HDR1012000110081215951500POTATO STOCKS                                          
HDR2012000110081215951500PSTK HIGHLIGHTS                                        
Released December 15, 1995, 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                                                                           
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural            
statistics,                                                                     
information about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information  
Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@AG.GOV.                               
                                                                                
      Stocks Down 8 Percent, Production Down 5 Percent                          
                                                                                
Production of fall potatoes is estimated at 402 million cwt in the 23           
producing                                                                       
States in 1995, 5 percent below comparable totals in 1994 and 3 percent above   
1993.  December 1 stocks, at 252 million cwt in the 15 storage States, were     
down                                                                            
8 percent on a comparable basis.  Disappearance was up 2 percent, including a   
7 percent gain in processor usage.                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
Pot 1-2 (12-95)                                                                 
DR2012000110081215951500FALL POTS:PRD&STKS, 5 MJR STS,'86-95                    
         Fall Potatoes:  Production and Stocks, 15 Major States, 1986-95        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Crop  :          :         :         :         :         :         :         
   Year  :Production:  Dec 1  :  Jan 1  :  Feb 1  :  Mar 1  :  Apr 1  :  May 1  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                              1,000 Cwt                               
         :                                                                      
1986     : 307,928    209,435   180,915   154,545   128,720    95,090   59,790  
1987     : 335,607    225,890   196,760   167,325   138,800   105,905   70,030  
1988     : 305,623    206,420   177,750   151,050   124,485    92,585   59,355  
1989     : 316,097    202,050   173,550   144,290   116,600    84,320   50,675  
1990     : 344,200    225,500   194,460   162,850   134,470   101,150   63,040  
1991     : 363,541    242,070   211,005   178,515   145,820   108,865   69,110  
1992     : 368,516    246,820   215,990   184,560   152,795   115,785   75,040  
1993     : 375,004    249,710   217,800   186,090   154,135   115,970   73,860  
1994     : 409,009    271,890   237,560   201,870   168,770   128,825   87,500  
1995     : 392,086    252,030                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
 HDR2012000110081215951500POTS:QUAN. USED FOR PRCSNG, 8 STS,                    
        Potatoes:  Quantity Used for Processing, Eight States, 1993-95 1/       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State and     :        :        :        :       :       :       :         
     Crop Year     : Dec 1  : Jan 1  : Feb 1  : Mar 1 : Apr 1 : May 1 : Season  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                         1,000 Cwt                          
                   :                                                            
ID & OR-Malheur Co :                                                            
  1993             : 24,090   30,540   37,150   44,720  53,070  61,440   85,780 
  1994             : 26,620   34,230   42,330   49,890  57,990  66,680   90,300 
  1995             : 27,310                                                     
                   :                                                            
ME 2/              :                                                            
  1993             :  1,350    1,720    2,210    2,505   2,890   3,275    4,555 
  1994             :  1,505    1,840    2,265    2,540   2,985   3,330    4,770 
  1995             :  1,335                                                     
                   :                                                            
WA & OR - Other    :                                                            
  1993             : 28,260   33,350   39,010   45,020  51,290  57,180   70,690 
  1994             : 28,670   33,480   39,120   46,070  52,940  59,540   76,780 
  1995             : 30,000                                                     
                   :                                                            
Oth Sts 3/         :                                                            
  1993             :  7,605    9,515   11,605   13,720  16,080  18,705   25,690 
  1994             :  9,725   13,110   15,630   18,260  21,115  24,060   32,260 
  1995             : 12,360                                                     
                   :                                                            
Total              :                                                            
  1993             : 61,305   75,125   89,975  105,965 123,330 140,600  186,715 
  1994             : 66,520   82,660   99,345  116,760 135,030 153,610  204,110 
  1995             : 71,005                                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500FAL POTS:PRD&STKS DEC 1,'94-95                         
Fall Potatoes:  Production and Stocks on December 1, 1994-95 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :         Crop of 1994          :         Crop of 1995          
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      State     :           :  Stocks   :   %   :           :  Stocks   :   %   
                :   Prod    :  Dec 1,   :  of   :   Prod    :  Dec 1,   :  of   
                :           :   1994    : Prod  :           :   1995    : Prod  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :  ---- 1,000 Cwt ----   Percent   ---- 1,000 Cwt ----   Percent
                :                                                               
CA              :    5,600       4,200     75        5,330       3,800     71   
CO              :   25,795      18,900     73       23,808      18,200     76   
ID              :  138,801     100,500     72      131,274      94,000     72   
ME              :   18,375      13,400     73       17,160      13,800     80   
MI              :   12,180       7,600     62       16,500       9,000     55   
MN              :   17,755      12,500     70       20,790      13,500     65   
MT              :    3,200       3,040     95        2,940       2,800     95   
NE              :    3,996       2,300     58        3,680       2,530     69   
NY              :    7,805       4,200     54        7,965       4,100     51   
ND              :   28,200      19,300     68       25,410      17,000     67   
OH              :    1,348         350     26        1,404         300     21   
OR              :   27,514      20,300     74       23,760      16,100     68   
PA              :    3,780       2,200     58        4,080       2,400     59   
WA              :   88,920      47,500     53       80,850      39,000     48   
WI              :   25,740      15,600     61       27,135      15,500     57   
                :                                                               
Total 15 State  :  409,009     271,890     66      392,086     252,030     64   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Stocks in 1995 included 2.05 million cwt from former summer area of MI and  
    MN.                                                                         
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500FAL POTS:STKS TYPE AS % TL STKS                        
                                                                                
