The USDA estimates that U.S. growers harvested 396.89 million cwt of potatoes during 2022. That falls 12.94 million cwt short of 2021 production, a 3.2% decline.
The USDA puts Michigan’s potato crop at 16.72 million cwt. That is 2.63 million cwt less than 2021 production. Michigan’s average yield is reported at 380 cwt per acre, down from 430 cwt last year. USDA trimmed Michigan’s planted area to 45,000 acres, down from its previous estimate of 46,000 acres. It estimates that growers abandoned 1,000 acres of potatoes in 2022.
U.S. packers shipped 1.981 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Nov. 5. That is up from 1.960 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 63,800 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Nov. 5. That is up from 54,900 cwt during the same week in 2021. Last week’s Michigan shipments were:
- 79.0% russets
- 18.8% white potatoes
- 1.4% yellow potatoes
- 0.8% red potatoes
Russets
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $15-$17 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are also selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $15-$16 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $14-$15 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $22-$30 per 50-pound box, up from $21-$30 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $33.71 per cwt. That is up from $31.48 per cwt a week ago.
Yellows
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16-$19 per bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50-pounjd cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16-$19 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $23-$26 per cwt, unchanged from last week.