U.S. Potato Crop Inches Upward

WASHINGTON - Dec 10/09 - SNS -- Total U.S. potato production in 2009 from all four seasons is forecast at 432 million cwt (100 pound units), up 1% from the November forecast and 4% from last year, according to the USDA.

Harvested area, at 1.04 million acres, is virtually unchanged from last month's forecast and last year. Yield is forecast at 414 cwt per acre, up 3 cwt from last month and 18 cwt from the previous year record high of 396 cwt per acre.

Production of fall potatoes for 2009 is forecast at 394 million cwt, up 1% from the November forecast and 4% from last year. Area harvested, at 919,400 acres, is slightly below the November forecast and 2008 estimate. The average yield, forecast at 429 cwt per acre, is up 3 cwt per acre from November's forecast and up 18 cwt per acre from last year. If realized, it will be the highest yield on record.

Idaho's yield is forecast at 411 cwt per acre. If realized, this will be Idaho's highest yield on record, 25 cwt above the record yield set in 2006. Production in Idaho is up 13% from last year. In eastern Washington, potato harvest was virtually completed by late November. Despite weather delays, harvest progress was the same as last year's pace and the 5-year average. In Colorado, growing conditions were favorable in the San Luis Valley, however, an early frost and disease led to increase abandonment this year. Oregon's crop had a normal start without any widespread delays during planting. In California, favorable weather conditions aided yields and resulted in good crop quality reports from growers.

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