Pot 1-2 (2-99)

Potato

Stocks

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

USDA

Washington, D.C.

Released February 12, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department

of Agriculture. For information on "Potato Stocks" call Arvin Budge at (202) 720-4285, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

February Potato Stocks Down 1 Percent

The 15 major potato States held 211 million cwt of potatoes on February 1, 1999, down 1 percent from last

year and 7 percent below 1997. Storage accounted for 50 percent of 1998 fall production, down 1 percent

from a year ago. This year’s storage held more russets and round whites but fewer long whites than a year

earlier. Disappearance, at 214 million cwt, is up 6 percent from last year including a 9 percent gain in

processing.
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 2 NASS, USDA

Fall Potatoes: Production and Stocks, 15 Major States, 1989-98

Crop

Year Production Dec 1 Jan 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May 1

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

316,097

344,200

363,541

368,516

376,954

410,839

394,785

443,704

413,513

424,897

202,050

225,500

242,070

246,820

249,410

273,290

256,710

295,100

278,830

282,300

173,550

194,460

211,005

215,990

217,300

238,560

223,550

261,320

246,550

246,220

144,290

162,850

178,515

184,560

185,490

202,470

189,360

226,080

212,562

211,100

116,600

134,470

145,820

152,795

153,435

169,570

156,020

189,210

175,870

84,320

101,150

108,865

115,785

115,170

129,825

115,855

147,585

134,190

50,675

63,040

69,110

75,040

72,860

87,600

75,870

103,210

92,840

Potatoes: Quantity Used for Processing, 8 States, 1995-98 1

State and

Crop Year Dec 1 Jan 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May 1 Season

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt

ID & OR-Malheur Co

 1995

 1996

 1997

 1998

ME 2

 1995

 1996

 1997

 1998

WA & OR - Other

 1995

 1996

 1997

 1998

Oth Sts 3

 1995

 1996

 1997

 1998 4

Total

 1995

 1996

 1997

 1998

27,310

31,060

26,880

27,510

1,455

1,790

1,250

1,180

30,000

31,670

28,580

33,460

12,650

13,720

11,645

11,020

71,415

78,240

68,355

73,170

35,040

38,210

33,950

34,700

1,850

2,115

1,720

1,710

35,170

36,660

33,990

38,895

15,630

17,000

13,960

13,785

87,690

93,985

83,620

89,090

43,260

45,420

41,050

42,670

2,430

2,820

2,265

2,260

39,460

41,700

38,690

45,650

18,815

20,645

17,115

17,510

103,965

110,585

99,120

108,090

51,530

54,640

49,470

2,850

3,280

2,735

45,280

48,740

46,400

21,985

24,085

19,905

121,645

130,745

118,510

59,060

62,570

57,620

3,435

3,820

3,355

51,730

55,570

53,720

25,510

27,650

23,515

139,735

149,610

138,210

66,690

70,720

65,750

3,965

4,420

3,900

57,360

62,320

59,780

28,610

30,830

26,365

156,625

168,290

155,795

89,250

96,970

91,450

5,725

6,495

5,870

70,250

80,970

76,930

33,580

43,100

37,842

198,805

227,535

212,092

1 Total quantity received and used for processing regardless of the State in which the potatoes were produced. Amount excludes

quantities used for potato chips in ME, MI, MN, ND, and WI. 2 Includes Maine grown potatoes only. 3 MI, MN, ND, and WI. 4 January 1999 corrected.
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 3 NASS, USDA

Fall Potatoes: Production and Stocks on February 1, 1998-99

State

Crop of 1997 Crop of 1998

Prod

Stocks

Feb 1,

1998

%

of

Prod

Prod

Stocks

Feb 1,

1999

%

of

Prod

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt Percent 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt Percent