Fall Potatoes: Stocks by Type as Percent of Total Stocks,                       
                      11 Major States, December 1, 1994-95                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                          Potato Types                           
              :-----------------------------------------------------------------
     State    :        Reds         :       Whites        :       Russets       
              :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1994   :   1995   :   1994   :   1995   :   1994   :   1995   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                             Percent                             
              :                                                                 
CO            :     4          6                               96         94    
ID            :                           5         10         95         90    
ME            :     1          3         78         69         21         28    
MI            :     7          2         84         78          9         20    
MN            :    16         14         16         16         68         70    
NY            :     5          5         93         93          2          2    
ND            :    12         12         45         38         43         50    
OR            :                1          1          3         99         96    
PA            :     3          3         97         97                          
WA            :     2          2          5          5         93         93    
WI            :     2          3         20         27         78         70    
              :                                                                 
11 State Avg. :     3          3         17         20         80         77    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500FALL POTS:AREA PLTD&HRVD BY ST,  93-95                 
                                                                                
          Fall Potatoes:  Area Planted and Harvested by State, 1993-95          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :          Area Planted          :         Area Harvested         
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1993   :   1994   :   1995   :   1993   :   1994   :   1995   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                           1,000 Acres                           
              :                                                                 
CA            :    12.0       14.0       13.0       12.0       14.0       13.0  
CO            :    72.5       74.0       77.0       72.2       73.7       76.8  
ID            :   390.0      410.0      400.0      388.0      408.0      398.0  
  10 SW Co    :    24.0       27.0       27.0       24.0       27.0       27.0  
  Other ID    :   366.0      383.0      373.0      364.0      381.0      371.0  
IN            :     4.5        4.4        5.0        4.2        4.1        4.6  
ME            :    80.0       78.0       78.0       78.0       75.0       78.0  
MA            :     3.0        3.1        3.3        3.0        3.1        3.3  
MI 1/         :    53.0       58.0       57.0       50.5       55.0       55.0  
MN 1/         :    77.2       81.7       83.0       62.1       74.6       77.0  
MT            :     9.1       10.0        9.8        9.0       10.0        9.8  
NE            :     9.6       11.3       12.0        9.4       11.1       11.5  
NV            :     7.7        8.0        7.6        7.7        8.0        7.6  
NM            :     5.8        6.3        6.3        5.8        6.0        6.3  
NY            :    28.8       29.1       30.0       28.2       28.6       29.5  
  Long Is     :     6.3        6.1                   6.2        6.1             
  Upstate     :    22.5       23.0                  22.0       22.5             
ND            :   143.0      133.0      125.0      111.0      120.0      121.0  
OH            :     5.8        5.6        5.5        5.7        5.5        5.4  
OR            :    50.4       56.4       52.0       49.4       55.8       51.0  
  Malheur     :     8.9       11.9       12.5        8.7       11.8       12.3  
  Other OR    :    41.5       44.5       39.5       40.7       44.0       38.7  
PA            :    21.0       19.0       18.0       20.0       18.0       17.0  
RI            :     1.1        1.1         .9        1.1        1.1         .9  
SD            :     6.0        6.0        6.0        5.2        5.5        5.2  
UT            :     6.3        6.1        5.2        6.2        6.0        5.1  
WA            :   150.0      152.0      147.0      150.0      152.0      147.0  
WI            :    71.5       73.0       83.0       69.5       71.5       81.0  
WY            :     1.8        1.7        1.5        1.8        1.7        1.5  
              :                                                                 
Total         : 1,210.1    1,241.8    1,226.1    1,150.0    1,208.3    1,205.5  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes acres in 1993 and 1994 formerly included in summer areas for       
    comparative purposes.                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500FALL POTS:YLD&PRD BY ST,   93-95                       
                                                                                
