USA: Michigan Potato Harvest 15% Done as Chip Buyers Signal Smaller 2027 Contracts
Potato growers in Michigan report good yields and chip quality. But supplies of chip potatoes are plentiful, and an industry newsletter expects significant cuts in contract volumes for 2027.
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.
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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.
Why it matters
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 restrictions
