The USDA NASS has provided an update on the U.S. potato crop in its weekly crop progress report (https://www.nass.usda.gov/) for last week. Here’s a sample of what the latest report showed.
Oregon – The NASS reports that 62 percent of the crop has emerged, an increase of 10 percent from the week prior (52 percent). The five-year average for this time of year is 58 percent.
Washington – Just to the north in Washington, 78 percent of the potatoes have emerged, up from 46 percent a week ago. The five-year average is 45 percent so this year’s crop is well ahead of that.
Idaho – The NASS shows 78 percent of the 2024 crop having been planted. That’s an increase of 12 percent from a week ago when it was 66 percent and slightly behind the five-year 85 percent average. It is nominally behind last year’s planting, which stood at 79 percent.
The same report shows 28 percent of the potatoes have emerged, a fairly big jump from the 9 percent a week ago.
Wisconsin – Growers made progress last week with 82 percent of the crop planted, which is two days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the average.
Five percent of the crop is rated as excellent with 82 percent rated as good. The other 13 percent is rated fair.
Michigan – No report.
North Dakota – The report states 64 percent of the state’s potatoes have been planted, with 10 percent of that already emerged. The 64 percent planted is ahead of last year’s 49 percent and the average of 46 percent.
Minnesota – The state’s potato growers have 80 percent of the crop planted, which is well ahead of last year’s 51 percent at this time of the year and ahead of the five-year average, which is 66 percent. A week ago, 56 percent had been planted.
Colorado – Potatoes planted outside of the San Luis Valley stands at 55 percent, which is the same as last year at this time. The five-year average is 73 percent. Of the potatoes planted, 7 percent have emerged, behind the five-year average of 25 percent.
Potatoes planted in the San Luis Valley stood at 69 percent last week, which is a bit behind where it was last year when it was 74 percent. The five-year average is 83 percent. The 69 percent is a big jump from a week ago, however, when 39 percent had been planted.
Maine – The NASS shows 45 percent of Maine’s potato crop has been planted, up from 28 percent a week ago. The five-year average is 31 percent at this time of year. Last year at this point of the planting season, 50 percent had been planted.
New York – Growers in New York have planted 18 percent of the potato crop, which is up from 10 percent a week ago, but behind last year’s 27 percent at this time of year.
Alaska - The NASS report shows Alaska potato planting stands at 55 percent, well ahead of the five-year average of 19 percent and very far ahead of last year's 4 percent planted at this time of the year.