NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Sweet potatoes remain one of the South’s most recognizable specialty crops, and they hold a prominent place on holiday tables across the United States. For U.S. producers, the crop represents both cultural heritage and an increasingly important revenue stream, driven by steady domestic consumption and expanding export markets.
According to Josh Maples with Mississippi State University, national sweet potato acreage topped 150,000 acres in 2024, with North Carolina planting 87,000 acres — 58 percent of U.S. acreage — and Mississippi following at 32,000 acres. California added another 18,000. Production in Mississippi is concentrated around Vardaman, while eastern counties anchor North Carolina’s supply chain. Louisiana, once a major producer, has declined sharply due to high costs, pest pressure, and an aging grower base.
Marketing remains a core challenge. Premium U.S. No. 1 roots capture the best prices, while canners and jumbos bring lower returns. This year, Mississippi growers faced higher shares of small roots, tightening margins.
Export growth offers a bright spot: shipments rose from 3 percent of total use in 2000 to 21 percent by 2022, with Canada, the U.K., and the Netherlands leading demand.
Looking ahead, producers remain focused on quality grades, marketing opportunities, and input cost management, which continue to shape the crop’s profitability.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Strong demand supports sweet potatoes, but grading challenges and rising costs weigh on returns for Southeastern growers.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
December 01, 2025 05:03 PM
·
Late harvest and tight supplies shape crop progress and agribusiness this week. Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Dec. 1, 2025.
December 01, 2025 04:22 PM
·
Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, examines planning trends as producers weigh corn and soybean plantings for 2026.
December 01, 2025 03:27 PM
·
Brooks York with AgriSompo joins us to offer an update on what agents are prioritizing as the calendar year winds down.
December 01, 2025 03:06 PM
·
The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
December 01, 2025 02:47 PM
·
Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.
December 01, 2025 12:21 PM
·
SDRP Stage 2 now helps producers recover shallow, uninsured losses from major 2023–2024 disasters, with streamlined sign-ups open through April 30.
December 01, 2025 11:16 AM
·
Tyson’s capacity cuts weaken local basis, tighten kill space, and heighten dependence on imports, signaling more volatility for producers.
December 01, 2025 11:09 AM
·
One of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season is the Christmas tree. This year at RFD-TV! We are celebrating the tree farmers across Rural America that grow these iconic treasures. Here’s a soundtrack for you to enjoy this year as you gather to decorate yours — it’s a few of our favorite songs about Christmas trees!
December 01, 2025 08:45 AM
·
