Press Release - Potatoes - Size, Grade and Variety, Publication

PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
United States Department of Agriculture • Washington, DC 20250
Northwest Regional Field Office • Olympia, WA 98507
Ag Statistics Hotline: 1-800-727-9540 • www.nass.usda.gov
Posted online November 13, 2017

Regional Contacts
Phone: 1-800-435-5883
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Email: nassrfonwr@nass.usda.gov

Washington – Christopher Mertz, NW Regional Director
Idaho – Vince Matthews, State Statistician
Oregon – Dave Losh, State Statistician
Alaska – Sue Benz, State Statistician

Potato Size and Grade Summary – 2017 Crop
The statistics in this publication were obtained from the 2017 Potato Objective Yield Survey. Sample plots were located in
potato fields randomly selected using a scientifically designed sampling procedure. Field workers recorded counts and
measurements within the field and then harvested six hills per sample. Potatoes were sent to laboratories for sizing and
grading according to accepted United States fresh grading standards. Data in these tables are rounded actual field counts
from this survey.
Idaho: Long potatoes (Russet only) weighing 10 oz. or more comprised 28.5 percent of the total, down from 29.1
percent in 2016. Potatoes that met the 2.0 inch or 4 oz. minimum size and grade requirements for U.S. No. 1 potatoes
were 79.7 percent of the total, down from 82.0 percent last year. Processing grade and U.S. No. 2 potatoes, with a 1.5 inch
minimum, accounted for 15.0 percent of the 2017 crop.
Oregon: Long potatoes (Russet, Shepody, Prospect, and Defender) weighing 10 oz. or more were 43.4 percent of the
total, down from 44.9 percent in 2016. The percent of long potatoes meeting U.S. No. 1 standards was 80.8 percent, up
from 80.5 percent a year ago. Processing and U.S. No. 2 potatoes, with a 1.5 inch minimum, accounted for 14.7 percent
of the 2017 crop.
Washington: Long potatoes (Russet, Shepody, Prospect, and Defender) weighing 10 oz. or more comprised 37.6
percent of the total, down from 37.9 percent in 2016. The percent of long potatoes meeting U.S. No. 1 standards was 86.6
percent, up from 82.4 percent a year ago. Processing and U.S. No. 2 potatoes accounted for 9.7 percent of the 2017 crop.

USDA, NASS - Northwest Regional Field Office
1

Fall Potato Grading Categories by Type — Idaho, Oregon, and Washington: 2016-2017
[Gross yield basis.]

No. 2 or
processing usable
1 1/2 inch minimum 1

No. 1
2 inch minimum 1

Type and State

Cull 2

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Round white potatoes
Oregon .........................................

91.6

87.7

5.6

6.8

2.8

5.5

All long potatoes 3
Idaho 4 ........................................
Oregon .........................................
Washington ..................................

82.0
80.5
82.4

79.7
80.8
86.6

13.4
15.0
12.2

15.0
14.7
9.7

4.6
4.5
5.4

5.3
4.5
3.7

1

Potatoes which meet the requirement for United States #1 or #2, as stated in United States Standards for Grades of Potatoes, United States
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.
2
Potatoes not meeting the requirement for United States #1 or #2, as stated in United States Standards for Grades of Potatoes, United States
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.
3
Includes Russet, Shepody, Prospect, and Defender varieties unless otherwise indicated.
4
Russets only.

Fall Potato Number of Hills by Type — Idaho, Oregon, and Washington: 2013-2017
Reds

Whites

Samples

Average
number
of hills
per acre

Idaho ................................ 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

(number)
7
5
8
6
8

Oregon.............................. 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Washington ....................... 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

Yellows

Samples

Average
number
of hills
per acre

(number)
12,944
14,147
13,960
14,349
15,190

(number)
6
7
6
5
6

(D)
4
4
(D)
3

(D)
9,772
13,138
(D)
12,376

5
3
6
5
8

18,686
17,070
20,170
17,745
18,363

State and year

Russets

Samples

Average
number
of hills
per acre

Samples

Average
number
of hills
per acre

(number)
12,565
13,051
12,780
12,082
13,232

(number)
(D)
3
(D)
(D)
6

(number)
(D)
13,419
(D)
(D)
15,173

(number)
188
174
182
184
151

(number)
12,793
12,875
12,720
12,233
12,927

14
17
16
25
28

12,926
11,584
11,269
10,945
13,097

(D)
3
3
3

(D)
10,663
11,195
11,063

60
76
70
60
56

12,627
12,848
12,864
11,449
12,814

12
13
12
16
8

15,693
15,419
15,669
14,726
13,427

(D)
7
5
4
4

(D)
20,933
13,988
17,932
14,721

80
111
104
103
78

15,271
14,663
14,867
14,119
14,058

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

2

USDA, NASS - Northwest Regional Field Office

Fall Potato Harvest Loss by Type — Idaho, Oregon, and Washington: 2013-2017
State and year

