Potato Crops Slips 1% in U.S. in 2004

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/05 - SNS -- Total 2004 U.S. potato production from all four seasons is estimated at 456 million cwt, down less than 1% from both the 2003 and 2002 crops, according to the USDA's 2004 annual crop production summary.

Harvested area, at 1.17 million acres, is down 6% from last year and 8% lower than two years ago. The average yield, at 391 cwt per acre, is 24 cwt above last year and 29 cwt above 2002. This is a record high yield, 10 cwt above the old record set in 2000.

By season, fall and summer production are virtually unchanged from the previous year, spring is down 7%, and winter is up 20% from 2003.

The final 2004 winter potato production is estimated at 4.82 million cwt, up 38% from the April forecast and 20% above 2003. Harvested area of 18,500 acres is 32% above the April 1 forecast and 29% more than last year. The average yield of 260 cwt per acre is up 10 cwt from the April forecast but 22 cwt below 2003.

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