Nov 11, 2020USDA releases potato production estimates for Idaho, Washington, Oregon
Potato production in Idaho is forecast at 137 million hundredweight (cwt), up 4% from last year, according to data released Nov. 10 by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Northwest Regional Field Office.
NASS has Idaho harvested acres at 300,000, which is down 8,000 from last year. United Potato Growers of Idaho reported total planted acres of potatoes in the state at 295,790 earlier this year.
According to NASS, average yield in Idaho is expected to be 455 cwt per acre, up from 425 cwt per acre last year.
Washington
The NASS reported total potato production in Washington at 96.3 million cwt, which is 8% lower than 2019. Harvested acres was reported at 154,000 in the Nov. 10 press release, however, planted acres was listed at 145,000 by the NASS this summer. Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt repeated the total of 145,000 acres to Spudman last month.
Average yield in Washington is reported at 625 cwt per acre, which is down 15 cwt per acre from last year.
Oregon
Oregon growers are projected to harvest 45,000 acres of potatoes, which is up 2,100 from last year. Total production is projected at 27.9 million cwt, an increase of 10%. Average yield is projected at 620 cwt per acre, up by 30 cwt per acre from 2019.
Nationally, production of U.S. fall potatoes is forecast at 415.5 million cwt, down 2% from 2019. Harvested acres are 915,700, also down 2% from last year. The average yield for 2020 is 454 cwt per acres, almost identical to 2019.
RELATED: More information on the 2020 harvest
Top photo courtesy of Travis Blacker, Idaho Potato Commission