E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Greg Lemmons
Monday, November 10, 2008

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

            NEW YORK POTATO PRODUCTION UP

Production of fall potatoes in New York in 2008 is estimated at 5.79 million hundredweight (cwt.), up 11 percent from a year ago, according to Stephen Ropel, Director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office. Yields are expected to average a record high 325 cwt. per acre compared with 285 cwt. per acre last year. Acreage for harvest is estimated at a record low 17.8 thousand acres, down 3 percent from last year.  U.S. production of fall potatoes for 2008 is forecast at 373 million cwt, down 8 percent from last year. Area harvested, at 918,200 acres, is virtually unchanged from the July estimate but 8 percent lower than last year.  The average yield, forecast at 407 cwt per acre, is down 2 cwt from last year’s record high yield and, if realized, will be the second highest yield on record.

Eastern States production is forecast at 23.6 million cwt, down 7 percent from last year. Area for harvest totaled 85,000 acres, 4 percent below last year, while the average yield, at 278 cwt per acre, is down 7 cwt from last season. In Maine, a wet growing season resulted in below average potato yields. Dry weather in September promoted excellent harvest and storage conditions.  Massachusetts potato farmers battled wet conditions during the season, while growing conditions were excellent in Rhode Island.

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11-10-08