NAPMN Projecting 22.6% Drop in North Dakota Potato Production in 2013

Bruce Huffaker, publisher of the North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) is projecting a 22.6% production drop in the North Dakota Potato crop this fall. If accurate, that would be 5.7 million less hundredweight than in 2012. Huffaker noted that the cold, wet spring has nearly doubled the typical abandonment rate which is usually around 6%. Hardest hit according to Huffaker will be the fresh and chip crops with the processing potatoes closer to meeting expectations.

If the report is correct, look for the harvested acres in North Dakota to be down nearly 11% from last year with the average yield dropping from 300 bags per acre in 2012 down to 260 this year.

Minnesota

Meanwhile in neighboring Minnesota, Huffaker is predicting a 2.7% increase in potato production, sighting close to ideal weather conditions which should push the average yield up from 400 to 410 hundredweight per acre in the state.

United states - All States

The NAPMN report is projecting a 5.4% drop in the U.S. fall crop. North Dakota and Nebraska will have by far the largest drops in production on a percentage basis at 22.6% and 18.2% respectively, but the largest drop in actual production will occur in Idaho where projections show a drop of 14.4 million hundredweight compared to last year

If all the state projections hold true, North Dakota would drop from 4th place down to 6th place in potato production in 2013 and only slightly ahead of Minnesota.

USDA will have its fall crop projections out in September.