North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) expects U.S. growers to produce 421.20 million cwt of potatoes in 2025. The forecast is based on crop conditions in early September. Production increases due to strong yields will likely offset the 18,000-acre reduction in this year’s planted area. The NAPMN projection nearly matches USDA’s current estimate for the 2024 crop. (USDA will issue revised final data for the 2024 crop on Sept. 26.)
NAPMN expects Michigan growers to harvest 47,000 acres of potatoes this year, which is 500 acres less than last year’s harvested area. Our current estimate for the statewide average yield is 415 cwt per acre. The net result is a 19.50 million cwt potato crop. That is 450,000 cwt less than the current estimate for the 2024 crop, a 2.3% reduction.
Michigan’s potato harvest is ramping up. Cooler temperatures improved harvest conditions, last week. Reports indicate that yields for early chip potatoes are average at best. Solids have been below average. Growers in the central part of the state have started digging early table potatoes.
As attention turns to storing the 2025 crop, weather could become an important issue. Daytime temperatures have been warm, but nights have been cooler in several states and provinces. Growers in several areas have been harvesting half days, starting early in the morning. Michigan weather forecasts for the next ten days show temperatures in the mid-80s, with partly sunny skies. Wisconsin forecasts are calling for temperatures in the low-80s, with a chance of rain today.
U.S. packers shipped 1.475 million cwt of table potatoes during the holiday-shortened week ending Sept. 6. That is down from 1.685 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 17,075 cwt during the week ending Sept. 6. That is down from 38,125 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 88.1% russets, and 11.9% yellow potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $9-$9.50 per 50-pound bale, down from $10-$11 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for $16-$18 per 50-pound box, down from $18 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for new-crop Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $13.39 per cwt, down from $14.75 per cwt the previous week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for $14-$17 per bale. They are also selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $14-$17 per 50-pound box. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B yellow potatoes for mostly $11 per 50-pound box.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.