Pot 1-2 (12-99) Potato Stocks National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 15, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Potato Stocks" call Arvin Budge at (202) 720-4285, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. Potato Production Down 1 Percent, Stocks Off 2 Percent Production of fall potatoes is forecast at 429 million cwt in the 23 fall States this year, down 1 percent from a year ago but 1 percent above 1997. December 1 stocks in 15 storage States, at 275 million cwt, are down 2 percent from last year and 1 percent below 1997. Seasonal disappearance of 146 million cwt in the 15 States is up 2 percent from last year. Fryers and dehydrators used 74.6 million cwt so far this season, up 1 percent from last year. Fall Potatoes: Production and Stocks, 15 Major States, 1990-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop : : : : : : : : Year :Production: Dec 1 : Jan 1 : Feb 1 : Mar 1 : Apr 1 : May 1 :Jun 1 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Cwt : 1990 : 344,200 225,500 194,460 162,850 134,470 101,150 63,040 1991 : 363,541 242,070 211,005 178,515 145,820 108,865 69,110 1992 : 368,516 246,820 215,990 184,560 152,795 115,785 75,040 1993 : 376,954 249,410 217,300 185,490 153,435 115,170 72,860 1994 : 410,839 273,290 238,560 202,470 169,570 129,825 87,600 1995 : 394,785 256,710 223,550 189,360 156,020 115,855 75,870 1996 : 443,704 295,100 261,320 226,080 189,210 147,635 103,210 1997 : 413,513 278,830 246,550 212,562 175,870 134,190 92,840 1998 : 423,170 280,910 246,230 209,640 173,650 131,220 87,895 50,270 1999 : 420,567 274,870 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data not available prior to 1998. Potatoes: Quantity Used for Processing, Eight States, 1996-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State and : : : : : : : : Crop Year : Dec 1 : Jan 1 : Feb 1 : Mar 1 : Apr 1 : May 1 :Jun 1 2/: Season -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Cwt : ID & OR-Mal: 1996 : 31,060 38,210 45,420 54,640 62,570 70,720 96,970 1997 : 26,880 33,950 41,050 49,470 57,620 65,750 91,450 1998 : 27,510 34,700 42,670 51,210 60,040 68,550 76,410 92,860 1999 : 27,970 : ME 3/ : 1996 : 1,790 2,115 2,820 3,280 3,820 4,420 6,495 1997 : 1,250 1,720 2,265 2,735 3,355 3,900 5,870 1998 : 1,430 1,935 2,530 2,985 3,595 4,180 4,705 5,945 1999 : 1,375 : WA & OR-Oth: 1996 : 31,670 36,660 41,700 48,740 55,570 62,320 80,970 1997 : 28,580 33,990 38,690 46,400 53,720 59,780 76,930 1998 : 33,630 38,890 45,650 53,290 60,930 67,180 74,190 83,730 1999 : 33,440 : Oth Sts 4/ : 1996 : 13,720 17,000 20,645 24,085 27,650 30,830 43,100 1997 : 11,645 13,960 17,115 19,905 23,515 26,365 37,842 1998 : 11,615 14,550 18,150 20,900 24,710 27,855 31,635 37,662 1999 : 11,785 : Total : 1996 : 78,240 93,985 110,585 130,745 149,610 168,290 227,535 1997 : 68,355 83,620 99,120 118,510 138,210 155,795 212,092 1998 : 74,185 90,075 109,000 128,385 149,275 167,765 186,940 220,197 1999 : 74,570 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Total quantity received and used for processing regardless of the State in which the potatoes were produced. Amount excludes quantities used for potato chips in ME, MI, MN, ND, and WI. 2/ Data not available prior to 1998. 