The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1931-03-05
Potato Outlook for 1881

the Outlook Report for potatoes
just released by the u. S. Dept. of
Agriculture. The estimate on acre
age and production for 1881 is
based upon the reports on plant
ing intentions as sent in by grow
ers from all over the United
States. This information is for the
guidance of potato farmers in de
Gliding whether to plant potatoes
this year.
Increased paintings, result t.
ing in increased production of po-
tatoes in 1881, are likely to bring
potato producers lower prices for
their 1881 crop than were received
for the 1880 crop.
The 1881 acreage will apparent
ly be six percent greater than the
1880 acreage if growers carry out
their present indicated planting in
tentions. In the southeastern early
states, including Virginia and
Maryland, growers intend to
maintain acreage close to that of
1880. In other areas increases are
planned as follows: Southwest
early and second-early states, IL
percent; in the 10 so-called sur
plus producing states, the intended
increase, four percent; and in the
16 deficient states, seven percent.
Such increases, if carried out,
would mean a total of 1858, 900
acres as compared with 1894, 900
bushels. This would be practically
equal to the large crop of 1924,
but under the record crop of 1928
of 465, 100000 bushels.
A large crop in 1881 would re-
suit in lower prices for both the
early and late crops than those
generally received in 1880. The
marketings of early crop from the
South will take place during a
period of unusually depressed bus
mess conditions, which together
with a larger supply, will tend to
keep prices during the spring and
summer well below those of the
same months Of 1880. The market
ing of the late crop will also be-
gin in period of low prices, tho
possibly during somewhat improv-
ing demand conditions. Should a
total crop of 421, 100000 bushels
be produced in the United States
in 1881, prices to the farmer in
the wintre of 1881 are likely to be
about one-third lower than in, the
winter of 1880. Such a level of
prices for the country as a whole
would mean a greater percentage
decline in such states as Michigan
and Wisconsin, where 1880 prices
were relatively high because OF
small crops, and a smaller percent
age decline in such states as Maine
and Idaho where the 1880 crop
prices were relatively low because
&c loroo looo1 .,ron
Following the extremely heavy
production of 1928 there was a
substantial reduction of acreage
in 1929 and a slightly Increased
acreage in 1880 over 1929. How
ever, if the average production for
the preceding five-year period,
1924-1928 inclusive, had prevailed
in 1929 and 1920 the total crop
from the average planted would
have been close to 00,OOO,OOO bu.
each year. If such a production
had occurred this year, 1880, lnol-
cations are that the supply OF po-
tatoes would have been in excess
of consumption requirements and
the price would have been below
cost of production. Drought condl-
tions in Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan caused this much small
er production in 1929 and 1880. 1t
average production is secured IN
these states in 1881 there will be
much stronger competition in mid
die western markets for shipments
from the far western states.
Total storage stocks on hand
January 1 in the U. S. were about
the same as one year ago. Storage
stocks in most producing areas