Potato Output Striving to Rise

WASHINGTON - Sep 12/06 - SNS -- Potato production in the United States is on its way to recovering from last year's declines, with output from the spring and summer crops up over last year, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Last year's final potato production estimate stands at 424 million cwt (100 pound units) across all four seasons, down 7% from both 2004 and 2003.

Area harvested is estimated at 1.09 million acres, down 7% from a year earlier and 13% below 2003. The yield, averaging 390 cwt per acre, decreased 1 cwt from 2004 but is up 23 cwt from 2003. Winter production in 2005 increased 2% from 2004. Spring and summer production decreased 17% and 4%, respectively, from a year earlier. Fall potatoes were down 7% from the previous year.

This year's production of summer potatoes is forecast at 18.7 million cwt in 2006, unchanged from the July 1 forecast but 7% above the 2005 final estimate. Harvested area is estimated at 54,800 acres, up 7% from last year. The average yield is forecast at 342 cwt per acre, 12 cwt above the July forecast but unchanged from last year.

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