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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Greg Lemmons
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

www.nass.usda.gov/ny




                     NEAR RECORD HIGH POTATO YIELD FORECAST FOR NEW YORK



  	Production of fall potatoes in New York in 2010 is estimated at 5.07 million hundredweight 
(cwt.), up 2 percent from a year ago, according to King Whetstone, Director of USDA’s National 
Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office. Yields are expected to average 315 cwt. 
per acre, which is the second highest yield on record behind the record 320 cwt. set in 2008. 
Acreage for harvest is estimated at a record low 16.1 thousand acres, down 2 percent from last 
year.  U.S. production of fall potatoes for 2010 is forecast at 361 million cwt, down 8 percent 
from 2009. Area harvested, at 882,500 acres, is slightly above the July forecast.  The average 
yield forecast, at 410 cwt per acre, is down 19 cwt per acre from last year’s record high yield.
	Idaho’s yield is forecast at 389 cwt per acre.  A cool, wet spring hindered growth and 
shortened the harvest season.  Production in Idaho, at 114 million cwt, is down 14 percent from 
last year.  Harvested acreage is the lowest since 1980.  Below normal temperatures in Eastern 
Washington aided plant growth.  In the Western area, crop progress slowed due to surplus 
rainfall.  In Colorado, growing conditions were generally favorable in the San Luis Valley.  
Oregon’s crop was delayed due to wet conditions.  Yields were adversely affected in California 
by a cool spring and fall rains.  
	In North Dakota, crop condition was rated mostly good to excellent throughout the 
growing season.  Harvest progressed ahead of normal and was virtually complete by mid-
October.  Wisconsin growers reported average crop conditions and below normal crop size.  
	In Maine, potato development was ahead of schedule by mid-June.  Field conditions 
were reported to be excellent, with many growers beginning to harvest in early September.


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11-09-10	

			
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