Potato
Stocks National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

USDA
Washington, D.C.

Released December 16, 1997, 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. 



    Potato Stocks Down 7 Percent, Fall Production Off 8 Percent

Production of fall potatoes is estimated at 417 million cwt in 1997, down
8 percent from a year ago but 3 percent above 1995.  December 1 stocks, at
274 million cwt in the 15 storage States, are down 7 percent from last year but
7 percent above 1995.  Disappearance in the 15 storage States this year is down 
10 percent, with processing off 13 percent.  







Pot 1-2 (12-97)
                                                                                
         Fall Potatoes:  Production and Stocks, 15 Major States, 1988-97        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Crop  :          :         :         :         :         :         :         
   Year  :Production:  Dec 1  :  Jan 1  :  Feb 1  :  Mar 1  :  Apr 1  :  May 1  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                              1,000 Cwt                               
         :                                                                      
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     : 408,139    272,290   237,960   201,870   168,970   128,825    87,500 
1995     : 392,942    256,310   223,150   188,960   155,720   116,255    76,170 
1996     : 442,752    295,100   262,120   227,080   189,410   147,885   102,810 
1997     : 406,964    274,250                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Potatoes:  Quantity Used for Processing, 8 States, 1995-97 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 :                                                            
  1995             : 27,310   35,040   43,260   51,530  59,060  66,690   89,250 
  1996             : 31,060   38,210   45,420   54,640  62,570  70,720   96,970 
  1997             : 26,880                                                     
                   :                                                            
ME 2/              :                                                            
  1995             :  1,455    1,850    2,430    2,850   3,435   3,965    5,725 
  1996             :  1,790    2,115    2,820    3,280   3,820   4,420    6,495 
  1997             :  1,245                                                     
                   :                                                            
WA & OR - Other    :                                                            
  1995             : 30,000   35,170   39,460   45,280  51,730  57,360   70,250 
  1996             : 31,670   36,660   41,700   48,740  55,570  62,320   80,970 
  1997             : 28,580                                                     
                   :                                                            
Oth Sts 3/         :                                                            
  1995             : 12,650   15,630   18,815   21,985  25,510  28,610   33,580 
  1996             : 13,660   16,570   20,140   23,510  26,990  29,890   40,275 
  1997             : 11,335                                                     
                   :                                                            
Total              :                                                            
  1995             : 71,415   87,690  103,965  121,645 139,735 156,625  198,805 
  1996             : 78,180   93,555  110,080  130,170 148,950 167,350  224,710 
  1997             : 68,040                                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                                         
             
              Fall Potatoes:  Production and Stocks, 15 Major States,            
                             on December 1, 1996-97                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :          Crop of 1996          :         Crop of 1997          
               :----------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :          :  Stocks  :    %     :          :  Stocks  :    %    
               :   Prod   :  Dec 1,  :    of    :   Prod   :  Dec 1,  :   of    
               :          :   1996   :   Prod   :          :   1997   :  Prod   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               : ---- 1,000 Cwt ---      Pct      ---- 1,000 Cwt ---      Pct   
               :                                                                
CA             :   4,600      3,500       76        4,200      3,400      81    
CO             :  29,175     23,100       79       25,377     19,900      78    
ID             : 142,800    102,000       71      135,430     97,000      72    
ME             :  21,175     16,900       80       19,170     15,600      81    
MI             :  13,800      8,000       58       14,250      8,500      60    
MN             :  24,600     16,500       67       20,440     13,500      66    
MT             :   3,213      3,050       95        3,328      3,180      96    
NE             :   4,402      3,160       72        7,431      5,580      75    
NY             :   7,980      3,700       46        8,408      4,000      48    
ND             :  28,820     20,500       71       21,525     16,000      74    
OH             :   1,275        290       23        1,175        290      25    
OR             :  30,124     23,600       78       27,057     21,500      79    
PA             :   4,208      2,800       67        3,190      1,600      50    
WA             :  94,990     48,000       51       88,060     47,000      53    
WI             :  31,590     20,000       63       27,923     17,200      62    
               :                                                                
Total 15 State : 442,752    295,100       67      406,964    274,250      67    
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