CA

CO

ID

ME

MI

MN

MT

NE

NY

ND

OH

OR

PA

WA

WI

15 States

4,200

24,993

140,314

19,080

14,250

20,440

3,328

7,761

7,150

22,000

1,170

27,319

3,173

88,160

30,175

413,513

2,100

14,700

81,000

12,100

5,500

10,500

2,980

3,300

1,500

11,900

82

16,000

1,200

36,500

13,200

212,562

50

59

58

63

39

51

90

43

21

54

7

59

38

41

44

51

3,708

25,360

139,650

18,060

14,725

21,170

3,180

8,175

7,290

28,670

1,200

26,229

3,360

93,225

30,895

424,897

2,000

14,000

79,000

10,500

5,400

10,500

2,890

4,240

1,600

14,000

70

15,800

800

36,500

13,800

211,100

54

55

57

58

37

50

91

52

22

49

6

60

24

39

45

50

Fall Potatoes: Stocks by Type as Percent of Total Stocks,

11 Major States, February 1, 1998-99

State

Potato Types

Reds Round Whites Long Whites Russets

1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

CO

ID

ME

MI

MN

NY

ND

OR

PA

WA

WI

11 St Avg

5

4

1

10

5

12

1

3

1

1

2

4

4

1

12

5

11

2

1

2

2

2

49

74

7

93

13

2

97

16

9

6

46

84

5

93

18

2

98

18

10

8

7

3

5

1

3

5

4

9

3

3

4

3

3

93

92

40

25

80

2

70

96

96

83

84

90

96

41

15

80

2

68

94

96

80

85
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 4 NASS, USDA

Fall Potatoes: Production, February 1 Stocks, and Farm Disposition,

15 States and Fall Season, 1995-98 Crop Years

State Crop

Year Production Stocks

Feb 1

Total

Used

For

Seed

Farm Disposition

Where Grown

Seed, Feed, Sold

Home Use

Shrinkage

and Loss

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt

CA

CO

ID

ME

MI

MN

MT

NE

NY

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

5,330

4,600

4,200

3,708

23,808

29,175

24,993

25,360

132,657

142,800

140,314

139,650

17,160

21,175

19,080

18,060

16,350

13,800

14,250

14,725

20,790

24,600

20,440

21,170

2,940

3,213

3,328

3,180

3,680

4,402

7,761

8,175

7,425

7,420

7,150

7,290

2,800

2,500

2,100

2,000

13,400

18,100

14,700

14,000

73,500

82,000

81,000

79,000

10,400

13,100

12,100

10,500

6,500

4,600

5,500

5,400

10,200

13,200

10,500

10,500

2,600

2,850

2,980

2,890

2,000

2,440

3,300

4,240

1,500

1,400

1,500

1,600

242

200

206

1,950

1,925

1,895

8,700

8,600

8,700

1,716

1,584

1,430

962

768

864

1,573

1,348

1,640

239

239

244

292

451

462

594

583

607

10

23

20

1,285

1,485

1,340

1,785

1,500

1,130

420

395

275

168

300

200

346

445

450

128

137

152

187

169

203

155

127

139

460

472

340

2,048

3,975

2,773

8,920

10,100

9,258

1,025

1,800

1,760

690

1,300

1,300

1,757

4,158

1,717

147

221

208

284

439

380

290

341

315

4,860

4,105

3,840

20,475

23,715

20,880

121,952

131,200

129,926

15,715

18,980

17,045

15,492

12,200

12,750

18,687

19,997

18,273

2,665

2,855

2,968

3,209

3,794

7,178

6,980

6,952

6,696

--continued
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 5 NASS, USDA

Fall Potatoes: Production, February 1 Stocks, and Farm Disposition,

15 States and Fall Season, 1995-98 (continued)

State Crop

Year Production Stocks

Feb 1

Total

Used

For

Seed

Farm Disposition

Where Grown

Seed, Feed, Sold

Home Use

Shrinkage

and Loss

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt

ND

OH

OR

PA

WA

WI

15 Sts

23 Fall Sts

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

1995

1996

1997

1998

25,410

28,820

22,000

28,670

1,404

1,275

1,170

1,200

24,788

30,124

27,319

26,229

4,080

4,160

3,173

3,360

80,850

94,990

88,160

93,225

28,113

33,150

30,175

30,895

394,785

443,704

413,513

424,897

404,852

454,388

423,190

434,368

11,500

15,000

11,900

14,000

60

90

82

70

12,300

19,000

16,000

15,800

1,200

1,300

1,200

800

30,500

36,500

36,500

36,500

10,900

14,000

