Potato Stocks ISSN: 1949-1565 Released December 17, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Potato Stocks Up Slightly from December 2019 Potato States held 270 million cwt in storage on December 1, 2020, up slightly from December 1, 2019. Potatoes in storage accounted for 65 percent of the States' 2020 production compared with 63 percent a year earlier. The indicated potato disappearance, at 145 million cwt, was down 7 percent from the same period last year. Season-to-date shrink and loss, at 13.2 million cwt, was 9 percent higher than the same time last year. Processors in the 8 States used 71.9 million cwt of potatoes for the season, down 6 percent from December 2019. Potato Production and Stocks - 13 States: December 1, 2019-2020 [Stocks include processor holdings and most of the seed to plant following year's crop. Seed usage for all seasons in 2020 totaled 23.7 million cwt] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Crop of 2019 : Crop of 2020 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : Stocks :December stocks : : Stocks :December stocks : Production : December 1, : as a percent : Production : December 1, : as a percent : : 2019 : of : : 2020 : of : : : production : : : production ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 cwt ------ percent ------- 1,000 cwt ------ percent : California ......: 16,842 3,000 18 13,694 2,600 19 Colorado ........: 19,666 13,800 70 22,865 16,800 73 Florida .........: 6,958 (D) (D) 5,450 (D) (D) Idaho ...........: 130,900 92,000 70 136,500 97,000 71 Maine ...........: 16,738 12,400 74 13,383 9,800 73 Michigan ........: 20,370 12,500 61 17,390 10,900 63 Minnesota .......: 17,845 11,600 65 17,430 12,400 71 Nebraska ........: 9,595 5,100 53 9,163 5,100 56 North Dakota ....: 19,430 14,000 72 22,913 16,100 70 Oregon ..........: 25,311 20,300 80 27,900 22,400 80 : Texas ...........: 7,104 (D) (D) 4,253 (D) (D) Washington ......: 104,960 61,000 58 96,250 55,000 57 Wisconsin .......: 28,700 20,400 71 28,290 20,500 72 : Other States 1/ .: - 3,100 (X) - 1,800 (X) : Total ...........: 424,419 269,200 63 415,481 270,400 65 : Klamath Basin 2/ : (NA) 5,800 (NA) (NA) 5,600 (NA) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (NA) Not available. (X) Not applicable. 1/ Includes data withheld above. 2/ Includes potato stocks in California and Klamath County, Oregon. Already included in the total. Potato Production and Stocks - 13 States: 2011-2020 [Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop : : : : : year : Production : December 1 : February 1 : April 1 : June 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 cwt : 2011 ....: 382,318 253,000 187,500 115,650 43,340 2012 ....: 410,367 271,500 204,600 (NA) (NA) 2013 ....: 388,204 (NA) (NA) 119,450 47,085 2014 ....: 399,118 267,500 206,600 139,200 63,535 2015 ....: 403,062 267,900 205,900 137,200 60,080 2016 ....: 412,688 275,800 213,000 142,600 67,570 2017 ....: 406,800 277,900 210,600 138,800 63,740 2018 ....: 414,359 279,300 212,800 144,700 70,370 2019 1/ .: 424,419 269,200 203,000 127,000 58,000 2020 ....: 415,481 270,400 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. 1/ Beginning in 2019, production represents all potatoes. Potato Stocks by Type as Percent of Total Stocks - 13 States: December 1, 2019-2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Potato types :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : Reds :Round whites : Long whites : Yellows : Russets State :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : percent : California .........: 5 6 51 47 - - 19 20 25 27 Colorado ...........: 3 4 (D) (D) (D) (D) 7 7 86 86 Florida ............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Idaho ..............: 3 2 3 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) 91 92 Maine ..............: 5 4 35 39 (D) 1 (D) 4 56 52 Michigan ...........: (D) (D) 79 79 - - (D) (D) 20 18 Minnesota ..........: 3 5 3 4 1 (D) 2 (D) 91 88 Nebraska ...........: (D) (D) 61 61 (D) - (D) (D) 36 37 North Dakota .......: 20 16 24 27 (D) 2 (D) 3 51 52 Oregon .............: (D) (D) 2 2 (D) 2 (D) (D) 91 92 : Texas ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Washington .........: 3 3 (D) (D) (D) (D) 3 3 92 89 Wisconsin ..........: 3 5 22 31 (D) - (D) 2 71 62 : 13 State average ...: 4 4 12 13 1 1 2 3 81 79 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Quantity of Potatoes Used for Processing - 8 States: 2019-2021 [Total quantity received and used for processing regardless of the State in which the potatoes were produced. Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Current : Following year State : year : : : : : : : :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : December 1, :January 1, :February 1,: March 1, : April 1, : May 1, : June 1, : Season : 2019 : 2020 : 2020 : 2020 : 2020 : 2020 : 2020 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 cwt : Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon .....: 26,655 33,170 39,840 47,980 55,775 61,640 69,395 86,863 Maine ................................: 1,585 2,050 2,610 2,875 3,285 3,590 4,040 5,050 Washington and Oregon ................: 34,755 42,045 49,685 59,535 67,325 71,280 78,895 94,700 : Other States 1/ ......................: 13,315 17,485 21,170 24,940 28,430 31,263 34,565 39,346 : United States ........................: 76,310 94,750 113,305 135,330 154,815 167,773 186,895 225,959 : Dehydrated 2/ ........................: 11,850 15,075 18,620 21,865 25,510 28,780 32,080 40,285 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Current : Following year State : year : : : : : : : :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : December 1, :January 1, :February 1,: March 1, : April 1, : May 1, : June 1, : Season : 2020 : 2021 : 2021 : 2021 : 2021 : 2021 : 2021 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 cwt : Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon .....: 27,195 Maine ................................: 1,475 Washington and Oregon ................: 31,930 : Other States 1/ ......................: 11,340 : United States ........................: 71,940 : Dehydrated 2/ ........................: 13,140 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Other States include Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. 