Sweet Potato Interest Up

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/16 - SNS -- Planted area of sweet potatoes in 2016 is expected to be 169,400 acres, up 8% from the previous year, according to the USDA's seeding intentions report for 2016.

January ending temperatures were above the norm in Mississippi. Rainy conditions during February and March either halted any field preparation, or made it sporadic at best. North Carolina's February topsoil moisture was rated 46% adequate and 54% surplus making it difficult to progress with field preparation.

Sweet Potato Area Planted - States and United States: 2014-2016
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                    :                                 Area planted
        State       :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :       2014        :       2015        :      2016 1/      :    Percent of
                    :                   :                   :                   :   previous year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :       ---------------- 1,000 acres ----------------              percent
                    :
Alabama 2/ .........:         2.1                 2.6                (NA)                (X)
Arkansas ...........:         4.0                 4.0                 (D)                (D)
California .........:        19.0                18.5                20.0                108
Florida ............:         6.0                 5.6                 (D)                (D)
Louisiana ..........:         9.0                10.0                10.0                100
Mississippi ........:        22.0                27.0                25.0                 93
New Jersey 2/ ......:         1.2                 1.2                (NA)                (X)
North Carolina .....:        73.0                87.0               105.0                121
Texas 2/ ...........:         1.0                 1.0                (NA)                (X)
                    :
Other States 3/ ....:           -                   -                 9.4                (X)
                    :
United States ......:       137.3               156.9               169.4                108
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-    Represents zero.
(D)  Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
(X)  Not applicable.
1/   Intended plantings in 2016 as indicated by reports from farmers.
2/   Estimates discontinued in 2016.
3/   Includes data withheld above.