Stronger Potato Prices Expected

WASHINGTON - Aug 18/05 - SNS -- USDA market analysts believe potato prices will strengthen in the coming months in response to smaller crops in Canada and the United States.

The total area planted for the 2005 fall potato crop in the United Stats was 970,400 acres, note Gary Lucier and Alberto Jerardo in the USDA's Economic Research Service August, 2005 Vegetables and Melons Outlook report.

This was down 7% from 2004 due largely to 25,000 fewer acres in Idaho and 15,000 fewer in North Dakota. For all four seasons, planted area totaled 1.1 million acres in 2005, the smallest acreage since crop estimates began in 1866.

Although Idaho's acreage reduction amounted to 7% of 2004's planted area, it fell short of the 10% goal set by the United Fresh Potato Growers of Idaho. Nevertheless, efforts by the United Potato Growers of America to boost prices by reducing production in 2005 have already been partly realized in higher initial prices for the spring and summer crops.

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