Poor Weather Hurts Potato Harvest
WASHINGTON - Nov 8/19 - SNS -- Production of potatoes for the 2019 crop year is forecast at 422 million cwt (100 pound units), down 6% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop report.
Planted acreage, at 961,800 acres, is down 1% from the June estimate. Area harvested, at 938,900 acres, is down 7% from the previous year. The yield forecast, at 450 cwt per acre, is up 7 cwt from last year's yield.
In Idaho, growers reported losses due to freezing temperatures in late September and early October. Several farmers left potatoes in the ground to avoid the cost of digging them up.
Washington producers reported some quality concerns due to soil borne issues and freeze damage at the end of the harvest season.
Prolonged wet conditions during late September and early October hampered harvest progress in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. As of the week ending November 3, harvest was at 73% well behind normal.
Potato Area Planted and Harvested - States and United States: 2018 and 2019
[Includes updates to planted and harvested area previously published]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Area planted : Area harvested
State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 acres
:
Alaska 2/ ........: 0.5 (NA) 0.5 (NA)
California .......: 38.5 40.0 38.3 39.6
Colorado .........: 55.3 51.3 55.0 51.0
San Luis Valley .: 51.8 48.6 51.6 48.4
All other areas .: 3.5 2.7 3.4 2.6
Florida ..........: 22.0 26.0 20.8 25.3
Idaho ............: 315.0 310.0 315.0 308.0
Illinois 2/ ......: 7.7 (NA) 7.6 (NA)
Kansas 2/ ........: 3.3 (NA) 3.3 (NA)
Maine ............: 49.0 52.0 48.5 51.5
Maryland 2/ ......: 2.2 (NA) 2.0 (NA)
Michigan .........: 50.0 49.0 48.0 47.5
:
Minnesota ........: 44.0 46.0 43.5 44.0
Missouri 2/ ......: 7.8 (NA) 7.4 (NA)
Montana 2/ .......: 11.1 (NA) 11.1 (NA)
Nebraska .........: 19.5 20.0 19.3 19.7
New Jersey 2/ ....: 2.0 (NA) 2.0 (NA)
New York 2/ ......: 14.3 (NA) 13.4 (NA)
North Carolina 2/ : 13.0 (NA) 12.2 (NA)
North Dakota .....: 74.5 73.0 73.0 59.0
Oregon ...........: 45.0 42.0 45.0 42.0
Texas ............: 18.0 17.5 17.5 17.3
:
Virginia 2/ ......: 4.8 (NA) 4.4 (NA)
Washington .......: 160.0 165.0 160.0 165.0
Wisconsin ........: 69.0 70.0 67.0 69.0
:
United States ....: 1,026.5 961.8 1,014.8 938.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/ Forecasted.
2/ Estimates discontinued in 2019.
Potato Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2018 and
Forecasted November 1, 2019
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Area harvested : Yield per acre : Production
State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --- 1,000 acres -- ----- cwt ----- ---- 1,000 cwt ----
:
Alaska 1/ ..........: 0.5 (NA) 280 (NA) 140 (NA)
California .........: 38.3 39.6 404 430 15,457 17,028
Colorado ...........: 55.0 51.0 395 386 21,722 19,666
San Luis Valley ...: 51.6 48.4 390 380 20,124 18,392
All other areas ...: 3.4 2.6 470 490 1,598 1,274
Florida ............: 20.8 25.3 265 270 5,512 6,831
Idaho ..............: 315.0 308.0 450 435 141,750 133,980
Illinois 1/ ........: 7.6 (NA) 375 (NA) 2,850 (NA)
Kansas 1/ ..........: 3.3 (NA) 430 (NA) 1,419 (NA)
Maine ..............: 48.5 51.5 310 320 15,035 16,480
Maryland 1/ ........: 2.0 (NA) 255 (NA) 510 (NA)
Michigan ...........: 48.0 47.5 380 410 18,240 19,475
:
Minnesota ..........: 43.5 44.0 430 410 18,705 18,040
Missouri 1/ ........: 7.4 (NA) 225 (NA) 1,665 (NA)
Montana 1/ .........: 11.1 (NA) 350 (NA) 3,885 (NA)
Nebraska ...........: 19.3 19.7 480 470 9,264 9,259
New Jersey 1/ ......: 2.0 (NA) 265 (NA) 530 (NA)
New York 1/ ........: 13.4 (NA) 290 (NA) 3,886 (NA)
North Carolina 1/ ..: 12.2 (NA) 190 (NA) 2,318 (NA)
North Dakota .......: 73.0 59.0 325 355 23,725 20,945
Oregon .............: 45.0 42.0 600 540 27,000 22,680
Texas ..............: 17.5 17.3 425 440 7,438 7,612
:
Virginia 1/ ........: 4.4 (NA) 235 (NA) 1,034 (NA)
Washington .........: 160.0 165.0 630 615 100,800 101,475
Wisconsin ..........: 67.0 69.0 405 420 27,135 28,980
:
United States ......: 1,014.8 938.9 443 450 450,020 422,451
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/ Estimates discontinued in 2019.
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