                                                                              
           Fall Potatoes:  Stocks by Type as Percent of Total Stocks,           
                      11 Major States, December 1, 1996-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                          Potato Types                          
               :----------------------------------------------------------------
               :        Reds         :       Whites        :      Russets       
     State     :----------------------------------------------------------------
               :   1996   :   1997   :   1996   :   1997   :   1996   :  1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                            Percent                             
               :                                                                
CO             :     6          5                     2         94        93    
ID             :                          10          8         90        92    
ME             :     3          4         61         59         36        37    
MI             :     3          1         78         72         19        27    
MN             :    13         12         17         13         70        75    
NY             :     5          5         93         93          2         2    
ND             :    18         12         35         24         47        64    
OR             :     1          1          2          3         97        96    
PA             :     3          3         97         97                         
WA             :     2          1          6          7         92        92    
WI             :     3          3         17         19         80        78    
               :                                                                
11 State Avg   :     4          3         17         16         79        81    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Fall Potatoes:  Area Planted and Harvested by State, 1995-97          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :          Area Planted          :         Area Harvested         
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                           1,000 Acres                           
              :                                                                 
CA            :    13.0       11.5       10.5       13.0       11.5       10.5  
CO            :    77.0       78.0       77.0       76.8       77.8       76.9  
ID            :   400.0      415.0      390.0      398.0      413.0      388.0  
  10 SW Co    :    27.0       28.0       27.0       27.0       28.0       27.0  
  Other ID    :   373.0      387.0      363.0      371.0      385.0      361.0  
IN            :     5.0        5.7        5.3        4.6        5.2        4.9  
ME            :    78.0       78.0       71.0       78.0       77.0       71.0  
MA            :     3.3        2.7        2.7        3.3        2.6        2.7  
MI            :    55.0       52.0       47.5       54.5       46.0       47.5  
MN            :    83.0       85.0       77.0       77.0       82.0       73.0  
MT            :     9.8       10.4       10.4        9.8       10.2       10.4  
NE            :    12.0       12.7       19.6       11.5       12.4       19.3  
NV            :     7.6        8.0        7.0        7.6        7.9        6.9  
NM            :     6.3        6.7        6.3        6.3        6.4        6.3  
NY            :    29.0       29.0       30.0       28.5       28.5       29.5  
ND            :   125.0      134.0      125.0      121.0      131.0      105.0  
OH            :     5.5        5.2        5.3        5.4        5.1        5.0  
OR            :    54.0       62.0       54.5       53.2       61.0       53.5  
  Malheur     :    13.0       13.6       11.0       12.8       13.3       10.9  
  Other OR    :    41.0       48.4       43.5       40.4       47.7       42.6  
PA            :    18.0       17.0       15.0       17.0       16.5       14.5  
RI            :     0.9        0.8        0.8        0.9        0.8        0.8  
SD            :     6.0        5.0        4.5        5.2        4.8        4.2  
UT            :     5.2        4.3        3.1        5.1        4.2        3.1  
WA            :   147.0      163.0      148.0      147.0      161.0      148.0  
WI            :    82.0       83.0       78.0       80.0       81.0       76.5  
WY            :     1.5        0.9        0.5        1.5        0.8        0.5  
              :                                                                 
Total         : 1,224.1    1,269.9    1,189.0    1,205.2    1,246.7    1,158.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Fall Potatoes:  Yield and Production by State, 1995-97             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :             Yield              :           Production           
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   ---------- Cwt ----------      --------- 1,000 Cwt ---------  
              :                                                                 
CA            :   410        400        400        5,330      4,600      4,200  
CO            :   310        375        330       23,808     29,175     25,377  
ID            :   333        346        349      132,657    142,800    135,430  
  10 SW Co    :   420        425        470       11,340     11,900     12,690  
  Other ID    :   327        340        340      121,317    130,900    122,740  
IN            :   260        260        270        1,196      1,352      1,323  
ME            :   220        275        270       17,160     21,175     19,170  
MA            :   260        260        250          858        676        675  
MI            :   300        300        300       16,350     13,800     14,250  
MN            :   270        300        280       20,790     24,600     20,440  
MT            :   300        315        320        2,940      3,213      3,328  
NE            :   320        355        385        3,680      4,402      7,431  
NV            :   365        400        430        2,774      3,160      2,967  
NM            :   380        400        420        2,394      2,560      2,646  
NY            :   270        280        285        7,695      7,980      8,408  
ND            :   210        220        205       25,410     28,820     21,525  
OH            :   260        250        235        1,404      1,275      1,175  
OR            :   466        494        506       24,788     30,124     27,057  
  Malheur     :   390        400        450        4,992      5,320      4,905  
  Other OR    :   490        520        520       19,796     24,804     22,152  
PA            :   240        255        220        4,080      4,208      3,190  
RI            :   270        240        265          243        192        208  
SD            :   190        280        250          988      1,344      1,050  
UT            :   240        280        295        1,224      1,176        915  
WA            :   550        590        595       80,850     94,990     88,060  
WI            :   325        390        365       26,000     31,590     27,923  
WY            :   260        280        280          390        224        140  
              :                                                                 
Total         :   334        364        360      403,009    453,436    416,888  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                       1997 Potato Objective Yield Survey                       
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducted potato objective yield   
surveys in the 7 major fall producing States in 1997.  These 7 States account   
for 83 percent of the 1997 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    
                                                                                
