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New England Agricultural Statistics Service
- - - a field office of the
      National Agricultural Statistics Service
      United States Department of Agriculture

Aubrey R. Davis, Director  Phone: (603) 224-9639
22 Bridge St, 3rd Floor      Fax: (603) 225-1434
PO Box 1444             Internet: http://www.usda.gov/nass/
Concord, NH 03302-1444    E-Mail: nass.nh@nass.usda.gov
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                    2004 Maine Potatoes
       Acreage, Yield, Size and Grade, 2004 Crop

                     January 14, 2005

The following is an abbreviated version of the report.
The entire document is available as a PDF file on
the Internet through: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nh/
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A special "THANK YOU" goes to Maine growers who have helped 
us by participating in the Potato Objective Yield Survey 
program. The study estimates yield, size and grade from 
randomly selected hills that are dug just before harvest.
This report is funded through a cooperative agreement with 
the Maine Department of Agriculture as a service to growers 
and  others in the industry.  It is published annually and 
is available on the Internet in mid-January. 

We are pleased to present the Maine Acreage, Yield, Size 
and Grade Report for the 2004 potato crop.  Data contained 
in this report are based on the results of the Potato 
Objective Yield Survey, a project conducted annually since 
1968.  The National Potato Objective Yield program encompasses 
seven of the major fall potato producing states (Idaho, Maine, 
Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin) that 
grew 83 percent of the United States fall potato crop in 2004. 
                                                        
The 2004 Potato Objective Yield Survey in Maine consisted 
of 210 "samples" chosen by systematic random sampling.  Each 
sample consisted of two independently located units.  Within 
each unit, hill counts were made along a 20-foot length of 
the row, width of the row was measured, and three hills were 
harvested.  Thus, tubers were harvested from six hills of 
potatoes for each sample.  These potatoes were graded, sized, 
and weighed using strict laboratory procedures.  After harvest, 
enumerators returned to one-fourth of the sample fields to 
obtain an objective indication of harvest loss.  Tubers were 
collected from two units, each unit covering a three foot by 
six foot area, and sent to the lab for weighing.

The success of this project must be credited to the cooperation 
of many potato growers across the State of Maine.  We sincerely 
appreciate their time and efforts in supplying crop information, 
and granting permission for field entry and sample diggings. The 
2004 Maine Potato Objective Yield survey was under the immediate 
supervision of Sherry Deane.  Data collection was supervised by 
NASDA field supervisors Ola Hedstrom and Kay Reynolds. NASDA field 
enumerators included Keith Boulier, Basil Ferguson, Deborah Belanger, 
and Margaret Wolverton.  Lab supervision was under the direction 
of John Bourgoine.  Robin Helrich was responsible for setting the 
estimates of acreage, yield, production, prices, and stocks. We 
would also like to recognize Judy Price and Lynne Arsenault for 
their assistance in preparing this publication.
 
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