Potato Stocks Drop 17%

WASHINGTON - May 14/02 - STAT -- Potato stocks started May sharply below year earlier levels, according to the latest stocks in all positions report from the USDA. Even so, stocks on hand remain at the high of their recent norms.

May 1, 2002 potato stocks totaled 91.1 million cwt, down 17% from 2001 but 5% above two years ago. Potatoes in storage account for 23% of the fall storage States' production, down 1%age point from a year ago.

Disappearance from the start of harvest to May 1, at 303 million cwt, is down 13% from the 2000 crop and 9% below two years ago. This is the lowest disappearance since 1992. April disappearance of 37.8 million cwt is down 15% from a year ago and 9% below 2000. Shrink and loss to this point in the season is 24.4 million cwt, down 32% from last year and 17% below two years ago.

Processing of 2001 crop potatoes totaled 148 million cwt to May 1, down 13% from the 2000 crop and 11% below two years ago. In April, processors used 16.5 million cwt of potatoes, 12% below a year ago and 9% below two years ago.

Western States held 70.9 million cwt of potatoes in storage on May 1, 2002, down 19% from last year but 4% above 2000. Idaho's potato stocks are down 14% from a year ago, while Washington is down 16% and Oregon is off 35%. Colorado's stocks are down 31% and Montana's fell 7% short of a year ago. California's potato holdings are down 86% from a year ago.

Central States accounted for 17.1 million cwt of potato stocks this May 1, down 2% from 2001 but 22% above 2000. North Dakota's stocks are up 12% and Wisconsin's holdings are 21% above this date last year. Michigan's potato stocks are down 43% from last year and Minnesota's are off 26% from a year ago. Combined Nebraska and Ohio stocks are 12% below a year ago.

Eastern States stored 3.2 million cwt of potatoes on May 1, 2002, down 25% from a year ago and 31% below two years ago. Maine's holdings are down 25% from last year, New York and Pennsylvania stocks are combined for a 31% decline from a year ago.

        Fall Potatoes:  Production and Stocks, 15 Major States, 1992-2001
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 Crop :          :        :        :        :        :        :        :
 Year :Production: Dec 1  : Jan 1  : Feb 1  : Mar 1  : Apr 1  : May 1  :Jun 1 1/
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      :                                1,000 Cwt
      :
1992  : 368,516   246,820  215,990  184,560  152,795  115,785   75,040
1993  : 376,954   249,410  217,300  185,490  153,435  115,170   72,860
1994  : 410,839   273,290  238,560  202,470  169,570  129,825   87,600
1995  : 394,785   256,710  223,550  189,360  156,020  115,855   75,870
1996  : 443,704   295,100  261,320  226,080  189,210  147,635  103,210
1997  : 413,513   278,830  246,550  212,562  175,870  134,190   92,840
1998  : 423,170   280,910  246,230  209,640  173,650  131,220   87,895   50,270
1999  : 420,567   275,100  239,910  207,150  169,620  128,410   86,915   47,220
2000  : 458,827   310,300  275,270  234,260  197,670  153,520  109,160   61,240
2001  : 394,161   266,520  233,420  201,750  167,870  128,930   91,140
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1/  Data not available prior to 1998.