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, 7 Major States, 1996-97 1/    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State   :                :                :                :                
     and    :      Reds      :     Whites     :    Russets     :   All Types    
    Year    :                :                :                :                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                           Cwt per Acre                            
            :                                                                   
ID    1996  :                        16               31               28       
      1997  :                        14               28               28       
            :                                                                   
ME    1996  :        7               15               19               16       
      1997  :       13               11               18               14       
            :                                                                   
MN    1996  :       11                                21               22       
      1997  :       10                9               32               27       
            :                                                                   
ND    1996  :       26               26               30               27       
      1997  :       12               19               43               25       
            :                                                                   
OR    1996  :                        43               25               29       
      1997  :                        14               16               15       
            :                                                                   
WA    1996  :                        27               30               30       
      1997  :                        15               24               23       
            :                                                                   
WI    1996  :        8               24               22               20       
      1997  :       20               27               19               20       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Potatoes left in the field at time of harvest.  Based on counts in potato   
    fields selected for post-harvest samples.                                   
                                                                                
         Potatoes:  Average Number of Hills per Acre by Type, 1996-97 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 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                                                                    
ID    1996 :                            36       13,032       235       12,224  
      1997 :                            27       13,998       262       11,953  
           :                                                                    
ME    1996 :     9        14,923       105       13,547        50        9,739  
      1997 :     6        15,551        92       13,896        48        9,289  
           :                                                                    
MN    1996 :    33        11,480        11       10,859        59       13,170  
      1997 :    26        11,799        16       11,142        67       12,440  
           :                                                                    
ND    1996 :    29         7,690        71        9,981        62       11,368  
      1997 :    28        10,198        33       10,075        37       11,424  
           :                                                                    
OR    1996 :     2        11,636        53       13,474       108       14,557  
      1997 :                            39       12,926       124       13,626  
           :                                                                    
WA    1996 :     4        12,147        24       13,809       119       14,119  
      1997 :     4        16,442        15       14,734       147       13,868  
           :                                                                    
WI    1996 :    14        13,684        31       13,372        76       12,435  
      1997 :    17        12,810        26       13,147       104       12,626  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on row measurements and counts in potato field selected for objective 
    yield samples.                                                              

                   Potato Stocks Down 7 Percent

The 15 major potato States held 274 million cwt of potatoes on December 1, 1997,
down 7 percent from last year but 7 percent above 1995.  Storage accounted for
67 percent of 1997 fall production, the same as last year.  Stocks by type were
3 percent red, 16 percent white, and 81 percent russet; more russets and fewer
reds and whites are in storage than a year ago.

  
Disappearance in the 15 States from the start of harvest to December 1 was 
133 million cwt of potatoes, down 10 percent from the same period in 1996 and 
3 percent less than 1995.  Shrink and loss so far was estimated at 15.9 million
cwt, down 14 percent from the 18.5 million cwt lost in 1996 and 9 percent below
the 17.4 million cwt lost from the 1995 crop.  


