nd-potatoes-vegetables

NEWS RELEASE                                               Potato Acreage
                                                            July 12, 2005

                       NORTH DAKOTA POTATO ACREAGE

North Dakota
North Dakota potato planted acreage is estimated at 90,000 acres in 2005,
down from 105,000 acres in 2004 and 117,000 acres in 2003, according to the
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office.
This would be the lowest planted acres since 1952's 82,000 acres. Acreage
expected for harvest is 86,000, down 15 percent from last year.

Russets accounted for 48 percent of the total acreage, up from 44 percent
last year. Whites dropped to 32 percent from 39 percent in 2004. Reds
accounted for 20 percent of the total, up from 17 percent last year.

United States
Area planted to fall potatoes for 2005 is estimated at 970,400 acres, down
7 percent from last year and 12 percent below 2003. Harvested acres are
forecast at 955,700, down 7 percent from 2004 and 12 percent below two
years ago. This is the lowest planted and harvested acres since 1957. This
reduction is due in part to economic pressures, industry acreage reduction
programs, and inclement weather at planting.

Russets accounted for 74 percent of the 11 major States total acreage, up
from 73 percent last year. Whites decreased to 20 percent of the total
compared to 21 percent last year. Reds accounted for 6 percent of the total
acres, same as last year.

                                Fall Potato Acres Planted

                          Acres Planted           Planted by Type 1/

 State                                       Red         White      Russet
                          2004     2005  2004   2005  2004  2005  2004  2005
                          - - 1,000 - -              - - Percent - -
 North Dakota            105.0    90.0     17    20    39     32   44    48
 Colorado                 65.0    58.2      5     4    13     11   82    85
 Idaho                   335.0   330.0      2     2     3      3   95    95
 Maine                    63.5    55.5      5     4    51     48   44    48
 Michigan                 43.0    43.0      3     2    84     83   13    15
 Minnesota                47.0    46.0     23    25    11      9   66    66
 New York                 20.0    20.5      5     5    90     90    5     5
 Oregon                   37.0    35.0      4     2    22     14   74    84
 Pennsylvania             12.0    11.5      4     6    96     94  ---   ---
 Washington              160.0   154.0      3     3     9     10   88    87
 Wisconsin                71.0    71.0     11    11    32     32   57    57
 Total - 11 Major State    ---     ---      6     6    21     20   73    74
 Total Fall States     1,039.7   970.4    ---   ---   ---    ---  ---   ---
 1/ Predominant type shown may include small portion of other type(s)
 constituting less than 1 percent of State's total.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
  David Knopf, Director
  USDA, NASS, North Dakota Field Office
  NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448
  P.O. Box 3166
  Fargo, ND 58108-3166
  Telephone: (701) 239-5306
  E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov
  Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/