Solid Increase in Sweet Potato Crop

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- Production of sweet potatoes in 2007 is estimated at 18.5 million cwt, up 14% from last season and 17% above 2005, according to the USDA final crop report for 2007.

Growers harvested 97,500 acres, up 12% from last year. Yield per acre, at 189 cwt, is up 2 cwt from last year's record high yield. Production increased in 5 of the 9 producing States.

Drought conditions reduced sweet potato yields on the east coast. In North Carolina the average yield, at 165 cwt per acre, was 15 cwt below 2006. The average yield in New Jersey was 35 cwt per acre below the previous year. The Gulf Coast States also experienced dry conditions. In Alabama, yields were lower than last year due to the lack of rain.

Despite the dry conditions in Louisiana and Mississippi, timely rainfall resulted in above average yields. Louisiana growers realized a record high average yield of 195 cwt per acre, 30 cwt above last season and 20 cwt above the previous record high set in 2003.

In Mississippi, Hurricane Humberto brought 3 inches of rain in mid-September that helped the sweet potatoes increase in size. Good growing conditions in California resulted in a record high yield of 320 cwt per acre, 15 cwt above the previous record set in 2006.

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