North American Potato Production Falls on Lower Acreage

In the U.S. and Canada, reduced planted acres—not yield losses—led to a decline in potato production, while Mexico saw modest gains due to increased yields and harvested areas.

Carol_Ann_Sayle_05_27_16_USA_TX_Boggy_Creek_Farm_001.jpg red potatoes in a basket

FarmHER, Inc.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Potato production across North America slipped in 2025, largely because growers planted fewer acres rather than because yields collapsed. New U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data from the annual potato survey show tighter supply conditions forming across the region.

Combined U.S. and Canadian potato production is estimated at 539 million hundredweight, down 2 percent from 2024. U.S. output alone fell to 413 million hundredweight, also down 2 percent, as growers sharply reduced planted acreage amid rising costs and uncertain returns.

Across North America, total potato acreage in 2025 marked the smallest footprint since the mid-2010s, reinforcing a broader trend of cautious planting decisions highlighted in the USDA’s annual potato survey.

U.S. potato plantings declined to roughly 902,000 acres in 2025, the lowest level in nearly ten years. While yields improved modestly from the prior season, they were not enough to offset the acreage pullback, keeping total production under pressure. Canada‘s production edged 1 percent lower despite expanded planted acreage, as yields slipped year over year.

However, Mexico moved in the opposite direction in 2024, increasing potato output due to higher yields and a larger harvested area, partially offsetting declines in the north.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Fewer planted acres — not yield losses — drove lower potato production.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist

(Tags: Potatoes, Acreage Trends, Crop Production, USDA Data)
//////////

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The DOJ is conducting a criminal antitrust investigation into major beef processors, following years of concern over market concentration.
Commercial performance will determine whether the specialty sorghum market can expand across poultry-producing regions.
Producers growing multiple spring crops should compare CLIP with individual coverage increases and county-based supplemental protection.
Improved coffee output could strengthen the U.S. supply, but input costs and weather risks keep the outlook uncertain.
Estimates for 2026 harvested crops remain early. Corn and sorghum are below their reference prices, while wheat and soybeans are above them.
Markets Analysts and Livestock Experts Say Screwworm Adds Costs for Producers, Not Food Safety Risks
Agriculture Shows
How Farms Work is a family-friendly YouTube channel that showcases beef and crop farms located in Southwestern Wisconsin. Equipment operation, techniques, and farming strategies are all first-hand accounts given by Ryan, an Agriculture Business major whose family runs these farms.
Misilla is the host of Learn to Grow and The Crafty Mom on YouTube. A Pacific Northwest mother of four who is passionate about organic gardening, sustainable living, homesteading, and education, her videos and social media posts consist of gardening, outdoor recreation, healthy living, crafts, science experiments, DIY projects, and delicious recipes.
In the first week of each month, “Down Home Virginia,” produced by the Virginia Farm Bureau, airs its half-hour program. Other states’ Farm Bureaus featured on different weeks include Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Idaho, and New York, and news from the American Farm Bureau from Washington, D.C.
Created by former Louisiana Farm Bureau PR Director and former host Regnal Wallace, “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture,” is one of the state’s longest-running TV programs.