The potato harvest in the United States is estimated to be 4,3% lower compared to last year. It is clear that the states of Florida and Washington suffer the greatest yield losses. What causes this loss?
Potato insiders in the United States expect the 2020 harvest to reach 18,35 million tons, a decrease of 4,3% (or 830.000 tons) compared to the 2019 harvest. They expect an average yield of approximately 50,3 tons per hectare. This figure is comparable to the 2019 yield, but lower than the average of the past 20 years. One of the main reasons for this lower average yield is the decline in acreage in the Columbia Basin region of Washington State, which typically has the highest yields.
Biggest loss in Florida
If we look at the expected potato yields in the various states, it is striking that the state of Florida has to suffer by far the largest loss. The most current figures show a harvest of 103.600 tons, which is 33,6% lower than last year (156.000 tons). It means the lowest yield since 1993. Based on acreage data from the US Department of Agriculture, the average yield per hectare is expected to be 23 tons. It should be noted that Florida is the smallest potato producing state in the country. The impact on the market is therefore relatively small.
A sharp drop in yield is also expected in Washington (-16,2%), bringing the harvest figure to 3,9 million tons. Until 2 weeks ago, the growing season in the region was still relatively favorable, but the high temperatures at the end of July and the beginning of August meant that the potential for the harvest could not be utilized. The average yield per hectare in this state is expected to be 67 tons per hectare.
Significant increase in Colorado
While a decrease is generally visible in the United States, the potato harvest in Colorado is expected to show a significant increase. Insiders expect a yield of 0,9 million tons, which is 7,7% more than the expected harvest figure for 2019. The increase is mainly due to a larger acreage (+1.092 hectares) and the fact that the potatoes hit the ground early have entered. And although growers have had some setbacks (such as frost at the end of June), the crop is currently developing on schedule.
In Nebraska, potato growers report that growing conditions in 2020 are much better than the 2019 harvest. Insiders therefore expect the yield to be 4,7% higher, at approximately 450.000 tons. An average yield of approximately 56 tons per hectare is expected, a record for this state.
Potato area smaller
The fact that the expected potato yield is lower is also largely due to the fact that potato area in the United States is less large this year: 365.147 hectares. This concerns a decrease of 16.146 hectares. The decrease is the result of a decrease in the contract volume for both frozen fries and early potatoes.