STAT Communications Ag Market News

Slight Drop in Potato Output

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/18 - SNS -- Total 2017 United States potato production was estimated at 441 million cwt (100 pound units), slightly below the 2016 crop, according to the USDA's final crop estimates.

Harvested area, at 1.03 million acres, was up 1% from the previous year. The average yield, at 430 cwt per acre, was down 3 cwt from the previous year.

Spring potato production for 2017 was estimated at 19.8 million cwt, up 30% from the 2016 crop. Harvested area totaled 57,700 acres, up 20% from a year earlier. The average yield of 343 cwt per acre was up 27 cwt from 2016.

Summer potato production of summer potatoes was estimated at 21.7 million cwt, up 11% from 2016. Harvested area was estimated at 65,500 acres, 8% above the previous year. Average yield was estimated at 331 cwt per acre, up 8 cwt from 2016.

Fall potatoe production of fall potatoes for 2017 was estimated at 400 million cwt, down 2% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 902,300 acres, was down 1% from 2016. The average yield was estimated at 443 cwt per acre, down 4 cwt from the previous year's record high yield.

Idaho, Washington, and New York all had wet spring weather that delayed planting by two weeks or more. Even though the summer was hot and dry in Idaho and Washington, harvest was delayed due to the late planting dates. Digging began in North Dakota in late August, but progress was slowed by abnormally high temperatures which halted harvest for a short time. Nebraska set a record high yield of 480 cwt per acre, beating out the previous record of 470 set in 2014.