Processing of 1997 potatoes totaled 68.0 million cwt used so far this season. 
This is down 13 percent from a year ago and 5 percent below two years ago.


Eastern States stored 21.2 million cwt of potatoes on December 1, down 9 percent
from last year but 8 percent above 1995.  Maine's stocks were down 8 percent,
Pennsylvania's stocks fell 43 percent, but New York's storage gained 8 percent.

Central States accounted for 61.1 million cwt of potato stocks this December, 
down 11 percent from last year but 3 percent above two years ago.  Minnesota's
stocks were down 18 percent, North Dakota dropped 22 percent, and Wisconsin's
stocks were down 14 percent.  Nebraska's storage jumped 77 percent, while
Michigan gained 6 percent over last year. 


Western States held 192 million cwt of potatoes in storage on December 1, down 
6 percent from a year ago but 8 percent above two years ago.  Montana was alone
among Western States with an increase in storage over last year. Colorado was
down 14 percent, Oregon's storage was off 9 percent, Idaho's storage decreased 
5 percent, California dropped 3 percent, and Washington stored 2 percent fewer
potatoes than last year.

              Fall Potato Production Down 8 Percent
   
Production of fall potatoes in 1997 is estimated at 417 million cwt, down 
8 percent from last year but 3 percent above two years ago.  The December 
1 forecast is down less than 1 percent from the November forecast.  Area
harvested, at 1.16 million acres, is off 7 percent from last year and 4 percent
short of 1995.  The average yield is estimated at 360 cwt per acre, down 4 cwt
from last year but 26 cwt above two years ago.    


Total U.S. potato production from all four seasons was 459 million cwt in 1997,
a downturn of 8 percent from a year earlier but 3 percent above 1995.

 
Five Eastern States produced 31.7 million cwt of fall potatoes in 1997, down 
8 percent from last year but 5 percent above two years ago.  Potatoes were
harvested from 118,500 acres, a decline of 5 percent from last year.  The
average yield of 267 cwt per acre was down 6 cwt from last year.  Maine growers
produced 19.2 million cwt, 10 percent less than last year.  Both acreage and
yield were down.  Pennsylvania's production dropped 24 percent, while New York's
output gained 5 percent over a year ago.  The Massachusetts potato crop was
fractionally smaller than last year, but Rhode Island gained 8 percent.

 
Eight Central States' production is forecast at 95.1 million cwt this year, down
11 percent from last year.  Harvested area is estimated at 335,400 acres, off 
9 percent from last year.  The average yield of 284 cwt per acre was down 8 cwt
from last year.  Nebraska's  production jumped 69 percent with increased acreage
and yield gains.  Michigan's production gained 3 percent over last year's rain
damaged crop.  The rest of the Central States had smaller crops.  North Dakota's
production dropped 25 percent, South Dakota's production fell 22 percent,
Minnesota's output slipped 17 percent, and Wisconsin potatoes were off 
12 percent from their levels of a year ago.  Ohio dropped 8 percent, and Indiana
slipped 2 percent.

  
Ten Western States produced 290 million cwt in 1997, down 7 percent from last
year but 5 percent above two years ago.  Acreage for harvest, at 704,100 acres,
was down 7 percent, while the average yield of 412 cwt per acre was off 2 cwt
from a year ago.  Lower harvested acreage from last year dropped total
production in most Western States below last year's levels.  However, Idaho,
Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah all had record high yields. 
Production in Idaho was down 5 percent, Oregon was off 10 percent, and
Washington dropped 7 percent.  Colorado was down 13 percent, with declines in
both acreage and yield.  Wyoming's production fell 38 percent, Utah potatoes
declined 22 percent, California dropped 9 percent, and Nevada declined 
6 percent.  Montana registered a 4 percent increase in potato production over
last year, and New Mexico gained 3 percent.  






