Washington State 2008 Potato acreage down 6%

The Washington office of NASS said Washington growers planted fewer potatoes and more dry peas and will have lighter peach and apricot crops. Washington winter wheat production is expected to reach 109.7 million bushels this season, up 1 percent.

Potato acreage is estimated at 155,000, down 10,000 acres from 2007 and 1,000 acres from 2006, according to NASS.

Potato growers have been reducing acreage in recent years to increase fresh potato prices.

Growers planted 86 percent of the crop in russet varieties, 7 percent in white varieties and remainder in yellow, red and blue types.

Idaho planted 300,000 acres this year, down 50,000 acres from a year ago. Oregon planted 35,500 acres, down 1,000 acres.

Total U.S. potato acreage is 1.06 million, down 8 percent from last year but 7 percent above 2006, according to NASS.