USA: Michigan Potato Harvest 15% Done as Chip Buyers Signal Smaller 2027 Contracts
Funtsezko garraioak
- 15% of Michigan potatoes were dug by mid-September
- 20.0 million cwt is the Michigan crop outlook, down 3.2%
- 2027 chip contract volumes are seen significantly lower
- 394.6 million cwt is the NAPMN US crop forecast for 2026
Zergatik da garrantzitsua?
- Nekazariei zuzenduta
- Check 2027 chip contract offers early; plan crop rotation and table potato options in case contract volumes fall sharply
- Prozesadoreentzat
- Plan 2027 chip contract volumes against current stocks; check storage capacity for the above-average 2026 Michigan crop
60 segundoko laburpena
Chip potato growers in the US state of Michigan are digging a good crop into a market that does not need more chip stock. By mid-September roughly 15 percent of the state area was lifted, with yields and quality above average, according to the state potato commission. At the same time, North American Potato Market News sees no buyers for uncontracted chip potatoes and expects significant cuts in contract volumes for 2027. The Michigan crop is forecast at 20.0 million hundredweight from 45,500 acres, 3.2 percent below 2025, while the national crop may be the smallest since 2010. This split matters for contract negotiations: table russets are firm, but snack makers are well supplied. Some growers may shift land to table potatoes or other crops, which could change the balance again in 2027. The size of the contract cuts has not been published, and the data come from one newsletter.
About 15% of the Michigan potato crop was harvested by mid-September. Growers report yields and quality above average for chip potatoes. This was stated in the market report of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission on 16 September. The report is based on the newsletter North American Potato Market News (NAPMN).
Too many chip potatoes
The same report says chip potato supplies remain plentiful. There is currently no market for chip potatoes sold outside contracts. The newsletter also expects significant reductions in contract volumes for the 2027 crop. It does not give a percentage for these cuts.
Crop size and shipments
An earlier report of the commission, dated 9 September, gave the Michigan forecast. Growers are expected to harvest 45,500 acres, or about 18,400 hectares. The average yield is put at 440 cwt per acre, which is about 49 tonnes per hectare. This gives a crop of 20.0 million cwt, or about 907,000 tonnes. That is 3.2% less than the 2025 estimate.
Astegunetan. Harpidetza kendu klik bakarrarekin.
For the whole United States, NAPMN expects a 2026 crop of 394.6 million cwt. This is 4.4% below the USDA estimate for 2025 and would be the smallest crop since 2010.
Table potato shipments from Michigan are running ahead of last year. Packers shipped 51,190 cwt in the week ending 12 September, against 36,238 cwt a year earlier. In the week ending 19 September they shipped 41,460 cwt, against 27,414 cwt.
Zergatik da garrantzitsua?
The chip sector shows a split market. The national crop is small, and table russet prices are firm. Yet chip processors already hold enough potatoes. A good Michigan harvest adds to this supply.
Lower contract volumes for 2027 would reduce the secure income of many chip growers. Some may move land to table potatoes or other crops. This could change the balance of the market again in 2027. Growers should expect contract talks for 2027 to be difficult. The size of the cuts is not yet known. The commission publishes a new market report every week.
Photo: A potato tuber-unit trial in Michigan, United States (historical) (illustrative). Internet Archive Book Images / Wikimedia Commons, No murrizketak
Mundu mailako patataren laburpena
Bost istorio nagusiak, prezioak, gaixotasunen alertak eta gertaerak. Astegunetako goizak, publizitaterik gabe.
Zer hurrengo
Contract talks for the 2027 chip crop will show the size of the cuts.
Iturriak
- Michigan Potato Industry Commission — Market Report September 16, 2026 (data: North American Potato Market News) — https://www.mipotatoindustry.com/news/market-report-september-16-2026
- Michigan Potato Industry Commission — Market Report September 9, 2026 — https://www.mipotatoindustry.com/news/market-report-september-9-2026
- Michigan Potato Industry Commission — Market Report September 23, 2026 — https://www.mipotatoindustry.com/news/market-report-september-23-2026
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Lotutako istorioak
Brasil: Minas Geraisek 4.18 milioi tona patata uztaren % 34.3 hazten du, ekoizpena ia laukoiztu egin baita 1961etik
Argentina: Patata-eremua % 70 inguru jaitsi da 1961etik, eta errendimendua 35.8 t/ha-ra igo da.
