Fall potato production in the U.S. and Canada fell 3 percent from 2012 to 2013.
About 501 million cwt. of potatoes were produced in the two countries last fall, according to the North American Potatoes report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
About 398 million cwt. of potatoes were produced in the U.S. in fall 2013, 5 percent fewer than the year before. Canada produced about 103 million cwt., 2 percent more than in 2012.
About 942,000 acres of potatoes were planted in the U.S. for fall harvests, down from about 1 million acres the year before. Yields, however, rose—from 423 to 427 cwt. per acre.
Acreage also was down in Canada, but yields were up significantly, rising from 274 cwt. to 292 cwt. per acre.
Source: The Packer