The USDA estimates that potato growers harvested 434.22 million cwt of potatoes during 2023. That is 35.48 million cwt more than the 2022 crop, an 8.9% increase. It is the largest U.S. potato crop since 2000. USDA made several changes to its June 30 acreage estimates for the various states. At 959,800 acres, the official harvested area exceeded USDA’s June forecast by 17,900 acres. That is 48,400 acres more than last year’s crop. USDA puts this year’s national average potato yield at 452 cwt per acre, 15 cwt more than the 2022 average yield.
The USDA increased its estimate of Michigan’s planted area by 1,000 acres, relative to the June estimate. The harvested area was set at 47,500 acres, which is 2,000 acres more than growers harvested in 2022. At 410 cwt per acre, this year’s yield estimate is 5 cwt below the 2022 yield. That puts this year’s Michigan potato crop at 19.48 million cwt, which exceeds 2022 production by 592,000 cwt, or 3.1%.
Thanksgiving table potato movement has been strong. U.S. packers shipped 2.196 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Nov. 11. That is up from 2.105 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 103,442 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Nov. 11. That is up from 84,234 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 92.6% russets, 4.8% yellow potatoes, and 2.6% round white potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $11.50-$16 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $12.50-$17.00 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $11-$12 per 50-pound bale, down from $12 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $11-$13.50 per 50-pound box, down from $12.50-$14 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $16.95 per cwt, down from $17.45 per cwt last week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16 per bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $22 per cwt, unchanged from last week. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for mostly $30 per 50-pound box, also unchanged.
– Report by North American Potato Market News