13,200

13,800

189,360

226,080

212,562

211,100

2,211

2,188

2,142

107

109

105

1,475

1,345

1,405

314

266

276

3,912

3,648

3,840

1,806

1,710

1,764

26,093

24,964

25,580

26,813

25,608

26,224

280

360

355

4

5

8

148

305

195

20

81

78

300

300

300

298

320

275

5,534

5,952

5,120

5,569

6,054

5,260

2,800

5,270

2,266

10

35

37

1,450

2,560

1,555

102

320

176

6,400

6,800

6,400

1,350

1,425

1,448

27,733

39,216

29,933

28,604

40,087

30,841

22,330

23,190

19,379

1,390

1,235

1,125

23,190

27,259

25,569

3,958

3,759

2,919

74,150

87,890

81,460

26,465

31,405

28,452

361,518

398,536

378,460

370,679

408,247

387,089
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 6 NASS, USDA

Fall Potatoes: Farm Marketings, Selected States,

1995-97 Marketing Years

State Crop

Year Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

CO

ID

ME

MI

MN

NY

ND

OR

PA

WA

WI

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1995

1996

1997

1

3

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

4

6

6

2

1

1

5

9

9

2

6

5

6

7

8

3

4

1

12

14

9

18

12

13

16

17

12

9

6

7

4

4

4

16

14

15

5

8

6

11

10

10

30

22

22

15

17

15

14

12

12

16

16

14

18

15

13

13

11

14

17

20

17

8

7

8

17

18

12

7

7

7

15

11

8

26

19

25

15

17

15

16

22

16

25

26

30

18

13

12

32

31

31

13

14

14

10

9

9

6

7

8

9

7

8

13

11

11

6

11

11

17

14

16

9

8

13

7

7

8

13

11

12

7

8

7

12

10

10

10

9

11

7

5

8

9

8

8

13

9

11

4

5

7

16

14

15

10

7

8

6

5

6

13

9

12

3

3

4

7

7

9

11

10

10

6

6

8

11

10

10

11

12

11

5

5

5

12

10

13

9

7

12

6

5

5

9

10

10

4

4

4

10

8

8

10

9

8

6

6

6

11

9

9

6

11

12

5

7

6

8

8

9

9

8

9

5

5

6

5

8

8

4

4

4

9

11

11

10

10

11

9

9

7

17

14

15

9

10

11

6

8

7

6

7

5

8

10

9

5

4

6

3

9

7

7

5

6

11

9

10

12

11

11

8

8

7

18

16

17

11

9

8

8

8

7

4

4

3

9

7

8

7

6

5

2

6

8

5

5

6

8

7

7

10

10

10

8

8

9

7

9

10

6

5

6

6

5

5

1

2

1

11

6

6

7

5

6

1

4

3

4

5

6

3

4

4

9

11

10

7

6

7

4

11

9

2

2

4

2

7

5

1

5

3

2

1

4

5

5

3

2

6

10

7

6

7

7

2

1

2

1

1

1

2

1
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 7 NASS, USDA

Potato Stocks Down 1 Percent 

 

February 1, 1999 potato stocks totaled 211 million cwt, down 1 percent from a year ago and 7 percent below

two years ago. Storage accounted for 50 percent of fall production, down 1 percentage point from a year ago. 

Stocks by type were 2 percent reds, 10 percent round whites, 3 percent long white, and 85 percent russets,

with more russets and round whites but fewer long whites than a year ago. 

Disappearance from the start of harvest to February 1 totaled 214 million cwt this season, up 6 percent from

last year but 2 percent below the record high two years ago. January disappearance of 35.1 million cwt was 3

percent above last year but down slightly from two years ago. Shrink and loss of 22.5 million cwt was up 16

percent from last year but 3 percent below two years ago. 

Processing of 1998 crop potatoes so far this season totaled 108.1 million cwt, up 9 percent from the 1997

crop but 2 percent below the 1996 crop. In January, processors claimed a record 19.0 million cwt of potatoes,

up 23 percent from last year and 14 percent above two years ago. The two month total (December and

January) was up 14 percent from a year earlier.

Eastern States stored 12.9 million cwt of potatoes on February 1, 1999, down 13 percent from a year ago and

18 percent below two years ago. Maine's holdings were down 13 percent and Pennsylvania’s stocks were off

one-third. New York’s storage was up 7 percent from last year. 

