STAT Communications Ag Market News

Spring Spud Interest Sputters

WASHINGTON - Mar 29/18 - SNS -- Area planted to spring potatoes in the United States is expected to be 53,000 acres for the 2018 season, down 9% from 2017, according to the USDA's seeding intentions report for 2018.

In California, Kern County harvesting season was winding down. Water rights remained a concern for many growers for their 2018 plantings, as snowpack remained below normal for most of California. Precipitation has been slightly below normal for Florida's potato growing regions.

Spring Potato Area Planted - States and United States: 2016-2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                                 Area planted
        State       :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :       2016        :       2017        :      2018 1/      :    Percent of
                    :                   :                   :                   :   previous year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :       ---------------- 1,000 acres ---------------               percent
                    :
California .........:       26.0                29.0                27.0                 93
Florida ............:       25.0                29.0                26.0                 90
                    :
United States ......:       51.0                58.0                53.0                 91
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Intended plantings in 2018 as indicated by reports from farmers.

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