Weekly Potato Report
November 5, 2008
November 12, 2008 – U.P. Fall Banquet, Terrace Bay, Escanaba
(4-6pm)
January 7-9, 2009 – Potato Expo, San Antonio, TX
February 11-12, 2009 – Winter Potato Conference and MSU Variety Day, Comfort
Inn Suites, Mt. Pleasant
The
last Michigan chip potatoes should be under cover before the end of this week.
Growers are not anxious to sell open potatoes until they have a better
indication of where they stand on contracts. Some growers are concerned that
storage problems could develop in some bins, before the potatoes can be
reconditioned for chipping. Most chip plants are running on contract potatoes,
but areas where there are overages report sales at contract prices.
Very
few 2009 contracts have been settled. Growers report less pressure to increase
early acreage than had been anticipated. Demand for potato chips seems to have
slowed down, though the high solids in this year's crop may be responsible for
the recent slowdown in chip potato movement. Early contract discussions center
on contract price increases of $4.00 per cwt, or more. Some growers who have
been willing to thin margins in the past have realized that they cannot
continue to do so, due to the risks associated with growing potatoes, including
weather losses, as well as volatile markets for production inputs.
United
Potato Growers of Canada put together a production forecast last week. It puts
Canadian potato production at 99.0 million cwt, which is down 10.5 million cwt,
or 9.6%, from the 2007 crop. The growers organization
indicates that production will be down in every province except Ontario and
Saskatchewan. If the data are accurate, Ontario growers produced 7.9 million
cwt of potatoes, which is 53.8% more than last year, and would be the
province's largest crop since 2003. Ontario growers will have a significant
volume of chip potatoes to ship into US markets this year.
Michigan
Size A Round White potatoes are selling for
$2.20-$2.60 per 10# bag, unchanged from last week. Long Island shippers are
selling 50# bags of size A Round White potatoes for mostly $11.00 per bag,
unchanged from last week. Long Island chefs are selling for mostly $12.00 per
50# bag, also unchanged for the week. Maine growers are selling 5# bags of
2" minimum Round White potatoes for $10.00-$11.00 per 50# bale, unchanged
from last week at this time.
Michigan
shippers are selling Size A Russet potatoes for
$2.25-$2.60 per 10# bag, unchanged for the week. Wisconsin is selling Russet
non-size A potatoes in 10# bags for $10.00-$10.50 per
50# bale, unchanged for the week. Wisconsin 50-70 count cartons are selling for
$13.00-$15.00 per 50# box, down from $15.00-$16.00 a week ago. The weighted
average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Burbanks
dropped to $21.10 per cwt, from $22.85 at this time last week.
This
weekly newsletter has more complete potato market information. For subscription
information call (208) 525-8397, fax (208) 525-8569, write PO Box 135, Shelley
ID 83274, or e-mail napmn@napmn.com.
This
Weekly Potato Report includes current Michigan grower issues, in depth market
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