Potato Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2015-2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :           Area planted            :          Area harvested
       State      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   2015    :   2016    :   2017    :   2015    :   2016    :   2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                              1,000 acres
                  :
Arizona 1/ .......:      3.6        (NA)        (NA)         3.5        (NA)        (NA)
California .......:     35.4        33.9        37.2        35.1        33.0        37.2
Colorado .........:     57.7        57.3        56.7        57.4        57.1        56.4
Delaware 1/ ......:      (D)        (NA)        (NA)         (D)        (NA)        (NA)
Florida ..........:     30.0        25.0        29.0        29.6        22.9        28.7
Idaho ............:    323.0       325.0       310.0       322.0       324.0       309.0
Illinois .........:      7.5         7.0         8.1         6.9         6.9         7.6
Kansas ...........:      3.8         4.2         4.1         3.6         4.2         4.1
Maine ............:     51.0        47.0        49.0        50.5        46.5        48.5
Maryland .........:      2.4         (D)         2.6         2.4         (D)         2.5
                  :
Massachusetts 1/ .:      3.6        (NA)        (NA)         3.6        (NA)        (NA)
Michigan .........:     46.0        47.0        46.0        45.0        46.0        45.0
Minnesota ........:     41.0        43.0        46.0        40.5        42.0        45.5
Missouri .........:      8.5         8.2         8.8         8.1         7.9         8.5
Montana ..........:     11.0        11.1        11.1        10.9        11.0        11.0
Nebraska .........:     15.5        16.5        19.0        15.3        16.4        18.9
Nevada 1/ ........:      (D)        (NA)        (NA)         (D)        (NA)        (NA)
New Jersey .......:      (D)         (D)         1.7         (D)         (D)         1.7
New Mexico 1/ ....:      (D)        (NA)        (NA)         (D)        (NA)        (NA)
New York .........:     15.0        15.0        15.0        14.8        14.8        14.9
                  :
North Carolina ...:     13.5        14.0        16.0        12.7        13.6        15.1
North Dakota .....:     82.0        80.0        75.0        80.0        72.0        74.0
Ohio 1/ ..........:      1.3        (NA)        (NA)         1.2        (NA)        (NA)
Oregon ...........:     39.0        39.0        39.0        38.9        38.9        38.9
Pennsylvania 1/ ..:      5.4        (NA)        (NA)         5.3        (NA)        (NA)
Rhode Island 1/ ..:      0.6        (NA)        (NA)         0.6        (NA)        (NA)
Texas ............:     20.0        20.0        22.0        18.2        19.6        21.5
Virginia .........:      5.0         4.4         5.0         4.7         4.1         4.5
Washington .......:    170.0       170.0       165.0       170.0       169.0       165.0
Wisconsin ........:     63.0        65.0        68.0        62.5        64.0        67.0
                  :
Other States 2/ ..:     11.3         4.4           -        11.1         4.4           -
                  :
United States ....:  1,066.1     1,037.0     1,034.3     1,054.4     1,018.3     1,025.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                               --continued
Potato Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States:
2015-2017 (continued)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :          Yield per acre           :            Production
       State      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   2015    :   2016    :   2017    :   2015    :   2016    :   2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :    ----------- cwt -----------       ---------- 1,000 cwt ----------
                  :
Arizona 1/ .......:    290        (NA)        (NA)         1,015        (NA)        (NA)
California .......:    393         403         438        13,808      13,305      16,305
Colorado .........:    393         389         382        22,575      22,236      21,527
Delaware 1/ ......:    (D)        (NA)        (NA)           (D)        (NA)        (NA)
Florida ..........:    230         235         250         6,808       5,382       7,175
Idaho ............:    405         430         425       130,400     139,320     131,325
Illinois .........:    380         380         410         2,622       2,622       3,116
Kansas ...........:    335         300         380         1,206       1,260       1,558
Maine ............:    320         325         310        16,160      15,113      15,035
Maryland .........:    330         (D)         365           792         (D)         913
                  :
Massachusetts 1/ .:    305        (NA)        (NA)         1,098        (NA)        (NA)
Michigan .........:    390         370         400        17,550      17,020      18,000
Minnesota ........:    400         400         405        16,200      16,800      18,428
Missouri .........:    305         305         285         2,471       2,410       2,423
Montana ..........:    325         335         340         3,543       3,685       3,740
Nebraska .........:    450         450         480         6,885       7,380       9,072
Nevada 1/ ........:    (D)        (NA)        (NA)           (D)        (NA)        (NA)
New Jersey .......:    (D)         (D)         300           (D)         (D)         510
New Mexico 1/ ....:    (D)        (NA)        (NA)           (D)        (NA)        (NA)
New York .........:    280         240         290         4,144       3,552       4,321
                  :
North Carolina ...:    210         220         230         2,667       2,992       3,473
North Dakota .....:    345         300         340        27,600      21,600      25,160
Ohio 1/ ..........:    230        (NA)        (NA)           276        (NA)        (NA)
Oregon ...........:    560         590         550        21,784      22,951      21,395
Pennsylvania 1/ ..:    280        (NA)        (NA)         1,484        (NA)        (NA)
Rhode Island 1/ ..:    135        (NA)        (NA)            81        (NA)        (NA)
Texas ............:    375         395         395         6,825       7,742       8,493
Virginia .........:    220         290         265         1,034       1,189       1,193
Washington .......:    590         625         600       100,300     105,625      99,000
Wisconsin ........:    445         435         435        27,813      27,840      29,145
                  :
Other States 2/ ..:    366         315           -         4,064       1,387           -
                  :
United States ....:    418         433         430       441,205     441,411     441,307
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Represents zero.
(D)  Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1/   Estimates discontinued in 2016.
2/   Includes data withheld above.
Potato Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production by Seasonal Group - States and
United States: 2015-2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Seasonal group        :          Area planted          :         Area harvested
           and State          :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                              :   2015   :   2016   :   2017   :   2015   :   2016   :   2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :                           1,000 acres
                              :
Spring                        :
Arizona 1/ ...................:     3.6       (NA)       (NA)        3.5       (NA)       (NA)
California ...................:    27.0       26.0       29.0       26.7       25.1       29.0
Florida ......................:    30.0       25.0       29.0       29.6       22.9       28.7
North Carolina 2/ ............:    13.5       (NA)       (NA)       12.7       (NA)       (NA)
                              :
United States ................:    74.1       51.0       58.0       72.5       48.0       57.7
                              :
Summer                        :
Delaware 1/ ..................:     (D)       (NA)       (NA)        (D)       (NA)       (NA)
Illinois .....................:     7.5        7.0        8.1        6.9        6.9        7.6
Kansas .......................:     3.8        4.2        4.1        3.6        4.2        4.1
Maryland .....................:     2.4        (D)        2.6        2.4        (D)        2.5
Missouri .....................:     8.5        8.2        8.8        8.1        7.9        8.5
