E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov (518) 457-5570 POTATOES Released September 2009 Seasonal No. 987-6-09 2008 NEW YORK POTATO VALUE INCREASES The results of the 2008 potato disposition and utilization survey show the value of New York's 2008 potato crop to be $92.3 million, 50 percent more than the 2007 value, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York field office. Production was up 9 percent from 2007. Sales increased 11 percent and the average price per hundredweight (cwt.) was $16.20, or $4.40 more than the 2007 price of $11.80. FALL POTATOES: Production, farm disposition, season average price, and value, New York and United States, 2007-2008 Farm Disposition Used on Farm Used Seed, feed, Price for household Shrinkage Sold per Value of Production Seed use and loss cwt. Production Sales 1,000 cwt. Dollars 1,000 dollars 2007 N.Y. 5,216 432 94 370 4,752 11.80 61,543 55,906 U.S. 406,800 21,560 3,901 28,282 374,617 7.04 2,871,686 2,636,885 2008 N.Y. 5,696 393 75 365 5,256 16.20 92,275 84,905 U.S. 378,588 21,711 4,055 24,952 349,580 8.49 3,220,645 2,967,871 2008 U.S. POTATO PRODUCTION DOWN 7 PERCENT Potato production in 2008 is revised to 415 million cwt, up 1 percent from the estimate in the January Crop Production 2008 Summary but 7 percent below the 2007 crop. Harvested area, at 1.05 million acres, decreased 7 percent from 2007. The average yield of 396 cwt per acre is a record high, unchanged cwt from 2007, which had the previous record high. Fall potato production is finalized at 379 million cwt for 2008, 7 percent below the 2007 crop. Area harvested in 2008 is 922,000 acres, down 7 percent from the previous year. The average yield, at 411 cwt per acre, is a record high, 1 cwt above the previous record high set in 2007. The value of all potatoes sold in 2008, at $3.49 billion, increased 13 percent from the previous year. The average price, at $8.42 per cwt, is up 0.91 from 2007. The quantity of potatoes sold from the 2008 crop totaled 384 million cwt, down 7 percent from 2007. Sales account for 93 percent of 2008 production, up slightly from the previous year. Processors used 253 million cwt of raw potatoes from the 2008 crop, down 8 percent from 2007. Table stock sales totaled 109 million cwt, 1 percent below the previous year. Seed sales of 20.9 million cwt are down 6 percent from 2007. Sales for livestock feed, at 803,000 cwt, decreased 31 percent from a year earlier. Potatoes used for chips and shoestrings totaled 50.7 million cwt in 2008, down 7 percent from the previous year. Frozen french fries and other frozen products utilized 154 million cwt of raw potatoes, which decreased 7 percent from 2007. Potatoes used for dehydrating totaled 40.7 million cwt, 17 percent below 2007. Canning use, at 2.95 million cwt, is down 11 percent from the previous year. Starch, flour, and other products were made from 5.07 million cwt of potatoes, 26 percent more than in 2007. This report, in addition to many others, is available free of charge at our website at www.nass.usda.gov/ny/. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer POTATOES: Utilization of Crops, United States, 2006-2008 Utilization Items 2006 2007 2008 1,000 cwt. Sales Table Stock 113,335 110,860 109,351 Processing Chips and Shoestrings 64,377 54,343 50,744 Dehydration 1/ 48,809 49,021 40,714 Frozen French Fries 126,083 139,624 134,394 Other Frozen Products 24,229 26,571 19,558 Canned Products 1,957 2,504 2,156 Other Canned Products (Hash, Stews, Soups) 930 800 791 Starch, Flour, and Other 1,369 4,029 5,067 Total 267,754 276,892 253,424 Other Sales Livestock Feed 1,610 1,160 803 Seed 23,610 22,297 20,900 Total 25,220 23,457 21,703 Total Sales 406,309 411,209 384,478 Non-Sales Seed Used on Farms Where Grown 3,520 2,986 3,315 Household Use and Used for Feed on Farms Where Grown 1,230 1,119 823 Shrinkage and Loss 29,639 29,561 26,438 Total Non-Sales 34,389 33,666 30,576 TOTAL PRODUCTION 440,698 444,875 415,055 1/ Dehydrated products except starch and flour.