The USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), June acreage forecast puts the 2026 potato planted area in the 13 surveyed U.S. States at 353,290.56567552 hectares, down 3 per cent from 2025. The reduction of 29,000 acres, or 11,735.88362496 hectares, would bring planted area to its lowest level since 1952 and mark a third consecutive year of reduced acreage.
The forecast is lower year over year in 8 of the 13 surveyed States. About half of this season’s reduction is expected in Idaho, where acreage is forecast to fall by 15,000 acres, or 6,070.2846336 hectares. Excluding Idaho, state-level reductions range from 1,000 acres, or 404.68564224 hectares, in California to 3,000 acres, or 1,214.05692672 hectares, in North Dakota. Nebraska has the largest percentage decline, with acreage down 10 per cent from 2025.
After reductions in 2025, planted area is forecast to remain unchanged in Washington, Oregon, Maine, and Florida. Texas is also forecast to remain at 15,000 acres, or 6,070.2846336 hectares, for the sixth consecutive year. Lower prices received by potato producers during the 2025/26 marketing year are identified as one factor behind the projected reduction.
The 2026 USDA, NASS acreage report estimates that 867,600 acres, or 351,105.26320742397 hectares, of the 873,000 planted acres will be harvested, reflecting an average abandonment rate of 0.6 per cent. The 2025 U.S. average yield increased 1 per cent from the previous year to 460 hundredweight (cwt) per acre.
Idaho’s seed potato acreage is also expected to decline. About 10 per cent of the State’s potato acres, or 29,300 acres (11,857.289317632 hectares), are forecast to be designated for seed production in 2026, about 2,000 acres below 2025. Idaho remains the leading State for certified seed potato production, with most acreage devoted to Russet-type varieties.