2/ Dehydrated products except starch and flour. Includes Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington. Accumulated Potato Shrinkage and Loss - 13 States: 2019-2021 [Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Current : : : : : : Crop : year : Following year year :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :December 1, 2019 : January 1, 2020 :February 1, 2020 :March 1, 2020 :April 1, 2020 : May 1, 2020 : June 1, 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 cwt : 2019 ...: 12,141 13,626 15,259 17,061 18,465 20,157 22,261 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Current : : : : : : Crop : year : Following year year :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :December 1, 2020 : January 1, 2021 :February 1, 2021 :March 1, 2021 :April 1, 2021 : May 1, 2021 : June 1, 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 cwt : 2020 ...: 13,228 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: The December 1 potato stock estimates in this report are based primarily on a survey conducted in the first week of December in the potato producing States. The potato stocks survey is a probability survey that includes a sample of approximately 840 growers, processors, and storage facilities that are contacted to obtain the quantity of potatoes stored as of the first of the month, as well as monthly shrinkage and loss information. Monthly processing data is collected from a census of all known potato processing facilities in eight States (Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin). An effort is made to obtain a report from all facilities. Estimates are made for missing facilities to make the survey complete. Data was collected by mail, internet, telephone, or personal interview to obtain information on potato stocks, monthly potato processing, and monthly shrink and loss. Estimating Procedures: Information obtained from the potato stocks survey, processing survey, and federal administrative data, is used to establish estimates of stocks, shrinkage and loss, and processing usage. These estimates are reviewed for errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates. Revision Policy: Stocks, shrink and loss, and processing estimates for the previous estimating period are subject to revision based on late and/or updated information. At the end of the marketing season, all information available, including disposition data, are thoroughly reviewed and any necessary revisions for the entire crop year are published in the Potatoes Annual Summary released in September. Reliability: Reliability of the stocks and processing data must be treated separately because the survey designs for the two surveys are very different. The stocks estimates are subject to sampling variability because all operations holding stocks are not included in the sample. This variability, as measured by the relative standard error at the United States level, is approximately 1.6 percent. This means that chances are approximately 95 out of 100 that the survey estimates for stocks will be within plus or minus 3.2 percent of the value that could be developed by averaging the estimates produced from all possible samples selected from the same population and surveyed using the same procedures. Survey indications are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omission, duplication, imputation for missing data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. Processing, as well as stocks, are subject to these types of errors. These errors cannot be measured directly, but they are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov Lance Honig, Chief, Crops Branch......................................................... (202) 720-2127 Fleming Gibson, Head, Fruits, Vegetables and Special Crops Section....................... (202) 720-2127 ......................................................................................... Heidi Lanouette - Blueberries, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Pistachios, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Squash, Strawberries, Sugarbeets, Sugarcane, Sweet Potatoes................. (202) 720-4285 Robert Little - Apricots, Dry Beans, Lettuce, Macadamia, Maple Syrup, Nectarines, Pears, Snap Beans, Spinach, Tomatoes......................................... (202) 720-3250 Anastasiya Osborne - Almonds, Apples, Asparagus, Carrots, Coffee, Onions Plums, Prunes, Sweet Corn, Tobacco....................................................... (202) 720-4288 Krishna Rizal - Artichokes, Cauliflower, Celery, Garlic, Grapefruit, Hazelnuts, Kiwifruit, Lemons, Mandarins and tangerines, Mint, Mushrooms, Olives, Oranges............ (202) 720-5412 Dawn Smoker - Avocados, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chickpeas, Chile Peppers, Dates, Floriculture, Grapes, Hops, Pecans................................. (202) 720-4215 Fleming Gibson - Cantaloupes, Dry Edible Peas, Green Peas, Honeydews, Lentils, Papayas, Peaches, Sweet Cherries, Tart Cherries, Walnuts, Watermelons.................... (202) 720-2127 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Cornell's Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS's and other agency's archived reports. The new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from the new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To continue receiving the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the new website, create a new account and re-subscribe to the reports. If you need instructions to set up an account or subscribe, they are located at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist notifications@usda-esmis.library.cornell.edu in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.