U.S. Potato Inventories Up 5%

WASHINGTON - Jan 17/08 - SNS -- Stocks of potatoes in the 13 major producing states in the U,S. are up over last, according to the USDA, rising 5% to 238 million cwt (100 pound units).

Disappearance of 163 million cwt from the start of harvest to January 1 is down slightly from last year but up 6% from 2007. Shrink and loss, at 16.0 million cwt, is down 1% from the previous year but 7% above the same date in 2006.

Processors have used 87.7 million cwt of 2007 crop potatoes so far this season, down 4% from a year ago but 8% above 2 years ago. Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon total processing decreased 2% from a year ago, Maine's total processing was 8% below the same date in 2007, and Washington and the rest of Oregon total processing was down 6% from last season. Dehydrating usage accounts for 16.7 million cwt of the total processing, down 13% from last year but 7% above the same date in 2006.

Western States held 172 million cwt of potatoes in storage on January 1, up 10% from last year and 9% above 2006. Idaho's potato stocks are up 5% from last year, Washington's potato sheds held 27% more than last year, and Oregon's stocks increased 16% from last season. Montana's potato sheds held 6% more stocks than last year and California's potato stocks increased 7% from last season. Colorado's potato stocks declined 13% from last year.

Central States accounted for 51.9 million cwt of potato stocks on January 1, down 5% from last year but 6% above the same date in 2006. Wisconsin's potato stocks declined 5% from last year, North Dakotas's sheds held 17% less, and potato stocks in Minnesota are 1% below last season. Nebraska's potato stocks decreased 8% from the same date in 2007. Michigan's potato sheds held 17% more than a year ago.

Eastern States stored 13.2 million cwt of potatoes on January 1, down 12% from last year and 1% below January 1, 2007. Maine's potato sheds held 12% less than last year, while New York's potato stocks declined 14% from a year ago.

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