             Fall Potatoes:  Yield and Production by State, 1993-95             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :             Yield              :           Production           
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1993   :   1994   :   1995   :   1993   :   1994   :   1995   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   ---------- Cwt ----------      --------- 1,000 Cwt ---------  
              :                                                                 
CA            :   400        400        410        4,800      5,600      5,330  
CO            :   350        350        310       25,270     25,795     23,808  
ID            :   325        340        330      126,192    138,801    131,274  
  10 SW Co    :   435        470        410       10,440     12,690     11,070  
  Other ID    :   318        331        324      115,752    126,111    120,204  
IN            :   250        280        260        1,050      1,148      1,196  
ME            :   255        245        220       19,890     18,375     17,160  
MA            :   215        240        260          645        744        858  
MI 1/         :   303        271        300       15,280     14,910     16,500  
MN 1/         :   238        269        270       14,780     20,035     20,790  
MT            :   300        320        300        2,700      3,200      2,940  
NE            :   320        360        320        3,008      3,996      3,680  
NV            :   380        345        365        2,926      2,760      2,774  
NM            :   495        500        380        2,871      3,000      2,394  
NY            :   273        273        270        7,693      7,805      7,965  
  Long Is     :   265        265                   1,643      1,617             
  Upstate     :   275        275                   6,050      6,188             
ND            :   190        235        210       21,090     28,200     25,410  
OH            :   200        245        260        1,140      1,348      1,404  
OR            :   468        493        466       23,103     27,514     23,760  
  Malheur     :   410        430        390        3,567      5,074      4,797  
  Other OR    :   480        510        490       19,536     22,440     18,963  
PA            :   230        210        240        4,600      3,780      4,080  
RI            :   205        225        265          226        248        239  
SD            :   205        280        190        1,066      1,540        988  
UT            :   265        265        240        1,643      1,590      1,224  
WA            :   590        585        550       88,500     88,920     80,850  
WI            :   325        360        335       22,588     25,740     27,135  
WY            :   280        280        260          504        476        390  
              :                                                                 
Total         :   340        352        334      391,565    425,525    402,149  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes production in 1993 and 1994 formerly included in summer areas for  
    comparative purposes.                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500FALL POTS:HRVST LOSS OF POTS BY TYP, 11 MJR STS        
                                                                                
                       1995 Potato Objective Yield Survey                       
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducted potato objective yield   
surveys in the 11 major fall producing States in 1995.  These 11 States account 
for 94 percent of the 1995 fall potato production.  Sample plots were located in
potato fields that were selected on a random basis using a scientifically       
designed sampling procedure.  Field workers recorded counts and measurements    
from these fields just prior to and immediately after harvest.                  
                                                                                
