Jan 18, 2024Estimates show increase in 2023 potato production
USDA estimates for 13 reporting states show a 42.01 cwt increase in 2023 potato production from the previous year.
Adjusted estimates show 440.75 million cwt produced in 2023, a 10.5% increase from 2022.
USDA’s planted area estimate for Michigan has also increased, growing by 2,000 acres to 50,000 acres, according to a North American Potato Market News report. Michigan’s yield estimate also grew by 25 cwt per acre, to 435 cwt per acre.
The net result was a 2.06 million cwt increase in the state’s 2023 crop estimate, to 21.53 million cwt, 14% more than the 2022 crop.
Chip potato business has been steady, according to a Michigan Potatoes industry update, with supplies balanced with demand. Low demand for open for open-market chip potatoes could pick up by March, according to the report.
Michigan’s potato crop has been storing well and closed tight in mid-January because of cold weather. Contract negotiations are moving forward for the 2024 chip potato crop, according to the industry update.
Canadian storages held 85.01 million cwt of potatoes on Jan. 1. That is 5.68 million cwt, or 7.2%, increase from the previous year. Stocks are up from last year in all provinces except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Quebec, according to the report, which cited potatoes intended for processing as driving the increase.
Chip potato supplies are up 5.6% in Ontario, while Quebec’s processing (chip and frozen) stocks are down 14.8%.
U.S. packers shipped 1.767 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Jan. 13, up from 1.571 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 85,615 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Jan. 13, up from 40,530 cwt during the same week in 2023.
Last week’s Michigan shipments were 85.3% russets, 11.3% yellow potatoes, 2.6% red potatoes, and 0.8% round white potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $11-$15.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $9-$10 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $15.34 per cwt, down from $15.48 per cwt a week ago.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $17 per bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $17 per 50-pound box, also unchanged.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $21-$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
