mi-press-releases

News Release
NR-12-47
July 12, 2012

U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Michigan Field Office
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Post Office Box 30239
Lansing, MI  48909-6248

Phone:      (517) 324-5300
Facsimile:  (517) 324-5299
E-mail:     nass-mi@nass.usda.gov
Web site:   www.nass.usda.gov

Jay V. Johnson, Director

Michigan Potato Acreage

Michigan potato growers planted 46,000 acres in 2012, according to Jay 
Johnson, Director of the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Harvested acreage 
is forecast at 45,500 acres in 2012. Potato acreage by type is 86 percent 
white, 12 percent russet, 1 percent red, and 1 percent yellow. Certified seed 
acreage is estimated at 2,355 acres for 2012. Last year, 2,272 acres for seed 
were certified. The first yield and production estimate for the 2012 Michigan 
potato crop will be released on November 9, 2012

Nationally for fall potatoes, area planted to fall potatoes in 2012 is 
estimated at 1.00 million acres, up 5 percent from the 2011 crop year. 
Harvested area forecast at 990,800 acres, is up 6 percent from 2011.

In Idaho, acreage is at the highest level since 2007. In Washington, planted 
acreage is the highest since 2000. In the eastern United States, a warm, dry 
spring allowed planting to progress ahead of schedule. Maine growers reported 
optimal growing conditions due to warm weather and timely rainfall. In North 
Dakota, potato emergence was ahead of average in May and June and topsoil 
moisture was reported to be adequate to surplus in the major growing areas.

  Fall potato acreage and percent planted by type, 2011-12  
------------------------------------------------------------
            :       Michigan        :     United States     
    Item    :-----------------------------------------------
            :   2011    :   2012    :   2011    :   2012    
------------------------------------------------------------
            :                     Acres                     
Acreage     :                                               
  Planted   :  45,000      46,000      957,400    1,002,900 
  Harvested :  44,000      45,500      939,200      990,800 
            :                                               
            :                    Percent                    
Type planted:                                               
  White     :      85          86           19           19 
  Russet    :      13          12           72           73 
  Red       :       2           1            7            6 
  Yellow    :                   1            2            2 
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