Sample data from the objective yield surveys presented in the following tables  
are not Agricultural Statistics Board official estimates.  They are provided    
only to show current information about the crop and trends in potato production 
practices.                                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
    Potatoes:  Harvest Loss of Potatoes by Type, 11 Major States, 1994-95 1/    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State   :                :                :                :                
     and    :      Reds      :     Whites     :    Russets     :   All Types    
    Year    :                :                :                :                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                           Cwt per Acre                            
            :                                                                   
CO    1994  :                                         15               15       
      1995  :                                         20               20       
            :                                                                   
ID    1994  :                        18               31               31       
      1995  :                        21               28               28       
            :                                                                   
ME    1994  :                        11               25               15       
      1995  :       10               14               22               16       
            :                                                                   
MI    1994  :                        17               20               18       
      1995  :                        17               10               16       
            :                                                                   
MN    1994  :       22               20               29               25       
      1995  :        9               16               20               16       
            :                                                                   
NY    1994  :                        12                                12       
      1995  :                        15                                15       
            :                                                                   
ND    1994  :       30               26               22               25       
      1995  :       16               19               27               19       
            :                                                                   
OR    1994  :                        20               15               17       
      1995  :        8               23               21               21       
            :                                                                   
PA    1994  :                        13                                13       
      1995  :                        13                                13       
            :                                                                   
WA    1994  :                        27               19               19       
      1995  :                        17               19               19       
            :                                                                   
WI    1994  :                        14               18               16       
      1995  :                        15               16               16       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Potatoes left in the field at time of harvest.  Based on counts in potato   
    fields selected for post-harvest samples.                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500FAL POTS:AVG NO.OF HILLS PER AC TYP                    
 Potatoes:  Average Number of Hills  per Acre by Type, 1994-95 1/               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :         Reds         :        Whites        :       Russets        
   State   :--------------------------------------------------------------------
    and    :  Number   : Avg No.  :  Number   : Avg No.  :  Number   : Avg No.  
    Year   :    of     :  Hills   :    of     :  Hills   :    of     :  Hills   
           :  Samples  : per Acre :  Samples  : per Acre :  Samples  : per Acre 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                                                                    
CO    1994 :     2        15,488                               31       13,081  
      1995 :     2        13,625                               67       12,906  
           :                                                                    
ID    1994 :                            23       15,428       248       12,286  
      1995 :                            27       13,573       243       12,377  
           :                                                                    
ME    1994 :    2/            2/       119       13,604        38        9,704  
      1995 :     8        13,252       105       14,454        44       10,368  
           :                                                                    
MI    1994 :     4        12,188        64       12,143        26       11,126  
      1995 :    2/            2/        79       12,304        16       10,970  
           :                                                                    
MN    1994 :    30        10,096        33       11,189        39       13,134  
      1995 :    37        11,139        37       10,707        45       13,144  
           :                                                                    
NY    1994 :    2/            2/       136       13,338        2/           2/  
      1995 :     3        12,230        86       14,031        2/           2/  
           :                                                                    
ND    1994 :    22        10,786        85       10,436        57       11,014  
      1995 :    37        10,234       100       10,363        80       11,184  
           :                                                                    
OR    1994 :    2/            2/        36       13,548       111       14,292  
      1995 :     2        16,739        58       13,335        90       14,313  
           :                                                                    
PA    1994 :    2/            2/        82       12,807                         
      1995 :     3        11,002        49       13,426                         
           :                                                                    
WA    1994 :     6        15,279        16       13,616       150       14,722  
      1995 :     3        15,811        21       14,101       121       14,465  
           :                                                                    
WI    1994 :    15        15,251        28       13,502        89       12,567  
      1995 :    10        13,805        34       13,069        82       12,520  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on row measurements and counts in potato field selected for objective 
    yield samples.                                                              
2/  Insufficient sample size.                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500POTATO STOCKS NARRATIVE                                
                   Potato Stocks Down 8 Percent                                 
                                                                                
The 15 major potato States held 252 million cwt of potatoes on December 1, 1995,
including 2.05 million cwt of potatoes stored in  areas of Michigan and         
Minnesota that were not counted last year.  Comparable stocks (by subtracting   
2.05 million cwt this year) are down 8 percent from a year earlier and 1 percent
less than two years ago.  Storage accounted for 64 percent of 1995 fall         
production compared with 66 percent in 1994.  Stocks by type were 3 percent red,
20 percent white, and 77 percent russet, with more whites and fewer russets than
a year ago.                                                                     
                                                                                
Disappearance from the start of harvest to December 1 was a record high 140     
million cwt, up 2 percent from the same period in 1994.  Shrink and loss to date
was estimated at 18.3 million cwt, down 1 percent from the 18.6 million cwt lost
in 1994 but 5 percent above the 17.5 million cwt lost from the 1993 crop.       
                                                                                