Central States accounted for 48.0 million cwt of potato stocks this February, 8 percent above 1998 but 5

percent below 1997. North Dakota’s stocks were up 18 percent and Nebraska was up 28 percent. Stocks in

Wisconsin were up 5 percent from last year. Minnesota’s stocks were equal to last year and Michigan’s

stocks fell 2 percent. Ohio’s stocks were 15 percent below last year.

Western States held 150.2 million cwt of potatoes in storage on February 1, 1999, down 2 percent from last

year and 7 percent below 1997. Idaho’s stocks were down 2 percent from a year ago, and Oregon’s were off

1 percent. Colorado and California were down 5 percent each and Montana’s storage was down 3 percent. 

Washington’s stocks were the same as last year.

Fall Potatoes: Stocks on December 1, 1995-98 1

State 1995 1996 1997 1998

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt

CA

CO

ID

ME

MI

MN

MT

NE

NY

ND

OH

OR

PA

WA

WI

15 States

4,000

18,200

96,000

13,800

9,600

13,500

2,800

2,600

3,400

17,000

310

17,200

2,400

39,500

16,400

256,710

3,500

23,100

102,000

16,900

8,000

16,500

3,050

3,160

3,700

20,500

290

23,600

2,800

48,000

20,000

295,100

2,700

19,400

102,000

15,600

8,500

13,500

3,180

5,300

3,600

16,000

350

20,500

2,000

47,000

19,200

278,830

2,900

18,800

101,000

14,100

8,800

13,500

3,050

5,480

3,800

20,500

270

20,000

1,400

49,000

19,700

282,300 1 The revised December 1 stocks estimates for 1995-97 are based on the 1992-97 final production estimates published on

Decmber 18, 1998. These production data are available in the Field Crops - Final Estimates 1992-97, Statistical Bulletin 947. 

The December 1, 1998 stocks are unchanged from the January 14, 1999 Potato Stocks report.
Potato Stocks Agricultural Statistics Board

February 1999 8 NASS, USDA

Reliability of February 1 Stocks Estimates

The "Root Mean Square Error" for the February 1 stocks estimate is 3.4 percent. This means that chances are

2 out of 3 that the current estimate of 211 million cwt will not be above or below the final estimate by more

than 3.4 percent or approximately 7.17 million cwt. Chances are 9 out of 10 (90 percent confidence level)

that the difference will not exceed 5.8 percent or approximately 12.2 million cwt. The 10-year (1989-98)

record of the differences between the February 1 stocks estimates and the final estimates averaged 6.13

million cwt, ranging from 0.45 million to 14.2 million cwt. During the 10-year period, the February 1

estimate has been below the final estimate 9 out of 10 years.

Fall Potato Stocks: Preliminary and Final February Stocks,

United States, 1988-98

Crop

Year

Preliminary

Stocks

% of

Final

Final

Stocks

1,000 Cwt Percent 1,000 Cwt

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

144,625

143,150

154,310

178,965

170,385

178,070

196,005

184,755

220,465

205,850

211,100

95.7

99.2

94.8

100.3

92.3

95.7

96.8

97.6

97.5

96.8

151,050

144,290

162,850

178,515

184,560

186,090

202,470

189,360

226,080

212,562

NOTE: Stocks are defined as the quantity (whether sold or not) remaining in storage for all purposes and

uses, including seed potatoes not yet moved and shrinkage, waste, and other losses that occur after the date of

each report. Sales of fall potatoes for all purposes for the past 5 years averaged 90.8 percent of the total fall

production. Shrinkage, loss and home use account for the remaining 9.2 percent. Most seed for use the

following year is still on hand February 1st, but remains part of stocks until moved or planted.

Potatoes: Production, Sold, Not Sold, and Kept for Seed,

United States, 1993-98

Crop

Year

Fall Potatoes Amount Used

for Seed

All Seasons

Following

year

Production Sold

Sold

as % of

Prod

Not Sold

Not Sold

as % of

Prod

1,000 Cwt 1,000 Cwt Percent 1,000 Cwt Percent 1,000 Cwt

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

387,885

422,345

404,852

454,388

423,190

434,368

353,052

380,818

370,679

408,247

387,089

91.0

90.2

91.6

89.8

91.5

34,833

41,527

34,173

46,141

36,101

9.0

9.8

8.4

10.2

8.5

29,076

29,428

30,561

29,138

29,975
The next "Potato Stocks" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on March 12, 1999.

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