Washington potato growers remain optimistic
Washington potato growers remain optimistic
MOSES LAKE, WA -- From the southeastern corner to the Skagit Valley, farmland planted in fresh-market and process potatoes has decreased by 5,000 acres, and most members of the Washington potato industry are looking at the coming season with renewed optimism.
Statistics show that last year Washington had 160,000 acres of potatoes, and the reduction keeps with a national trend that has potato acreage down by 7 percent to 1.11 million acres. In its annual acreage report for 2005 crop potatoes, the USDA referenced historical data, noting that this year's acreage is the lowest since 1866, when record keeping was initiated.
Several Washington grower-shippers commented on the government's statement, suggesting that while acreage is down, yields per acre and production figures have increased nearly exponentially since the end of the Civil War and the advent of automation.
In fact, figures posted by the USDA's Agricultural Statistics Board show that while planted acreage has teeter-tottered a bit since 1997, going from 1.4 million that year and 1998 to 1.38 million in 1999 and 2000 and then dropping off to 1.25 million in 2001 and increasing to 1.3 million again 2002.
In 2003 the national potato acreage dropped to 1.27 million, and last year saw 1.2 million acres of spuds in the ground.
Since 1995, according to the USDA, yields per acre have declined only one time. In 1998 average yields were 343 cwt per acre, down from 345 the previous year. As acreage has declined, yields have continued to grow, with last year's average at 391 cwt.
Seasonal average prices were at their lowest in 1996 at $4.91 per cwt. They climbed to $6.99 per cwt in 2001, a year of 1.2 million acres and yields of 358 cwt per acre. The value of production that year was $3.1 billion, the highest in a 10-year span.
Last season growers received on average $5.62 per cwt, and the value of production across the country was $2.6 billion.
As they were beginning early digging in late July, eastern Washington potato grower-shippers were experiencing overall good conditions and a crop that looked both manageable and of good quality.
At Basin Gold Cooperative in Pasco, Molly Connors said during the third week of July that growers in the coop had started running reds out of Wapato in mid-month and yellows the third week.
"The crop looks premium," Ms. Connors said. "I think this will be a really good year.
Quincy grower-shipper Darrell Van Dyke of Blakal Packing said that his potatoes are also "a real good-looking crop, one of the best I've seen. Mr. Van Dyke anticipated his harvest to start Aug. 8.
"I think the market will be strong if we all use a little restraint and don't screw it up, he added.
From his Walla Walla office, Marvin Vietz of Jones Produce said that his company's fields in the Mattawa and Quincy areas would be harvested beginning the week of Aug. 8, adding that weather has been very favorable, and quality right now looks exceptional.
And Pat Boss, former executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission who now heads his own firm, Boss Public Affairs Consulting, said that growers with whom he works have also said this years crop looks like a good one.
But Mr. Boss cautioned, There is still a decent amount of last years fresh crop in storage [nationwide], and the question is whether the old crop suppresses the market for the new crop coming out.
(A full report on Washington potatoes appears in the Aug. 8 issue of The Produce News.)
Statistics show that last year Washington had 160,000 acres of potatoes, and the reduction keeps with a national trend that has potato acreage down by 7 percent to 1.11 million acres. In its annual acreage report for 2005 crop potatoes, the USDA referenced historical data, noting that this year's acreage is the lowest since 1866, when record keeping was initiated.
Several Washington grower-shippers commented on the government's statement, suggesting that while acreage is down, yields per acre and production figures have increased nearly exponentially since the end of the Civil War and the advent of automation.
In fact, figures posted by the USDA's Agricultural Statistics Board show that while planted acreage has teeter-tottered a bit since 1997, going from 1.4 million that year and 1998 to 1.38 million in 1999 and 2000 and then dropping off to 1.25 million in 2001 and increasing to 1.3 million again 2002.
In 2003 the national potato acreage dropped to 1.27 million, and last year saw 1.2 million acres of spuds in the ground.
Since 1995, according to the USDA, yields per acre have declined only one time. In 1998 average yields were 343 cwt per acre, down from 345 the previous year. As acreage has declined, yields have continued to grow, with last year's average at 391 cwt.
Seasonal average prices were at their lowest in 1996 at $4.91 per cwt. They climbed to $6.99 per cwt in 2001, a year of 1.2 million acres and yields of 358 cwt per acre. The value of production that year was $3.1 billion, the highest in a 10-year span.
Last season growers received on average $5.62 per cwt, and the value of production across the country was $2.6 billion.
As they were beginning early digging in late July, eastern Washington potato grower-shippers were experiencing overall good conditions and a crop that looked both manageable and of good quality.
At Basin Gold Cooperative in Pasco, Molly Connors said during the third week of July that growers in the coop had started running reds out of Wapato in mid-month and yellows the third week.
"The crop looks premium," Ms. Connors said. "I think this will be a really good year.
Quincy grower-shipper Darrell Van Dyke of Blakal Packing said that his potatoes are also "a real good-looking crop, one of the best I've seen. Mr. Van Dyke anticipated his harvest to start Aug. 8.
"I think the market will be strong if we all use a little restraint and don't screw it up, he added.
From his Walla Walla office, Marvin Vietz of Jones Produce said that his company's fields in the Mattawa and Quincy areas would be harvested beginning the week of Aug. 8, adding that weather has been very favorable, and quality right now looks exceptional.
And Pat Boss, former executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission who now heads his own firm, Boss Public Affairs Consulting, said that growers with whom he works have also said this years crop looks like a good one.
But Mr. Boss cautioned, There is still a decent amount of last years fresh crop in storage [nationwide], and the question is whether the old crop suppresses the market for the new crop coming out.
(A full report on Washington potatoes appears in the Aug. 8 issue of The Produce News.)