Processing is heavy, with 71.0 million cwt taken by fryers and dehydrators in   
eight major States so far this season.  This is a gain of 7 percent over a year 
ago and 16 percent above 1993.                                                  
                                                                                
Eastern States stored 20.3 million cwt of potatoes on December 1, 1995, a gain  
of 3 percent from last year but 17 percent below 1993.  Pennsylvania's stocks   
were up 9 percent, Maine's were up 3 percent, while New York was off 2 percent. 
                                                                                
Central States accounted for 57.8 million cwt of potato stocks this December,   
including 2.05 million cwt coming from former "summer" areas.  Comparable stocks
are down 3 percent from 1994 but 18 percent above 1993.  Michigan stocks        
increased 18 percent from a year ago, and Minnesota gained 8 percent, although  
2.05 million cwt of their total increase came from former summer areas.  The    
"fall" areas in the two States increased 2 percent.  Nebraska's stocks were up  
10 percent, but the other three Central States were down from last year.  North 
Dakota's stocks dropped 12 percent, Wisconsin slipped 1 percent, and Ohio fell  
14 percent.                                                                     
                                                                                
Western States held 174 million cwt of potatoes in storage on December 1, 1995, 
off 11 percent from a year ago and 4 percent below 1993.  Oregon dropped        
21 percent and Washington was off 18 percent from a year ago, while Idaho's     
stocks were down 6 percent.  These three States cover 86 percent of Western     
stocks with a combined drop of 11 percent from last year.  Colorado's stocks    
were down 4 percent and Montana held 8 percent fewer potatoes than a year ago.  
California's storage was down 10 percent.                                       
                                                                                
              Fall Potato Production Down 5 Percent                             
                                                                                
Production of fall potatoes in 1995 is estimated at 402 million cwt, the second 
largest fall potato crop produced in the United States, after last year's record
large crop.  Comparable percent change (with the addition of summer crops from  
Michigan and Minnesota) places this crop 5 percent below 1994 but 3 percent     
above 1993.  Area harvested, at 1.21 million acres, is down slightly from last  
year.  The average yield is estimated at 334 cwt per acre, down 18 cwt from last
year and 6 cwt below two years ago.  Planting and harvest were late in most     
States resulting in smaller crops than last year.                               
                                                                                
Five Eastern States produced 30.3 million cwt of fall potatoes in 1995, down 2  
percent from last year and 8 percent less than two years ago.  Area for harvest 
was 128,700 acres, up 2 percent from last year.  The average yield of 235 cwt   
per acre is off 11 cwt.  The Maine crop fell 7 percent from a year ago, but New 
York gained 2 percent and Pennsylvania was up 8 percent.  Massachusetts gained  
15 percent and Rhode Island slipped 4 percent.  Hot, dry weather during much of 
the growing season hurt yields but kept a mild blight situation in check.       
                                                                                
Central States production is forecast at 97.1 million cwt this year, up         
fractionally from comparable totals a year ago (including summer crops from     
Minnesota and Michigan) and 21 percent greater than the poor crops of 1993.     
Harvested area is estimated at 360,700 acres, a gain of 4 percent from last     
year.  The average yield of 269 cwt per acre is 10 cwt below last year.  Growing
weather throughout the summer were favorable for healthy potato development     
across most of the region.  Yields were generally good with Minnesota growers   
achieving a record high.  Harvest brought additional rains causing some fields  
and parts of fields to go un-dug.  Larger crops were grown this year in         
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  Lower production was shown  
in North and South Dakota and Nebraska.                                         
                                                                                
Ten Western States produced 275 million cwt in 1995, down 8 percent from the    
last year and 1 percent below two years ago.  Acreage for harvest at 716,100    
acres, was down 3 percent, while the average yield of 384 cwt per acre dropped  
21 cwt from a year ago.  Idaho's production of 131 million cwt is the second    
largest on record, 5 percent below last year.  Open fall weather allowed        
potatoes to put on extra weight in the latter part of the season.  Production in
Washington dropped 9 percent below the last two years as blight hurt yields in  
the southern Basin.  Oregon's production slid 14 percent from last year but     
remained 3 percent above two years ago.  Blight damage cut sharply into         
production potential of Idaho and Oregon's Treasure Valley. The late start and  
early frost reduced Colorado's potato crop 8 percent from their record high last
year.  Weather problems in California, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico   
contributed to smaller crops than a year ago.  Nevada was the only Western State
with a larger crop than a year ago.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500RELIABILITY OF DEC 1 STK ESTIMATES                     
                                                                                
