Sweet Potato Area Inches Up

WASHINGTON - Jun 29/07 - SNS -- Planted area of sweet potatoes is estimated at 96,500 acres for the 2007 season, up 1% from last year and 6% above two years ago, according to the USDA's seeded area estimates for 2007.

Harvested area is forecast at 93,200 acres, up 7% from 2006 and 5% above 2005. The acreage increase is due mainly to favorable growing conditions in the largest States. Growers in California, Mississippi, and North Carolina planted more acres than last year, while planted acres are down from 2006 in Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Texas.

Transplanting is nearly complete in the Atlantic Coast States. As of June 17, North Carolina's fields were 82% transplanted and 85% of the crop was rated fair to good. In New Jersey, unseasonably cold temperatures combined with frequent thunderstorms during May reduced the planted acres.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here