3/ Includes Maine grown potatoes only. 4/ MI, MN, ND, and WI. Fall Potatoes: Production and Stocks, 15 Major States, December 1, 1998-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Crop of 1998 : Crop of 1999 :---------------------------------------------------------------- State : : Stocks : % : : Stocks : % : Prod : Dec 1, : of : Prod : Dec 1, : of : : 1998 : Prod : : 1999 : Prod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Cwt --- Percent ---- 1,000 Cwt --- Percent : CA : 3,708 2,800 76 4,005 3,200 80 CO : 25,360 19,000 75 25,762 19,500 76 ID : 138,000 99,500 72 133,330 96,000 72 ME : 18,060 14,100 78 17,813 14,500 81 MI : 14,648 9,100 62 14,963 8,800 59 MN : 21,170 13,500 64 18,020 10,000 55 MT : 3,180 3,050 96 3,325 3,220 97 NE : 8,175 4,700 57 8,904 5,300 60 NY : 7,290 3,400 47 6,758 3,700 55 ND : 28,670 20,500 72 26,400 16,500 63 OH : 1,200 260 22 987 250 25 OR : 26,229 20,000 76 28,020 22,800 81 PA : 3,360 2,000 60 3,080 1,600 52 WA : 93,225 49,000 53 95,200 48,000 50 WI : 30,895 20,000 65 34,000 21,500 63 : 15 States : 423,170 280,910 66 420,567 274,870 65 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Stocks include processor holdings and seed to plant following year's crop. Seed usage in 1999 totaled 29.5 million cwt. Fall Potatoes: Stocks by Type as Percent of Total Stocks, 11 Selected States, December 1, 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Potato Types :-------------------------------------------------------------- : Reds : Round Whites : Long Whites : Russets State :-------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : CO : 4 4 6 2 90 94 ID : 4 5 96 95 ME : 4 3 48 50 11 10 37 37 MI : 1 2 81 87 18 11 MN : 13 7 7 5 3 1 77 87 NY : 5 5 93 93 2 2 ND : 16 15 22 22 3 13 59 50 OR : 1 1 2 2 4 2 93 95 PA : 2 3 98 97 WA : 1 1 1 1 6 6 92 92 WI : 3 4 13 33 84 63 : 11 St Avg: 3 2 11 12 4 5 82 81 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fall Potatoes: Area Planted and Harvested by State, 1997-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Planted : Area Harvested State :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : CA : 10.5 10.3 9.0 10.5 10.3 9.0 CO : 77.0 75.8 77.2 76.9 75.7 76.9 ID : 400.0 410.0 395.0 398.0 408.0 393.0 10 SW Co : 27.0 28.0 26.0 27.0 28.0 26.0 Other ID : 373.0 382.0 369.0 371.0 380.0 367.0 IN : 4.9 5.3 5.2 4.5 5.0 4.9 ME : 72.0 65.5 65.0 72.0 64.5 62.5 MA : 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.9 MI : 48.0 47.0 48.0 47.5 46.5 47.5 MN : 77.0 82.0 70.0 73.0 73.0 53.0 MT : 10.4 10.6 11.0 10.4 10.6 10.9 NE : 20.0 22.0 21.6 19.9 21.8 21.2 NV : 7.0 7.0 6.5 6.9 7.0 6.5 NM : 6.1 6.2 6.6 6.1 5.9 6.6 NY : 26.5 27.6 26.0 26.0 27.0 25.5 ND : 125.0 126.0 121.0 110.0 122.0 110.0 OH : 5.3 5.1 4.8 5.2 4.8 4.7 OR : 56.5 59.0 56.0 55.5 58.0 55.5 Malheur : 11.0 11.5 10.5 10.9 11.4 10.5 Other OR : 45.5 47.5 45.5 44.6 46.6 45.0 PA : 14.0 14.5 14.5 13.5 14.0 14.0 RI : 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.6 SD : 4.6 5.0 3.5 4.4 4.8 3.4 UT : 3.3 2.7 2.0 3.3 2.6 2.0 WA : 152.0 165.0 170.0 152.0 165.0 170.0 WI : 85.5 84.5 86.0 85.0 83.5 85.0 WY : 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.5 : Total : 1,210.1 1,235.1 1,203.0 1,185.1 1,214.0 1,166.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fall Potatoes: Yield and Production by State, 1997-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield : Production State :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- Cwt ---------- --------- 1,000 Cwt --------- : CA : 400 360 445 4,200 3,708 4,005 CO : 325 335 335 24,993 25,360 25,762 ID : 353 338 339 140,314 138,000 133,330 10 SW Co : 470 450 470 12,690 12,600 12,220 Other ID : 344 330 330 127,624 125,400 121,110 IN : 260 320 270 1,170 1,600 1,323 ME : 265 280 285 19,080 