                   Reliability of December 1 Stocks Estimates                   
                                                                                
The "Root Mean Square Error" for the December 1 stocks estimate is 2.6 percent. 
This means that the chances are 2 out of 3 that the current estimate of 252     
million cwt will not be above or below the final estimate by more than 2.6      
percent or approximately 6.6 million cwt.  Chances are 9 out of 10 (90 percent  
confidence level) that the difference will not exceed 4.6 percent or            
approximately 11.6 million cwt.                                                 
                                                                                
Also shown is the 10-year 1985-94 record of the differences between the December
1 production and stocks estimate and the final estimates.   Using stocks again  
as an example, changes between the December 1 estimate and the final estimate   
during the 10 years have averaged 5.9 million cwt.     During the 10-year       
period, the December 1 stocks estimate has been below the final estimate each   
year.  Production estimates have been below the final 8 years and above 2 years.
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 Reliability of December 1 Fall Potato Estimates                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :        Root Mean        :      Ten Year Record of Difference      
            :      Square Error       :    Between Dec 1 and Final Estimate     
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :       :                 :                        :     Number     
  Estimate  :       : 90% Confidence  :        Quantity        :    of Years    
            :Percent:      Level      :-----------------------------------------
            :       :-----------------:       :        :       : Below : Above  
            :       :Percent:  Quant  :  Avg  : Small  : Large : Final : Final  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                  --------- Million Cwt ---------                  
            :                                                                   
Stocks      :  2.6     4.6     11.59    5.89     .65     14.50    10       0    
Production  :  1.6     2.7     10.46    5.01     .05     13.46     8       2    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500PRELIMINARY & FINAL DEC STKD, US  85-95                
                                                                                
           Fall Potato Stocks:  Preliminary and Final December Stocks,          
                             United States, 1985-95                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Crop   :      Preliminary      :        % of         :         Final         
   Year   :        Stocks         :        Final        :       Stocks 1/       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :       1,000 Cwt               Percent               1,000 Cwt       
          :                                                                     
1985      :        233,775                 99.3                  235,475        
1986      :        204,180                 97.5                  209,435        
1987      :        223,720                 99.0                  225,890        
1988      :        198,520                 96.2                  206,420        
1989      :        201,400                 99.7                  202,050        
1990      :        217,300                 96.4                  225,500        
1991      :        240,660                 99.4                  242,070        
1992      :        232,320                 94.1                  246,820        
1993      :        240,370                 96.3                  249,710        
1994      :        264,090                 97.1                  271,890        
1995      :        252,030                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  As reported in the September "Potato" annual report.                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
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 90.4 percent of the total fall production      
       Shrinkage, loss and home use account for the remaining 9.6 percent.      
       Most seed for use the following year is on hand but remains as           
       part of stocks until planted.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500POTS: PRD, SLD, NOT SLD&KEPT FOR SD,US '89-94          
                                                                                
            Potatoes:  Production, Sold, Not Sold, and Kept for Seed,           
                             United States, 1989-94                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                     Fall Potatoes                     : Amount Used 
          :-------------------------------------------------------:  for Seed   
   Crop   :             :         :   Sold   :         : Not Sold : All Seasons 
   Year   : Production  :  Sold   : as % of  :Not Sold : as % of  :  Following  
          :             :         :   Prod   :         :   Prod   :    year     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :   ---- 1,000 Cwt ----   Percent   1,000 Cwt  Percent     1,000 Cwt  
          :                                                                     
1989      :   352,507     320,033     90.8     32,474       9.2       28,061    
1990      :   371,730     334,893     90.1     36,837       9.9       27,021    
1991      :   379,525     341,209     89.9     38,316      10.1       28,275    
1992      :   385,935     351,161     91.0     34,774       9.0       29,031    
1993      :   420,515     379,047     90.1     41,468       9.9       29,274    
1994      :   402,149                                                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000110081215951500NXT RLSE DATE & EEO STMNT                              
The next "Potato Stocks" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on January 12,    
1996.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an equal
employment opportunity employer.