Potato Stocks Tighten as Processors Use More Spuds

Processors are pulling more potatoes through the pipeline, giving growers a mixed read on demand.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Fewer potatoes are sitting in storage this summer, but processors are pulling more of the crop through the pipeline, giving growers a mixed read on demand.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Potato Stocks Report for June 18 totaled 54.7 million hundredweight on June 1, down 2 percent from a year earlier. Stored potatoes accounted for 13 percent of 2025 production, unchanged from last year.

Season-to-date disappearance totaled 358 million hundredweight, also down 2 percent. Shrink and loss totaled 23.5 million hundredweight, down 6 percent from the same point last year.

The processing side was stronger. Processors in eight states used 192 million hundredweight of potatoes for the season, up 4 percent from June 2025.

Idaho held 20 million hundredweight in storage, while Washington held 12 million, and Wisconsin held 4.5 million. The report keeps attention on processor demand, storage quality, and remaining old-crop supplies.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Potato growers should watch processor demand and storage movement as old-crop supplies tighten into summer.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist

(Tags: Potatoes, Potato Stocks, USDA, Processing Demand, Crop Storage)
//////////

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:

USDA’s July WASDE report projects the smallest U.S. wheat crop since 1970, tighter corn stocks, stronger soybean exports, larger cotton supplies, and higher cattle prices.
Attention now shifts toward the annual 25 million metric ton benchmark, equal to about 919 million bushels, for 2026 through 2028.
USDA adjusted accumulated beef exports down by nearly 114,000 metric tons, stating those exports were reported in error.
New revenue protection coverage will be available in select counties across 12 states beginning with the 2027 crop year.
Dry conditions, tight cattle supplies and border challenges continue to shape the outlook for the U.S. beef industry.
A new CoBank report says higher food prices continue influencing consumer spending and the broader agricultural economy.