18,060 17,813 MA : 270 235 255 810 682 740 MI : 300 315 315 14,250 14,648 14,963 MN : 280 290 340 20,440 21,170 18,020 MT : 320 300 305 3,328 3,180 3,325 NE : 390 375 420 7,761 8,175 8,904 NV : 430 400 440 2,967 2,800 2,860 NM : 390 380 320 2,379 2,242 2,112 NY : 275 270 265 7,150 7,290 6,758 ND : 200 235 240 22,000 28,670 26,400 OH : 225 250 210 1,170 1,200 987 OR : 492 452 505 27,319 26,229 28,020 Malheur : 440 400 440 4,796 4,560 4,620 Other OR : 505 465 520 22,523 21,669 23,400 PA : 235 240 220 3,173 3,360 3,080 RI : 270 210 225 216 147 135 SD : 220 260 290 968 1,248 986 UT : 290 280 290 957 728 580 WA : 580 565 560 88,160 93,225 95,200 WI : 355 370 400 30,175 30,895 34,000 WY : 300 300 295 210 120 148 : Total : 357 356 368 423,190 432,737 429,451 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fall Potatoes: Production, December 1 Stocks, and Farm Disposition, 15 Storage States and 23 Fall Season States, 1996-99 Crop Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : Farm Disposition : : : : Total :--------------------------------- State :Crop : : Stocks : Used : Where Grown : :Year :Production: Dec 1 : For :----------------------: : : : : Fall :Seed, Feed,:Shrinkage : Sold : : : : Seed : Home Use : and Loss : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 1,000 Cwt : : CA : : : 1996: 4,600 3,500 200 23 472 4,105 : 1997: 4,200 2,700 206 20 340 3,840 : 1998: 3,708 2,800 171 29 720 2,959 : 1999: 4,005 3,200 CO : : : 1996: 29,175 23,100 1,925 1,485 3,975 23,715 : 1997: 24,993 19,400 1,895 1,340 2,773 20,880 : 1998: 25,360 19,000 1,930 1,615 2,615 21,130 : 1999: 25,762 19,500 ID : : : 1996: 142,800 102,000 8,600 1,500 10,100 131,200 : 1997: 140,314 102,000 8,700 1,130 9,258 129,926 : 1998: 138,000 99,500 8,400 1,280 9,756 126,964 : 1999: 133,330 96,000 ME : : : 1996: 21,175 16,900 1,584 395 1,800 18,980 : 1997: 19,080 15,600 1,430 275 1,760 17,045 : 1998: 18,060 14,100 1,496 360 1,740 15,960 : 1999: 17,813 14,500 MI : : : 1996: 13,800 8,000 768 300 1,300 12,200 : 1997: 14,250 8,500 864 200 1,300 12,750 : 1998: 14,648 9,100 888 200 1,348 13,100 : 1999: 14,963 8,800 MN : : : 1996: 24,600 16,500 1,348 445 4,158 19,997 : 1997: 20,440 13,500 1,640 450 1,717 18,273 : 1998: 21,170 13,500 1,400 254 1,440 19,476 : 1999: 18,020 10,000 MT : : : 1996: 3,213 3,050 239 137 221 2,855 : 1997: 3,328 3,180 244 152 208 2,968 : 1998: 3,180 3,050 253 145 265 2,770 : 1999: 3,325 3,220 NE : : : 1996: 4,402 3,160 451 169 439 3,794 : 1997: 7,761 5,300 462 203 380 7,178 : 1998: 8,175 4,700 469 166 881 7,128 : 1999: 8,904 5,300 NY : : : 1996: 7,420 3,700 583 127 341 6,952 : 1997: 7,150 3,600 607 139 315 6,696 : 1998: 7,290 3,400 572 110 330 6,850 : 1999: 6,758 3,700 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --continued Fall Potatoes: Production, December 1 Stocks, and Farm Disposition, 15 Storage States and 23 Fall Season States, 1996-99 Crop Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : Farm Disposition : : : : Total :--------------------------------- State :Crop : : Stocks : Used : Where Grown : :Year :Production: Dec 1 : For :----------------------: : : : : Fall :Seed, Feed,:Shrinkage : Sold : : : : Seed : Home Use : and Loss : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 1,000 Cwt : : ND : : : 1996: 28,820 20,500 2,188 360 5,270 23,190 : 1997: 22,000 16,000 2,142 355 2,266 19,379 : 1998: 28,670 20,500 2,250 395 2,840 25,435 : 1999: 26,400 16,500 OH : : : 1996: 1,275 290 109 5 35 1,235 : 1997: 1,170 350 105 8 37 1,125 : 