USDA sees better prices for this fall's potato crop

Harvested area for fall-season potatoes is forecast by the USDA to be down four percent from 2009. And given average yields, the department says fall potato production is expected to decline from last year’s crop. There are also tighter potato supplies in places like Canada, Europe and Russia. So, USDA economist Lewrene Glaser says;

Glaser: “U.S. grower prices are expected to average above year earlier levels during the 2010-2011 marketing year.”

The first official USDA estimate of fall potato production won’t be issued until November but an Economic Research Service Outlook report says the U.S. fall crop could be down about six percent from 2009.