New Jersey ...................:     (D)        (D)        1.7        (D)        (D)        1.7
North Carolina 2/ ............:    (NA)       14.0       16.0       (NA)       13.6       15.1
Texas ........................:    20.0       20.0       22.0       18.2       19.6       21.5
Virginia .....................:     5.0        4.4        5.0        4.7        4.1        4.5
                              :
Other States 3/ ..............:     3.3        4.4          -        3.2        4.4          -
                              :
United States ................:    50.5       62.2       68.3       47.1       60.7       65.5
                              :
Fall                          :
California ...................:     8.4        7.9        8.2        8.4        7.9        8.2
Colorado .....................:    57.7       57.3       56.7       57.4       57.1       56.4
  San Luis Valley ............:    51.9       51.6       51.9       51.8       51.5       51.7
  All other areas ............:     5.8        5.7        4.8        5.6        5.6        4.7
Idaho ........................:   323.0      325.0      310.0      322.0      324.0      309.0
  10 Southwest counties 1/ ...:    16.0       (NA)       (NA)       16.0       (NA)       (NA)
  Other Idaho counties 1/ ....:   307.0       (NA)       (NA)      306.0       (NA)       (NA)
Maine ........................:    51.0       47.0       49.0       50.5       46.5       48.5
Massachusetts 1/ .............:     3.6       (NA)       (NA)        3.6       (NA)       (NA)
Michigan .....................:    46.0       47.0       46.0       45.0       46.0       45.0
Minnesota ....................:    41.0       43.0       46.0       40.5       42.0       45.5
Montana ......................:    11.0       11.1       11.1       10.9       11.0       11.0
                              :
Nebraska .....................:    15.5       16.5       19.0       15.3       16.4       18.9
Nevada 1/ ....................:     (D)       (NA)       (NA)        (D)       (NA)       (NA)
New Mexico 1/ ................:     (D)       (NA)       (NA)        (D)       (NA)       (NA)
New York .....................:    15.0       15.0       15.0       14.8       14.8       14.9
North Dakota .................:    82.0       80.0       75.0       80.0       72.0       74.0
Ohio 1/ ......................:     1.3       (NA)       (NA)        1.2       (NA)       (NA)
Oregon .......................:    39.0       39.0       39.0       38.9       38.9       38.9
Pennsylvania 1/ ..............:     5.4       (NA)       (NA)        5.3       (NA)       (NA)
Rhode Island 1/ ..............:     0.6       (NA)       (NA)        0.6       (NA)       (NA)
Washington ...................:   170.0      170.0      165.0      170.0      169.0      165.0
Wisconsin ....................:    63.0       65.0       68.0       62.5       64.0       67.0
                              :
Other States 3/ ..............:     8.0          -          -        7.9          -          -
                              :
United States ................:   941.5      923.8      908.0      934.8      909.6      902.3
                              :
All                           :
United States ................: 1,066.1    1,037.0    1,034.3    1,054.4    1,018.3    1,025.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                                     --continued
Potato Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production by Seasonal Group - States and
United States: 2015-2017 (continued)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Seasonal group        :         Yield per acre         :           Production
           and State          :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                              :   2015   :   2016   :   2017   :   2015   :   2016   :   2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :   ----------- cwt ----------     --------- 1,000 cwt ---------
                              :
Spring                        :
Arizona 1/ ...................:    290       (NA)       (NA)       1,015       (NA)       (NA)
California ...................:    385        390        435      10,280      9,789     12,615
Florida ......................:    230        235        250       6,808      5,382      7,175
North Carolina 2/ ............:    210       (NA)       (NA)       2,667       (NA)       (NA)
                              :
United States ................:    286        316        343      20,770     15,171     19,790
                              :
Summer                        :
Delaware 1/ ..................:    (D)       (NA)       (NA)         (D)       (NA)       (NA)
Illinois .....................:    380        380        410       2,622      2,622      3,116
Kansas .......................:    335        300        380       1,206      1,260      1,558
Maryland .....................:    330        (D)        365         792        (D)        913
Missouri .....................:    305        305        285       2,471      2,410      2,423
New Jersey ...................:    (D)        (D)        300         (D)        (D)        510
North Carolina 2/ ............:   (NA)        220        230        (NA)      2,992      3,473
Texas ........................:    375        395        395       6,825      7,742      8,493
Virginia .....................:    220        290        265       1,034      1,189      1,193
                              :
Other States 3/ ..............:    245        315          -         784      1,387          -
                              :
United States ................:    334        323        331      15,734     19,602     21,679
                              :
Fall                          :
California ...................:    420        445        450       3,528      3,516      3,690
Colorado .....................:    393        389        382      22,575     22,236     21,527
  San Luis Valley ............:    385        385        375      19,943     19,828     19,388
  All other areas ............:    470        430        455       2,632      2,408      2,139
Idaho ........................:    405        430        425     130,400    139,320    131,325
  10 Southwest counties 1/ ...:    500       (NA)       (NA)       8,000       (NA)       (NA)
  Other Idaho counties 1/ ....:    400       (NA)       (NA)     122,400       (NA)       (NA)
Maine ........................:    320        325        310      16,160     15,113     15,035
Massachusetts 1/ .............:    305       (NA)       (NA)       1,098       (NA)       (NA)
Michigan .....................:    390        370        400      17,550     17,020     18,000
Minnesota ....................:    400        400        405      16,200     16,800     18,428
Montana ......................:    325        335        340       3,543      3,685      3,740
                              :
Nebraska .....................:    450        450        480       6,885      7,380      9,072
Nevada 1/ ....................:    (D)       (NA)       (NA)         (D)       (NA)       (NA)
New Mexico 1/ ................:    (D)       (NA)       (NA)         (D)       (NA)       (NA)
New York .....................:    280        240        290       4,144      3,552      4,321
North Dakota .................:    345        300        340      27,600     21,600     25,160
Ohio 1/ ......................:    230       (NA)       (NA)         276       (NA)       (NA)
Oregon .......................:    560        590        550      21,784     22,951     21,395
Pennsylvania 1/ ..............:    280       (NA)       (NA)       1,484       (NA)       (NA)
Rhode Island 1/ ..............:    135       (NA)       (NA)          81       (NA)       (NA)
Washington ...................:    590        625        600     100,300    105,625     99,000
Wisconsin ....................:    445        435        435      27,813     27,840     29,145
                              :
Other States 3/ ..............:    415          -          -       3,280          -          -
                              :
United States ................:    433        447        443     404,701    406,638    399,838
                              :
All                           :
United States ................:    418        433        430     441,205    441,411    441,307
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Represents zero.
(D)  Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1/   Estimates discontinued in 2016.
2/   Beginning in 2016, North Carolina estimates included with Summer states.
3/   Includes data withheld above.

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