Weekly Potato Report
January 16, 2008
The Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Program Fact Sheet is available on the MPIC website (under the News
tab at the top of the homepage or click the link to take you there
directly). If you would like a hard copy
please contact the MPIC office.
Calendar
of Events
Winter Potato Conference – February 6-7,
2008 – Ramada Inn
(Formerly Holiday Inn), Grayling
Please return your registration form by
January 7th. You can find the
registration form in the NewsLine or by contacting
our office at 517-669-8377 or email info@mipotato.com
Snaxpo 2008 – March 1- 4 – San Antonio, Texas
USPB Chip Seminar 2008 – March 5 - 8 – Orlando,
Florida
A
few Michigan chip potatoes continue to move through open market channels at
$8.50 per cwt. Dealers indicate that it is hard to find potatoes at those
prices. Some dealers report that contract movement is slowing down, while
others are reporting steady sales. As February approaches, we are likely to see
a seasonal decline in shipments.
Contract
talks for 2008 chip potatoes are in the early stages. Prices for other
commodities, such as corn and soybeans, are top of the mind topics for potato
growers. The growers need higher prices to cover rising production costs, but
the opportunity to profit from other crops may be the biggest factor in
allocating 2008 acreage. Some growers believe that they need to see chip potato
contract prices move up $0.75 per cwt, in order to make it attractive to grow
the crop. Growers cite the lower production costs, and more limited risk
involved in growing the other crops as factors that they will consider as they
make 2008 production decisions.
North
American Foods (formerly RDO Foods) has announced that it will close its Grand
Forks ND potato flake plant on March 15. The plant will finish processing the
raw potatoes that it owns in mid-February. The remainder of the time will be
spent shipping finished product and closing down the facility. The plant used
about 3.6 million cwt of potatoes a year. It was an important secondary market
for chip potatoes. Losing the facility will make it more difficult for Red
River Valley chip potato growers to compete in chip potato markets.
In the
fresh market, Michigan shippers are selling storage Round White potatoes for
$1.25-$1.30 per 10# bag, unchanged from last week. Long Island shippers are
receiving $5.00-$5.25 per 50# bag for Size A Round
Whites, unchanged for the week. Long Island chefs are selling for mostly
$5.25-$5.50 per 50# bag, also unchanged. Maine growers are selling 2 inch
minimum Round Whites for mostly $0.95-$1.10 per 10 # bag, unchanged from last
week.
Size
A Michigan Russets are selling for $1.25-$1.40 per
10#, unchanged for the week. Wisconsin shippers are receiving mostly
$6.00-$6.50 per 50# bale for non Size A Russet
potatoes, unchanged for the week. Wisconsin prices for 60-70 are $10.00-$10.50
per 50# carton, up from $9.50-$10.00 a week ago. The weighted average shipping
point price for Idaho Russet Burbanks inched up to
$15.12 per cwt, from $15.10 a week ago.
This
weekly newsletter has more complete potato market information. For subscription
information call (208) 525-8397, fax (208) 525-8569, write PO Box 3112, Idaho
Falls ID 83403, or e-mail napmn@napmn.com
This
Weekly Potato Report includes current Michigan grower issues, in depth market
news, and other time sensitive information. This report contains market sensitive
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