Rain slowed planting in Michigan last week; however, it is still ahead of the five-year average pace. Potato crops are also going in the ground ahead of schedule in several other states. Reports indicate that over 75% of Wisconsin’s potatoes have already been planted, which is over two weeks ahead of both last year and the five-year average. In Minnesota, growers had planted 19% of their potatoes by the end of last week, compared to 1% a year ago. The situation in North Dakota is similar. Reports indicate that 15% of that state’s potatoes had been planted by April 28, versus an average of 3%. Approximately 31% of Idaho’s potatoes had been planted by last weekend, compared to 24% last year. Planting is also running ahead of schedule in Washington and Oregon.
U.S. chip potato shipments during the four weeks in April exceeded 2023 movement by 14.5%. At 4.40 million cwt, that is 558,000 cwt more than the industry shipped during the same period a last year. Increased shipments from the Southwest region (+342,000 cwt), Wisconsin (+175,000 cwt), the West Coast region (+150,000 cwt), and Michigan (+136,000 cwt) and were the largest factors in the increase. The Mid-Central region (+56,000 cwt), the Midwest region (+35,000 cwt), and the Rocky Mountain region (+18,000 cwt) also posted increased movement during April. In contrast, April chip potato movement from the Red River Valley (-211,000 cwt), Florida (-100,000 cwt), and Maine (-55,000 cwt) fell short of the 2023 pace. Shipments from New York nearly matched year-earlier movement. US chip potato shipments for the season (August-April), total 40.70 million cwt. That exceeds year-earlier movement by 783,000 cwt, or 2.0%.
At 735,000 cwt, Michigan’s chip potato shipments during the four weeks in April exceeded year-earlier movement by 22.8%. The state’s reported chipstock shipments, season-to-date through April 27, fell 1.28 million cwt short of year-earlier movement, a 14.3% decline.
U.S. packers shipped 1.598 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 27. That is up from 1.554 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 65,960 cwt of potatoes during the week ending April 27. That is down from 83,165 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 93.2% russets, 4.1% round white potatoes, and 2.7% yellow potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$13.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $10.00-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $8-$9 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $11.39 per cwt, down from $11.61 per cwt last week.
Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for mostly $25.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale, up from $21.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $24.95-$26.25 per box, up from $20.95-$26.25 per box a week ago. Florida packers are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.25 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $40-$44 per cwt, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $35.25-$35.95 per box, unchanged from last week.
− Report by North American Potato Market News