Michigan growers are optimistic about this year’s potato crop. Reports indicate that growing conditions have been nearly perfect. Crops have received timely rain in most parts of the state, though some areas were dry during July. Growers have been irrigating. Daytime temperatures have been favorable, and nighttime temperatures have been cool. The chip potato harvest is underway in southwest Michigan. Chip potato supplies are backing up, so buyers have pushed back harvest dates in several regions.
North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) expects U.S. growers to produce 398.6 million cwt of potatoes during 2026. That is 14.26 million cwt less than the current estimate for the 2025 crop, a 3.5% decline. Growers are likely to harvest 867,600 acres of potatoes this year; 29,200 acres less than they harvested from the 2025 crop. NAPMN is currently projecting a national average yield of 459 cwt per acre, down from 460 cwt per acre for the 2025 crop. It is also below the 20-year trend yield, 465 cwt per acre. If realized, this year’s potato crop would be 4.6% smaller than the five-year average. Potatoes were planted on time, or slightly ahead of schedule, in several of the major production regions. In general, summer growing conditions have been favorable across the country. Growers have started harvesting early potatoes in several states.
U.S. packers shipped 1.556 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Aug. 1. That is down from 1.583 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 54,150 cwt during the week ending August 1, 2026. That is up from 38,750 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 94.2% russets and 5.8% yellow potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10# bags for mostly $9-$10.50 per 50# bale, up from $9 per 50# bale last week. They are selling 40-70-count russet cartons for mostly $20-$21 per 50# box, up from $17 per 50# box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Burbanks is $16.41 per cwt, up from $14.67 per cwt the previous week.
— This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission