Potato Numbers

Potato Numbers

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Huge Differences in planted acreage data between NASS and FSA agencies have led to uncertainty in the 2019 crop size. In Idaho, that applies to everything we grow from wheat, to sugar beats, hay, you name it. Idaho Farm Bureau reporter, blogger and spokesperson Jake Putnam explains: “We had a late spring and some farmers reported that they were going to plant X amount of acres, while others said we're going to plant this amount of acres and between AG Stat Service and their reporting methods, what it turns out is farmers, some of them change their minds. We really don't know who planted what and how many acres at this point and until those numbers start coming in, we really don't know. That adds to a lot of market speculation. Prices up or down and we've been seeing that in the marketplace. And it's the same thing in potatoes. We have the state service serving our potato growers, asking them how many acres did you plant? And then we have the United Potato Growers actually sending their field men out and counting acres. So we have a 1 percent difference between these two reporting services. Personally, my numbers is on United Potato Growers because they've got guys in every county and they've got guys on the ground. So I would say that probably their numbers are a little bit better than agstats at this point.”

 

Previous ReportUSDA Economic News
Next ReportJuniper sagebrush and sage grouse