U.S. potato crop rated 2% lower

U.S. potato production for 2021 is down slightly compared with the 2020 crop, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s November crop production report.

The USDA said U.S production of potatoes for the 2021 crop year is forecast at 413 million cwt., down 2% from 420.02 million cwt. produced last season.

Planted acreage, at 951,000 acres, is up 1% from the June estimate and up 4% from last season.  Potato area harvested, at 942,300 acres, is up 3% from the previous year, while the yield forecast, at 438 cwt per acre, is down 23 cwt. from last year’s yield. 

Idaho’s forecast is  132.09 million cwt., down 2% from 134.77 million cwt. last year. Yields in Idaho were 420 cwt. per acre, off 7% from 450 cwt. per acre last year.

Washington’s output is 93.3 million cwt., down 6% from 99.65 million cwt. last year. Yields in Washington were 585 cwt per acre, off 9% from 645 cwt. per acre last year.

The potato production estimate in North Dakota is 21.0 million cwt., down 12% from last year.