By Andi Anderson
Above-average temperatures slowed Michigan’s potato harvest last week, according to the latest North American Potato Market News report.
Despite the delay, reports indicate that the quality of the harvested potatoes is good, and the yields are higher than average. The warm temperatures have not significantly affected the overall productivity of Michigan’s potato farms, and growers remain optimistic about the season’s results.
The USDA has revised its 2023 potato production data for 12 of the 13 reporting states, including Michigan. The state’s potato production exceeded the January estimate in several key areas.
Michigan harvested 49,000 acres of potatoes in 2023, which is 500 acres less than originally estimated, but the yield per acre was revised upward by 5 cwt per acre, setting a new record of 440 cwt per acre.
These changes increased the 2023 crop estimate by 27,000 cwt, bringing Michigan’s 2023 potato crop to 602,000 cwt, or 2.9% higher than 2022. However, the state’s combined shipments of table and chip potatoes from the 2023 crop fell 2.5% compared to the previous year.
U.S. packers shipped 1.714 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending on September 28, 2024, an increase from the 1.485 million cwt shipped during the same week in 2023.
Michigan packers shipped 34,036 cwt of potatoes during the same week, a significant rise from the 23,200 cwt shipped in 2023.
Despite minor delays and weather-related challenges, Michigan’s potato harvest continues to show strong results, with farmers expecting a successful season.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-npantos
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables