cwt (100 pound units), down 2% from last year, according to the latest crop estimates from the USDA.

Area harvested, at 900,600 acres, is down 1% from the previous year. The average yield forecast, at 443 cwt per acre, is down 4 cwt from last year's record high yield.

In Idaho, growers reported some flooding and cool weather occurred earlier in the spring, causing delays in planting progress. As of October 29, 96% of the crop had been harvested. North Dakota planting was complete by June 11 and digging began in late August. Harvest was virtually complete by October 22. As of October 29, harvest in Washington and Oregon was 95 and 93% completed, respectively.

Fall Potato Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2016
and Forecasted November 1, 2017
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Seasonal group      :  Area planted   : Area harvested  :Yield per acre :   Production
         and State         :---------------------------------------------------------------------
                           :  2016  :  2017  :  2016  :  2017  : 2016  : 2017  :  2016  :  2017
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           : ---------- 1,000 acres ---------     --- cwt ---   --- 1,000 cwt --
                           :
Fall                       :
California ................:   7.9      8.2      7.9      8.2     445     450     3,516    3,690
Colorado ..................:  57.3     56.7     57.1     56.4     389     382    22,236   21,527
 San Luis Valley ..........:  51.6     51.9     51.5     51.7     385     375    19,828   19,388
 All other areas ..........:   5.7      4.8      5.6      4.7     430     455     2,408    2,139
Idaho .....................: 325.0    310.0    324.0    309.0     430     425   139,320  131,325
Maine .....................:  47.0     48.0     46.5     47.5     325     320    15,113   15,200
Michigan ..................:  47.0     47.5     46.0     46.5     370     400    17,020   18,600
Minnesota .................:  43.0     46.0     42.0     45.5     400     415    16,800   18,883
Montana ...................:  11.1     11.1     11.0     11.0     335     340     3,685    3,740
                           :
Nebraska ..................:  16.5     19.0     16.4     18.9     450     470     7,380    8,883
New York ..................:  15.0     14.0     14.8     13.8     240     265     3,552    3,657
North Dakota ..............:  80.0     75.0     72.0     74.0     300     340    21,600   25,160
Oregon ....................:  39.0     38.0     38.9     37.8     590     550    22,951   20,790
Washington ................: 170.0    165.0    169.0    165.0     625     600   105,625   99,000
Wisconsin .................:  65.0     68.0     64.0     67.0     435     425    27,840   28,475
                           :
United States .............: 923.8    906.5    909.6    900.6     447     443   406,638  398,930
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.
Potato Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - Alaska: 2016-2017
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :               Area                :     Yield      :
   Crop  :-----------------------------------:      per       :   Production
   year  :     Planted     :    Harvested    :      acre      :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :       ------- acres -------              cwt           1,000 cwt
         :
2016 ....:       500               490              300              147
2017 ....:       450               440              280              123
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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