Reds

Whites

Yellows

Russets

All types

(cwt per acre)

(cwt per acre)

(cwt per acre)

(cwt per acre)

(cwt per acre)

Idaho ................................................ 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

18
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)

29
23
17
22
24

27
23
17
22
22

Oregon ............................................. 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
24
(D)
21
20

-

21
16
29
16
21

24
17
27
17
21

Washington ...................................... 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

(D)
(D)
-

(D)
33
14
34
(D)

-

20
18
15
23
18

19
20
15
26
18

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

All Long Potato Size Categories — Idaho, Oregon, and Washington: 2016-2017
[Gross yield basis. Includes Russet, Shepody, Prospect, and Defender varieties]

Inches

Ounces

1 1/2
to
1 5/8

1 5/8
to
1 7/8

1 7/8
to
2

2 inch
or
4-6
ounce

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14
and
over

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

(%)

2016
Idaho 1 .............
Oregon .............
Washington.......

1.0
0.8
0.6

5.1
3.2
2.8

3.5
2.6
2.3

28.0
18.1
22.1

10.4
8.9
9.5

8.6
7.1
8.6

8.0
7.7
9.2

6.3
6.7
7.0

5.4
7.2
6.7

4.5
5.2
4.9

3.7
5.6
4.8

2.9
4.5
4.1

12.6
22.4
17.4

2017
Idaho 1 .............
Oregon .............
Washington.......

1.6
1.5
0.9

5.9
4.1
3.0

5.9
4.0
3.9

23.8
17.4
19.8

11.1
7.8
10.0

8.6
7.1
8.8

7.3
8.3
9.1

7.3
6.4
6.9

5.4
10.2
8.9

4.8
5.2
5.3

3.9
4.7
4.1

3.4
3.9
3.6

11.0
19.4
15.7

1

Russets only.

Round Potato Size Categories by Type — Oregon: 2016-2017
[Gross yield basis.]

Inches
Type and year

White potatoes
2016 ......................................
2017 ......................................

1 1/2
to
1 7/8

1 7/8
to
2

2
to
2 1/4

2 1/4
to
2 1/2

2 1/2
to
3 1/2

3 1/2
to
4

4 inches
and over

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

2.3
2.7

USDA, NASS - Northwest Regional Field Office

2.6
3.6

9.9
13.9

12.9
19.6

56.9
45.2

11.2
13.0

4.2
2.0

3

Fall Potato Acreage by Variety
The National Agricultural Statistics Service collects variety data in seven States, accounting for 83 percent of the 2017
United States fall potato planted acres. The seven States conduct objective yield surveys where all producing areas are
sampled in proportion to planted acreage. Variety data are actual percentages from these surveys.
In the Northwest Region, the following varieties accounted for 10 percent or more of acres planted in 2017. In Idaho, the
Russet Burbank variety accounted for 48.3 percent of the potato acreage planted. Russet Norkotah accounted for 17.1
percent of plantings, and Ranger Russet was 14.4 percent. In Oregon, the Russet Norkotah variety accounted for 18.4
percent of planted acres. This was followed by Russet Burbank at 14.4 percent of plantings, Umatilla Russet at 13.2
percent, Frito-Lay at 12.0 percent, and Ranger Russet at 10.7 percent of planted acres. In Washington Russet Burbank
accounted for 26.8 percent of acreage planted, Umatilla Russet accounted for 13.5 percent of plantings, followed by
Ranger Russet at 11.5 percent of plantings.
The most common variety in the seven states conducting the objective yield survey was Russet Burbank which accounted
for 38.0 percent of acres planted in the seven states. This was followed by Russet Norkotah at 10.4 percent, and Ranger
Russet at 8.9 percent of planted acres.

4

USDA, NASS - Northwest Regional Field Office

Percent of Fall Potatoes Planted to Major Varieties — Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Seven-State
Total: 2016-2017
[The Seven State total includes Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin]
State and variety

Percent of planted acres
2016

State and variety

2017

Idaho
Russet Burbank ......................................
R Norkotah .............................................
Ranger R ................................................
Umatilla ...................................................
Clearwater ..............................................
Bannock ..................................................
Nor Donna ..............................................
Dark Red Norland ...................................
Frito-Lay .................................................
Agata ......................................................
Alturas ....................................................
Norland ...................................................
Other .......................................................