1998: 1,200 260 100 8 37 1,155 : 1999: 987 250 OR : : : 1996: 30,124 23,600 1,345 305 2,560 27,259 : 1997: 27,319 20,500 1,405 195 1,555 25,569 : 1998: 26,229 20,000 1,382 195 2,206 23,828 : 1999: 28,020 22,800 PA : : : 1996: 4,160 2,800 266 81 320 3,759 : 1997: 3,173 2,000 276 78 176 2,919 : 1998: 3,360 2,000 261 50 252 3,058 : 1999: 3,080 1,600 WA : : : 1996: 94,990 48,000 3,648 300 6,800 87,890 : 1997: 88,160 47,000 3,840 300 6,400 81,460 : 1998: 93,225 49,000 4,080 300 6,500 86,425 : 1999: 95,200 48,000 WI : : : 1996: 33,150 20,000 1,710 320 1,425 31,405 : 1997: 30,175 19,200 1,764 275 1,448 28,452 : 1998: 30,895 20,000 1,720 265 2,360 28,270 : 1999: 34,000 21,500 15 Sts : : : 1996: 443,704 295,100 24,964 5,952 39,216 398,536 : 1997: 413,513 278,830 25,580 5,120 29,933 378,460 : 1998: 423,170 280,910 25,372 5,372 33,290 384,508 : 1999: 420,567 274,870 23 Fall: : : 1996: 454,388 25,608 6,054 40,087 408,247 : 1997: 423,190 26,224 5,260 30,841 387,089 : 1998: 432,737 25,929 5,584 34,231 392,922 : 1999: 429,451 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fall Potatoes: Farm Marketings, Selected States, 1996-98 Marketing Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Crop :Jul :Aug :Sep :Oct :Nov :Dec :Jan :Feb :Mar :Apr :May :Jun :Jul : Year : : : : : : : : : : : : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Percent : : CA : : : 1996 : : 1997 : : 1998 : 13 12 13 11 10 12 10 8 7 4 CO : : : 1996 : 4 7 9 9 10 9 10 11 10 11 10 : 1997 : 1 4 8 9 11 10 8 11 11 10 10 7 : 1998 : 5 8 9 12 10 10 12 11 10 9 4 ID : : : 1996 : 6 14 18 7 5 6 6 9 8 8 6 7 : 1997 : 6 15 12 8 8 8 6 7 7 9 7 7 : 1998 : 6 11 20 6 6 7 6 8 9 9 6 6 ME : : : 1996 : 1 8 7 7 8 10 9 14 16 9 11 : 1997 : 1 6 7 8 8 10 9 15 17 10 9 : 1998 : 1 7 9 9 9 10 11 14 12 9 9 MI : : : 1996 : 1 9 10 11 11 9 12 11 10 9 5 2 : 1997 : 3 9 10 8 11 11 11 12 11 8 6 : 1998 : 3 8 9 9 9 12 14 9 12 10 5 MN : : : 1996 : 6 22 19 11 5 5 7 8 8 5 4 : 1997 : 5 22 25 11 7 5 6 7 7 5 : 1998 : 11 16 14 10 5 7 6 8 9 6 8 NY : : : 1996 : 7 17 17 14 14 10 8 7 4 2 : 1997 : 8 15 15 16 15 13 9 5 3 1 : 1998 : 7 16 16 16 15 11 8 6 4 1 ND : : : 1996 : 4 12 22 8 7 7 8 10 7 6 7 2 : 1997 : 1 12 16 13 8 12 9 9 8 6 5 1 : 1998 : 3 13 14 10 10 8 7 7 9 10 6 3 OR : : : 1996 : 1 14 16 26 7 5 5 5 4 6 5 5 1 : 1997 : 1 9 14 30 8 6 5 6 6 5 6 3 1 : 1998 : 2 12 15 27 8 5 4 5 6 6 4 4 2 PA : : : 1996 : 1 12 15 13 11 9 10 8 9 6 4 2 : 1997 : 1 13 13 12 12 12 10 8 7 8 3 1 : 1998 : 14 12 11 12 15 11 9 7 6 2 1 WA : : : 1996 : 17 11 31 8 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 2 : 1997 : 12 14 31 7 4 4 4 6 6 6 5 1 : 1998 : 16 13 25 7 3 5 6 7 5 6 6 1 WI : : : 1996 : 1 6 20 14 10 7 8 11 9 7 4 3 : 1997 : 1 7 17 14 10 9 8 11 10 7 4 2 : 1998 : 1 6 18 13 10 10 10 9 9 8 4 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 Potato Objective Yield Survey The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducted potato objective yield surveys in the 7 major fall producing States in 1999. These 7 States account for 82 percent of the fall potato production. Sample plots were located in potato fields that were selected on a random basis using a scientifically designed sampling procedure. Field workers recorded counts and measurements. Survey data from the objective yield counts are presented in the following tables. They are provided to show information about the crop and trends in production. Potatoes: Harvest Loss by Type, Seven Objective Yield States, 1998-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Crop: Reds : Whites : Russets : All Types :Year: : : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Cwt per Acre : : ID :1998: 43 27 28 :1999: 23 33 32 : : ME :1998: 15 12 16 13 :1999: 33 15 16 16 : : MN :1998: 13 19 26 21 :1999: 16 17 19 18 : : ND :1998: 31 17 25 23 :1999: 18 15 31 22 : : OR :1998: 37 26 28 :1999: 16 24 24 : : WA :1998: 36 26 27 :1999: 35 20 22 : : WI :1998: 4 21 19 19 :1999: 8 4 16 13 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Potatoes left in the field at time of harvest. Based on counts in potato fields selected for postharvest samples. Potatoes: Number of Hills by Type, Seven Objective Yield States, 1998-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Reds : Whites : Russets : :------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Crop: Number : Avg No. : Number : Avg No. : Number : Avg No. :Year: of : Hills : of : Hills : of : Hills : : Samples : per Acre : Samples : per Acre : Samples : per Acre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : ID :1998: 19 12,406 264 12,134 :1999: 18 13,028 277 12,200 : : ME :1998: 6 15,275 102 13,091 45 10,189 :1999: 7 14,607 110 13,263 45 9,112 : : MN :1998: 33 11,125 18 11,375 76 12,725 :1999: 42 10,339 16 8,435 76 12,358 : : ND :1998: 24 9,162 53 10,099 57 11,196 :1999: 21 9,260 54 8,773 73 9,960 : : OR :1998: 4 13,841 34 13,981 131 13,016 :1999: 2 16,566 25 14,350 134 14,723 : : WA :1998: 3 14,053 20 13,197 158 13,924 :1999: 6 16,380 28 13,967 152 13,896 : : WI :1998: 11 12,347 41 11,699 86 11,911 :1999: 12 13,085 28 12,600 76 11,969 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on row measurements and counts in potato fields selected for objective yield samples. Reliability of December 1 Production and Stocks Estimates The "Root Mean Square Error" for the December 1 stocks estimate is 2.6 percent. This means that the chances are 2 out of 3 that the current estimate of 275 million cwt will not be above or below the final estimate by more than 2.6 percent or approximately 7.1 million cwt. Chances are 9 out of 10 (90 percent confidence level) that the difference will not exceed 4.4 percent or approximately12.1 million cwt. Also shown is the 10-year (1989-98) record of the differences between the December 1 production and stocks estimates and the final estimates. Using stocks again as an example, changes between the December 1 estimate and the final estimate during the 10 years have averaged 5.5 million cwt. During the 10-year period, the December 1 stocks estimates have been below the final estimate 9 out of 10 years. Production estimates have been below the final estimate 7 years and above 3 years. Reliability of December 1 Fall Potato Estimates -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root Mean : Ten Year Record of Difference : Square Error : Between Dec 1 and Final Estimate :------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 90% Confidence : : Number Estimate : : Level : Quantity : of Years :Percent:----------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Below : Above : :Percent: Quant : Avg : Small : Large : Final : Final -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------- Million Cwt --------- : Stocks : 2.6 4.4 12.09 5.50 0.65 14.50 9 1 Production : 1.8 3.0 12.88 5.20 0.05 13.46 7 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fall Potato Stocks: Preliminary and Final December 1 Stocks, United States, 1989-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop : Preliminary : % of : Final Year : Stocks : Final : Stocks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Cwt Percent 1,000 Cwt : 1989 : 201,400 99.7 202,050 1990 : 217,300 96.4 225,500 1991 : 240,660 99.4 242,070 1992 : 232,320 94.1 246,820 1993 : 240,370 96.4 249,410 1994 : 264,090 96.6 273,290 1995 : 252,030 98.2 256,710 1996 : 291,650 98.8 295,100 1997 : 274,250 98.4 278,830 1998 : 281,020 100.0 280,910 1999 : 274,870 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Stocks are the quantity (whether sold or not) remaining in storage for all purposes and uses, including seed potatoes not yet moved, shrinkage, waste, and other losses that occur after the date of each report. Sales of fall potatoes for all purposes for the past 5 years averaged 90.7 percent of the total fall production. Shrinkage and loss and home use accounted for the remaining 9.3 percent. Most seed for use the following crop year is on hand and remains part of stocks until planted. Potatoes: Production, Sold, Not Sold, and Kept for Seed, United States, 1994-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Fall Potatoes : Amount Used :-------------------------------------------------------: for Seed Crop : : : Sold : : Not Sold : All Seasons Year : Production : Sold : as % of :Not Sold : as % of : Following : : : Prod : : Prod : year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Cwt ---- Percent 1,000 Cwt Percent 1,000 Cwt : 1994 : 422,345 380,818 90.2 41,527 9.8 29,428 1995 : 404,852 370,679 91.6 34,173 8.4 30,561 1996 : 454,388 408,247 89.8 46,141 10.2 29,138 1997 : 423,190 387,089 91.5 36,101 8.5 29,975 1998 : 432,737 392,922 90.8 39,815 9.2 29,516 1999 : 429,451 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Potatoes: Shrinkage and Loss, 15 Fall Storage States, 1996-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop : To : To : To : To : To : To : Total : Year : Dec 1 : Jan 1 : Feb 1 : Mar 1 : Apr 1 : May 1 : Jun 1 : Season -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Million Cwt : 1996 : 24.2 26.1 28.2 30.0 32.3 34.8 39.2 1997 : 15.3 17.3 19.3 21.3 23.5 25.6 30.0 1998 : 19.8 21.7 23.6 25.3 27.3 29.2 30.9 33.1 1999 : 17.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Potato Stocks Down 2 Percent The 15 major potato States held 275 million cwt of potatoes on December 1, 1999, down 2 percent from last year and 1 percent below 1997. Storage accounted for 65 percent of 1999 fall production, 1 percentage point below last year. Stocks by type were 2 percent red, 12 percent round white, 5 percent long white (Shepody) and 81 percent russet; with fewer russets, and more round whites than a year ago. Disappearance in the 15 States from the start of harvest to December 1, at 146 million cwt of potatoes, was up 2 percent from the same period last year and 8 percent more than two years ago. Shrink and loss, at 17.2 million cwt so far this year, was down 13 percent from losses in 1998, but up 12 percent from two years ago. Processors used 74.6 million cwt of 1999 crop potatoes so far this season, up 1 percent from a year ago and 9 percent above two years ago. Eastern States stored 19.8 million cwt of potatoes on December 1, up 2 percent from last year but 7 percent below 1997. Maine's stocks were up 3 percent, New York's storage gained 9 percent, but Pennsylvania's stocks declined 20 percent. Central States accounted for 62.4 million cwt of potato stocks this December, down 8 percent from last year and 1 percent lower than two years ago. Minnesota's stocks dropped 26 percent and