                                                                                
            Reliability of December 1 Production and 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 274     
million cwt will not be above or below the final estimate by more than 2.6      
percent or approximately 7.1 million cwt.  Chances are 9 out of 10 (90 percent  
confidence level) that the difference will not exceed 4.4 percent or
approximately 12.1 million cwt.
                                                                                
Also shown is the 10-year (1987-96) record of the differences between the       
December 1 production and stocks estimates 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 4.9 million cwt.  During the   
10-year period, the December 1 stocks estimates have 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     
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :       : 90% Confidence  :                        :     Number     
  Estimate  :       :      Level      :        Quantity        :    of Years    
            :Percent:-----------------------------------------------------------
            :       :       :         :       :        : Below : Above :        
            :       :Percent:  Quant  :  Avg  : Small  : Large : Final : Final  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                  --------- Million Cwt ---------                  
            :                                                                   
Stocks      :  2.6     4.4     12.07    6.09     0.65    14.50    10       0    
Production  :  1.7     3.0     12.51    4.90     0.05    13.46     8       2    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
           Fall Potato Stocks:  Preliminary and Final December Stocks,          
                             United States, 1987-97                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Crop   :      Preliminary      :        % of         :         Final         
   Year   :        Stocks         :        Final        :       Stocks 1/       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :       1,000 Cwt               Percent               1,000 Cwt       
          :                                                                     
1986      :        223,720                 99.0                  225,890        
1987      :        198,520                 96.2                  206,420        
1988      :        201,400                 99.7                  202,050        
1989      :        217,300                 96.4                  225,500        
1990      :        240,660                 99.4                  242,070        
1991      :        232,320                 94.1                  246,820        
1992      :        240,370                 96.3                  249,710        
1993      :        264,090                 97.0                  272,290        
1994      :        252,030                 98.3                  256,310        
1995      :        291,650                 98.8                  295,100        
1996      :        274,250                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 90.5 percent of production.  Shrinkage, loss, and   
       home use account for the remaining 9.5 percent.  Most seed for use the   
       following year is on hand but remains as part of stocks until planted.   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            Potatoes:  Production, Sold, Not Sold, and Kept for Seed,           
                             United States, 1992-97                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                     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  
          :                                                                     
1992      :   379,525     341,209     89.9     38,316      10.1       28,275    
1993      :   385,935     351,161     91.0     34,774       9.0       29,031    
1994      :   419,645     382,333     91.2     41,312       9.8       29,348    
1995      :   403,009     368,946     91.5     34,063       8.5       30,582    
1996      :   453,436     407,326     89.8     46,110      10.2       28,941    
1997      :   416,888                                                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
      Fall Potatoes:  Production, December 1, Stocks, and Farm Disposition,     
                       15 States and Fall Season,  1994-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :           :          :          :        Farm Disposition         
            :           :          :  Total   :---------------------------------
    State   :           :  Dec 1.  :   Used   :     Where Grown      :          
     and    :Production :  Stocks  :   For    :----------------------:          
  Crop Year :           :          :   Seed   :Seed, Feed,:Shrinkage :   Sold   
            :           :          :          : Home Use  : and Loss :          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                             1,000 Cwt                             
            :                                                                   
CA  1994    :    5,600      4,200       286          60         500      5,040  
    1995    :    5,330      4,000       242          10         460      4,860  
    1996    :    4,600      3,500       200          23         472      4,105  
    1997    :    4,200      3,400                                               
            :                                                                   
CO  1994    :   25,795     18,900     1,925       1,210       2,040     22,545  
    1995    :   23,808     18,200     1,950       1,285       2,048     20,475  
    1996    :   29,175     23,100     1,925       1,485       3,975     23,715  
    1997    :   25,377     19,900                                               
            :                                                                   
ID  1994    :  138,801    100,500     8,400       1,535       9,659    127,607  
    1995    :  132,657     96,000     8,700       1,785       8,920    121,952  
    1996    :  142,800    102,000     8,400       1,500      10,100    131,200  
    1997    :  135,430     97,000                                               
            :                                                                   
ME  1994    :   18,375     13,400     1,716         525       2,850     15,000  
    1995    :   17,160     13,800     1,716         420       1,025     15,715  
    1996    :   21,175     16,900     1,628         395       1,800     18,980  
