Modest Hike in 2007 Potato Harvest

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- Total 2007 U.S. potato production from all four seasons is estimated at 449 million cwt (100 pound units), 2% above the 2006 crop and up 6% from 2005, according to the USDA final crop report for 2007.

Harvested area, at 1.13 million acres, is up 1% from last year and 4% more than two years ago. The average yield, at 398 cwt per acre, is up 5 cwt from last year and 8 cwt above 2005. By season, fall production is 3% above the previous year, summer is down 7%, spring increased 5%, and winter decreased 45% from 2006.

The final 2007 winter potato production is estimated at 2.47 million cwt, unchanged from the April estimate but 45% below 2006. Florida winter potatoes were combined with their spring potatoes for the 2007 crop. The California production is 21% below 2006. Area for harvest in California, at 11,500 acres, is unchanged from April but down 4% from a year ago. The average yield of 215 cwt per acre is unchanged from April but 45 cwt below a year ago.

Spring Potatoes production for 2007 is estimated at 20.7 million cwt, virtually unchanged from the May forecast but 5% above 2006. Harvested area totaled 70,400 acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 4% from a year ago. The average yield of 294 cwt per acre is the same as the May forecast but 1 cwt above 2006.

Summer potatoe output ended up at 16.9 million cwt in 2007, up 2% from the September forecast but down 7% from a year ago. Harvested area, at 50,400 acres, is down 6% from last year. The average yield of 335 cwt per acre is 2 cwt below 2006. Production declined from the previous year in 7 of the 11 producing States.

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