North Dakota fell 20 percent from last year. Michigan was off 3 percent and Ohio slipped 4 percent. Wisconsin gained 8 percent while Nebraska stored 13 percent more potatoes than last year. Western States held 193 million cwt of potatoes in storage on December 1, fractionally below a year ago and 1 percent below two years ago. California and Oregon stored 14 percent more potatoes this year than last. Colorado gained 3 percent and Montana increased 6 percent. Idaho's stocks fell 4 percent and Washington's were off 2 percent. Fall Potato Production Down 1 Percent Production of fall potatoes for 1999 is forecast at 429 million cwt, down 1 percent from last year but up 1 percent from 1997. Area harvested, at 1.17 million acres, is down 4 percent from last year and 2 percent below two years ago. The average yield is 368 cwt per acre, a jump of 12 cwt from last year and 11 cwt above two years ago. Since the November forecast, additional acres have been lost in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota from heavy rains before and during harvest. The Idaho acreage was trimmed 1 percent. Summer drought hurt potatoes in New York and Pennsylvania and caused scattered damage in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. On the other hand, record large potato crops were recorded in Nebraska, Washington, and Wisconsin. Five Eastern States produced 28.5 million cwt of fall potatoes in 1999, down 3 percent from last year and 6 percent below two years ago. Area for harvest totaled 105,500 acres, down 3 percent from last year. The average yield of 270 cwt per acre was 1 cwt below last year but 6 cwt above 1997. Maine potato growers had a nearly ideal season from early planting to harvest time. Persistent rains delayed harvest and caused considerable damage to tubers. Production in Maine dropped 1 percent from last year. New York and Pennsylvania suffered extended drought through the summer cutting onto yields and reducing size. Eight Central States' production is forecast at 106 million cwt this year, down 2 percent from last year but 8 percent above two years ago. Harvest was taken from 329,700 acres, a drop of 9 percent from last year. The average yield of 320 cwt per acre represented a 22-cwt increase from a year ago. Dry summer weather hurt yields in Ohio and Indiana with production drops of 17 or more percent. Michigan's yields were not as high as expected, but higher acreage pushed production up 2 percent. Heavy rains during harvest led to acreage abandonment in North Dakota and Minnesota. Production in Wisconsin jumped 10 percent with increased acreage and record high yields. Nebraska's production increased 9 percent, also with a record high yield. Ten Western States produced 295 million cwt in 1999, down slightly from last year but fractionally above two years ago. Acreage harvested, at 730,900 acres, decreased 2 percent from last year, and the average yield of 404 cwt per acre was up 6 cwt. Production in Idaho decreased 3 percent from last year and 5 percent from two years ago. Washington gained 2 percent and Oregon 7 percent. Colorado was up 2 percent and California increased 8 percent. Montana was up 5 percent and Nevada gained 2 percent from a year ago. Production in Utah dropped 20 percent and New Mexico slid 6 percent. The next "Potato Stocks" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on January 14, 2000. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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