US potato area sets record low

Potato growers in the United States are planting fewer potatoes for the second year in a row. The area has not been this small for 74 years. Farmers have cut back particularly sharply in Idaho, the country’s leading potato-producing state. The largest reduction is in table potatoes.The USDA will not publish its first official acreage estimate until the end of June, but industry insiders are already fairly confident in their figures. All potatoes have now been planted, and the early crops have developed very quickly and well. They estimate that the total area will amount to 354,917 hectares this year, a decrease of 9,700 hectares compared with last year. That represents a decline of 2.6%.The US potato area has not been this small since 1952. In 2010, potato cultivation also fell sharply, to just over 357,000 hectares, before later climbing back above 400,000 hectares.Idaho area declinesAccording to insiders, Idaho is seeing the largest decline. The area is down by almost 5%, equivalent to 6,000 fewer hectares of potatoes. In Washington, the second-largest potato state with 56,657 hectares, the area is estimated to be unchanged. In most other states, a few hundred hectares have either been taken out or, in some cases, added.Growers in Idaho have mainly planted fewer table potatoes. Fewer potatoes intended for processing into granules have also been planned. French fry producers have contracted the same volume, or in some cases even slightly more. Planting in the state progressed smoothly, and the growing season has also benefited from favourable weather. Heat has not affected the potato crops so far, putting crop development a week ahead of schedule. There is also sufficient irrigation water available.Perfect growing seasonIn Washington, the area is estimated to be unchanged. One French fry producer has contracted slightly less, while another has contracted slightly more. Here too, growing conditions for the crop can be described as almost perfect. Growers expect their best crop ever if conditions remain this favourable. Processors are pleased with this, as there are many quality issues with the old crop. Processing of new potatoes can hopefully begin in early July.Despite the very small area, the size of the harvest could reach 18.39 million tonnes of potatoes, assuming an average yield per hectare. That would be 3.4% lower than the USDA’s estimate for 2025, when 19 million tonnes were harvested. Compared with the five-year average, this is also around 3% lower. Yields could potentially exceed the average, however, thanks to the favourable start to the season.