51.3
16.7
13.1
2.1
1.4
1.9
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
1.7
1.1
10.7

48.3
17.1
14.4
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.0
1.9
1.2
1.0
(NA)
(NA)
7.0

Oregon
R Norkotah .............................................
Russet Burbank ......................................
Umatillas .................................................
Frito-Lay .................................................
Ranger R ................................................
Shepody .................................................
Alturas ....................................................
Lamoka ...................................................
Clearwater ..............................................
Ciklamen .................................................
Dakota Pearl ...........................................
Yukon Gold .............................................
Premier ...................................................
Agata ......................................................
Pike .........................................................
Atlantic ....................................................
Defender .................................................
Dakota Crisp ...........................................
Other .......................................................

17.5
12.1
17.4
5.9
11.2
9.4
7.5
2.7
4.1
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
4.7
1.9
1.8
1.2
2.6

18.4
14.4
13.2
12.0
10.7
7.6
7.0
2.9
2.8
2.2
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.1
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
2.7

Washington
Russet Burbank ......................................
Umatilla R ...............................................
Ranger R ................................................
R Norkotah .............................................
Shepody .................................................
Chieftain .................................................
Clearwater ..............................................
Alturas ....................................................
Bannock ..................................................
Satina .....................................................
Snowden .................................................
Agata ......................................................
Frito-Lay .................................................
NW 1.......................................................
Bintje .......................................................
Lamoka ...................................................
Other ......................................................

31.1
12.9
14.4
13.3
1.8
3.4
3.0
5.9
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
4.2
1.5
1.5
1.1
5.9

26.8
13.5
11.5
8.2
6.5
5.5
4.3
4.2
1.3
1.3
1.1
1.1
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
14.7

Total (seven states)
Russet Burbank ....................................
R Norkotah ............................................
Ranger R ...............................................
Umatilla R .............................................
Frito-Lay ................................................
Norland..................................................
Dark Red Norland .................................
Clearwater .............................................
Shepody ................................................
Bannock ................................................
Prospect ................................................
Alturas ...................................................
Chieftain ................................................
Lamoka .................................................
Snowden ...............................................
Nor Donna .............................................
Dakota Pearl .........................................
Agata .....................................................
Goldrush ...............................................
Atlantic ..................................................
Silverton ................................................
Dakota Russet ......................................
Satina ....................................................
Ciklamen ...............................................
Sangre...................................................
Teton .....................................................
Yukon Gold ...........................................
Superior.................................................
Red Pontiac ..........................................
Classic...................................................
Colorado Rose ......................................
Pike .......................................................
Red la Soda ..........................................
Waneta ..................................................
Premier..................................................
Caribou..................................................
Nadine ...................................................
Cal White ..............................................
Alpine ....................................................
Dakota Rose .........................................
Cascade ................................................
Milva ......................................................
Western Russet ....................................
Cultivate ................................................
Keuka Gold ...........................................
Norwis ...................................................
White Pearl ...........................................
Ivory Russet ..........................................
Russet Nugget ......................................
Challenger .............................................
Blazer ....................................................
Pinnacle ................................................
Ivory Crisp .............................................
Alegria ...................................................
Dakota Crisp .........................................
Cecile ....................................................
Manistee ...............................................
Elfe ........................................................
Purple Majesty ......................................
Almera ...................................................
Bintje .....................................................
Innate ....................................................
NW1 ......................................................
Highland ................................................
Innovator ...............................................
Hi Lite Russet ........................................
Canella ..................................................
Defender ...............................................
Modoc ...................................................
Gala .......................................................
Ontario ..................................................
All Blue ..................................................
Other ....................................................

Percent of planted acres
2016

2017

40.9
11.9
9.5
6.8
4.6
2.7
(NA)
1.5
1.0
1.5
2.2
2.3
0.9
1.0
0.8
0.2
0.9
0.2
1.3
0.5
0.6
0.2
0.1
(NA)
(NA)
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.4
0.1
0.3
0.4
0.1
(NA)
(NA)
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
(NA)
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.2
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
0.1
(NA)
0.1
0.1
0.1
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.3

38.0
10.4
8.9
7.8
3.6
2.3
2.2
2.1
1.9
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.3
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
4.1

(NA) Not available.

USDA, NASS - Northwest Regional Field Office

5

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