US potato acres projected to be up from 2020, but still below pre-pandemic levels

Potato acreage in the U.S. is expected to be up in 2021 from last year’s total, but still below 2018 and 2019.

In projections by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) released June 3, growers in the major potato-producing states report 946,500 planted acres, which is up 2.8% from a year ago. Planted acres were 959,800 in 2018 and 963,300 in 2019.

In terms of planted acres, states rank:

1. Idaho — 315,000 (up 5.0%)
2. Washington — 160,000 (up 3.2%)
3. North Dakota — 72,000 (even)
4. Wisconsin — 71,000 (up 1.4%)
5. Colorado — 57,000 (up 5.6%)

Planted acres in early-season harvest states California and Florida were down by 6.3% and 9.1%, respectively.

Acreage in Maine is projected to be up to 55,000 acres, the highest it’s been in at least five years. A significant drought led to Maine yields being down 20-plus percent last year.

In Idaho, processing contract acreage remains below pre-pandemic levels, but NAPMN reports open acres are expected to be up, as growers expect they’ll be able to sell non-contract potatoes to the fresh market should processors not need them.