    1997    :   19,170     15,600                                               
            :                                                                   
MI  1994    :   11,310      8,000       963         174       1,350      9,786  
    1995    :   16,350      9,600       962         168         690     15,492  
    1996    :   13,800      8,000       784         300       1,300     12,200  
    1997    :   14,250      8,500                                               
            :                                                                   
MN  1994    :   17,755     12,500     1,693         458       1,668     15,629  
    1995    :   20,790     13,500     1,573         346       1,757     18,687  
    1996    :   24,600     16,500     1,383         445       4,158     19,997  
    1997    :   20,440     13,500                                               
            :                                                                   
MT  1994    :    3,200      3,040       216         142         192      2,866  
    1995    :    2,940      2,800       239         128         147      2,665  
    1996    :    3,213      3,050       239         137         221      2,855  
    1997    :    3,328      3,180                                               
            :                                                                   
NE  1994    :    3,996      2,300       300         217         311      3,468  
    1995    :    3,680      2,600       292         187         284      3,209  
    1996    :    4,402      3,160       449         169         439      3,794  
    1997    :    7,431      5,580                                               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                    --continued)                                                                                
      Fall Potatoes:  Production, December 1, Stocks, and Farm Disposition,     
                 15 States and Fall Season,  1994-97 (continued)                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :           :          :          :        Farm Disposition         
            :           :          :  Total   :---------------------------------
    State   :           :  Dec 1.  :   Used   :     Where Grown      :          
     and    :Production :  Stocks  :   For    :----------------------:          
  Crop Year :           :          :   Seed   :Seed, Feed,:Shrinkage :   Sold   
            :           :          :          : Home Use  : and Loss :          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                             1,000 Cwt                             
            :                                                                   
NY  1994    :    7,805      4,200        648        131         417      7,257  
    1995    :    7,695      3,400        648        155         290      7,250  
    1996    :    7,980      3,700        660        140         370      7,470  
    1997    :    8,408      4,000                                               
            :                                                                   
ND  1994    :   28,200     19,300      2,125        335       4,365     23,500  
    1995    :   25,410     17,000      2,211        280       2,800     22,330  
    1996    :   28,820     20,500      2,188        360       5,270     23,190  
    1997    :   21,525     16,000                                               
            :                                                                   
OH  1994    :    1,348        350        110         22          11      1,315  
    1995    :    1,404        310        107          4          10      1,390  
    1996    :    1,275        290        105          5          35      1,235  
    1997    :    1,175        290                                               
            :                                                                   
OR  1994    :   27,514     20,300      1,242        222       2,055     25,237  
    1995    :   24,788     17,200      1,475        148       1,450     23,190  
    1996    :   30,124     23,600      1,357        305       2,560     27,259  
    1997    :   27,057     21,500                                               
            :                                                                   
PA  1994    :    3,780      2,200        342         17         362      3,401  
    1995    :    4,080      2,400        323         20         102      3,958  
    1996    :    4,208      2,800        361         83         325      3,800  
    1997    :    3,190      1,600                                               
            :                                                                   
WA  1994    :   88,920     47,500      3,528        300       7,000     81,620  
    1995    :   80,850     39,500      3,912        300       6,400     74,150  
    1996    :   94,990     48,000      3,552        300       6,800     87,890  
    1997    :   88,060     47,000                                               
            :                                                                   
WI  1994    :   25,740     15,600      1,640        257       1,802     23,681  
    1995    :   26,000     16,000      1,743        288       1,250     24,462  
    1996    :   31,590     20,000      1,560        305       1,360     29,925  
    1997    :   27,923     17,200                                               
            :                                                                   
15 Sts      :                                                                   
    1994    :  408,139    272,290     25,134      5,605      34,582    367,952  
    1995    :  392,942    256,310     26,093      5,524      27,633    359,785  
    1996    :  442,752    295,100     24,791      5,952      39,185    397,615  
    1997    :  406,964    274,250                                               
            :                                                                   
23 Fall Sts :                                                                   
    1994    :  419,645                25,872      5,671      35,641    378,333  
    1995    :  403,009                26,813      5,559      28,504    368,946  
    1996    :  453,436                25,444      6,054      40,056    407,326  
    1997    :  416,888                                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next "Potato Stocks" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET on January 13, 1998.


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