Potato Stocks Rise 1%

WASHINGTON - Mar 15/05 - SNS -- The quantity of potatoes on hand in the 15 largest producing states in the United States was up 1% from last year and 2% above 2003 as of March 1, totalling 168 million cwt (100 pound units), according to the USDA.

Disappearance of 235 million cwt from the start of harvest to March 1, is down 1% from last year and 3% below two years ago. Shrink and loss, at 24.6 million cwt, is up 9% from last year and 10% above the same date in 2003.

Processors used 119 million cwt of 2004 crop potatoes so far this season, down 1% from a year ago and 5% below two years ago. February usage, at 18.4 million cwt, is 2% below both last year and two years ago. Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon, processing increased 2% from a year ago, while Washington and the rest of Oregon processing decreased 1% from last season. Dehydrating usage accounts for 23.7 million cwt of the total processing, down 9% from last year and 15% below the same date in 2003.

Western States held 118 million cwt of potatoes in storage on March 1, up 4% from last year but 2% below two years ago. Montana's potato stocks are up 14% from last year, Idaho's storages hold 10% more, and Colorado's potato sheds stored 4% more than last year. Oregon's potato stocks are down 18% and Washington's sheds hold 2% less than last year. California's stocks are unchanged from a year ago.

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