April, 1962
"Agricultural Economics Mimeo
Report 62-13
Statistics On Production,
Prices Of Florida Irisl
D. L. Brooke and R. E. L. Greene
Fig. 1. -- Packing Potatoes in Ten Pound Bags
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOI
FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STA'
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
Shipments And
h Potatoes
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY . . . . . ii
INTRODUCTION.. . . . .. . 1
PRODUCTION OF POTATOES IN FLORIDA . . .. .1
Trend in Acres, Yield, Production and Value,
1924-25 to 1960-61. . . . . 1
Relative Trend in the Production of Potatoes
in Florida and the United States. .... ...... 5
Trend in Winter and Spring Acreage in Florida . 7
MOVEMENT OF POTATOES . . . . ... 13
Shipment of Stored Crop and New Potatoes from Florida
and Other States. . . . . . 13
Shipment of Potatoes from Various Areas in Florida. . 15
PRICES OF POTATOES. .... ... . . . 18
Variation in Monthly Prices and Seasonal Price Pattern
of Potatoes by Decades . . . ... 18
Farm Price of Potatoes in April in Florida
and the United States . . ..... 21
Relation Between Production and Price of Potatoes
in Florida . . . . .. 21
Relation Between Shipments and Prices of Potatoes . 23
Relation Between Prices Received for Potatoes in
Florida and the General Level of All Farm Prices
in the United States . . . . .. 26
Relation Between Prices Received for Potatoes in
Florida and the General Level of Prices Paid by
Farmers in the United States . . . 28
Comparison of Average Price Received for Potatoes
with Parity Price, 1946 to 1958 . . . 28
COST OF PRODUCING POTATOES. . . . . 31
APPENDIX. . . . . . . 33
SUMMARY
While there have been significant trends in the potato industry in
Florida during the past 35 years, the most important changes have occurred
since the end of World War II. During the five year period 1954-55 to
1958-59, an average of 43,080 acres of potatoes were harvested per season
with an average yield of 140 hundredweight per acre. This was 36 hun-
dredweight or 35 percent more than the average of the 1944-45 to 1948-49
period. Average production during the 1954-55 to 1958-59 period was
6,034,000 hundredweight and cash value $18,157,000. Compared with the
five seasons 1944-45 to 1948-49, production increased 119 percent but
value increased only 82 percent.
At the present time Florida produces 2 percent of the total United
States production as compared to less than 1 percent during the years
1935-39.
The trend in acreage of potatoes for winter and spring harvest
has been quite similar from the 1939-40 season to the present time. Of
the total acres in Florida, that for winter harvest is about 33 percent
and for spring harvest about 67 percent. During the period 1956-57 to
1960-61, approximately 60 percent of the winter potato acreage was in
Dade County and 84 percent of the spring acreage in the Hastings area.
Shipments of new crop potatoes begin in December, increase until
April or early May and end in June. The volume of movement of new crop
potatoes is small compared to that of stored potatoes. Stored crop
potatoes move to market at the rate of 4,100 to 6,500 cars weekly from
January to the middle of April. Thereafter, stored crop movement declines
rapidly each week to end in July.
Very few new potatoes move from states other than Florida before
the latter part of April. Shipments from other states increase rapidly
in May and June.
Although potatoes are shipped from Florida from December to June,
nearly 80 percent of the crop moves in March, April and May. During
December and January practically all of the Florida shipments originate
in the Lake Okeechobee and Fort Myers-Immokalee areas. Two-fifths of
the volume in February and over three-fourths in March is from Dade County.
In April, about 30 percent of the shipments are from Dade County and
nearly 55 percent from the Hastings area. During May and June from 88
to 90 percent of the Florida shipments are from the Hastings area. Of
the shipments from Florida for the five seasons 1956-57 to 1960-61, 64
percent originated in the Hastings area, 17 percent in Dade county, 15
percent in other South Florida counties and 4 percent in other North
Florida counties.
Prices received for potatoes by Florida farmers are usually
highest in January and decline as the season progresses. The difference
between the January and June price has been increasing in recent years.
The Florida price of potatoes usually moves with the price of all
potatoes in the United States but at a higher level. The spread between
Florida prices and all potato prices has ranged from $0.35 to $2.46 per
hundredweight.
Normally there is an inverse relationship between Florida pro-
duction and price of potatoes. Prices decline as volume of shipments
increase. Prices do not increase when shipments decline in Florida
because volume of new potatoes moving from other areas is high.
The index of prices received for Florida potatoes tends to
fluctuate with and around the index of prices of all farm commodities in
the United States. Since 1946-47 the Florida price has been below the
United States all-commodity index in nine seasons and equal to or above
this index in only six seasons. Florida potato prices have also
fluctuated more than prices paid by farmers in the United States for
commodities used in production. Since the 1948-49 season Florida's
potato price has been equal to or below the index of prices paid by
farmers in the United States with an ever widening spread between the
two indexes.
Florida potato prices have averaged 77 percent or less of the
Florida parity price in nine of the last 16 seasons. However, during
this period there was a substantial increase in production. Because of
improvements in production technology, farmers apparently found it
profitable to increase production at lower relative prices until about
1957.
Production costs per unit vary inversely with the yield per
acre. Costs were lower in 1960-61 than in the 1953-57 period only in
the Hastings area where yields were 22 percent above average. Returns
were above the 1953-57 average only in the Fort Myers-Immokalee area
in 1960-61.
STATISTICS ON PRODUCTION, SUIPi;ENTS AND
PRICES OF FLORIDA IRISH POTATOES
by
D. L. Brooke and R. E. L. Greenel
INTRODUCTION
This publication was prepared to present statistical data
relating to the production and marketing of Irish potatoes in Florida.
These data are needed by commodity groups and others who use factual
information as background material for the formulation of policies on
marketing and other problems related to the Irish potato industry in
the State.
PRODUCTION OF POTATOES IN FLORIDA
Most counties in Florida produce some Irish potatoes for home
use if not for sale. However, commerical production is limited to
six major areas. The commercial crop is classified into winter and
spring production. The winter crop is produced in Dade, Palm Beach,
Collier, Hendry and Lee counties. The spring crop is grown in St. Johns,
Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Alachua and Escambia counties with a relatively
small volume of production from some other North and South Florida
counties.
Trend in Acres, Yield, Production and Value,
1924-25 to 1960-61
Acres.--The acreage of Irish potatoes harvested in Florida has
ranged from 21,900 in the 1924-25 season to 54,300 in the 1956-57
lAssociate Agricultural Economist and Agricultural Economist,
Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations.
1
season (Table 1 and Fig. 2). Acreage harvested declined sharply during
the late forties but increased significantly following the release of
acreage controls. Acreage has also declined significantly since the
1956-57 season.
Yield per acre.--Per acre yields of Irish potatoes have shown a
significant increase since World War II. The greatest increase occurred
during the period 1950-54. The highest yield on record for all of
Florida occurred in the 1953-54 season when the State average was 178
hundredweight per acre. The Hastings area registered its highest yield
during the 1960-61 season. The average yield during the five year period
1949-50 to 1953-54 was 153 hundredweight per acre. This was 49 hun-
dredweight or 47 percent greater than the yield during the preceding
five year period. From 1954-55 to 1958-59 the average yield was 140
hundredweight per acre. This was nearly 35 percent above the 1944-45
to 1948-49 average but it was also 8.5 percent below the average for
1949-50 to 1953-54.
Growers rapidly adopted new higher yielding varieties of potatoes
which performed well under Florida conditions. They are using more seed
and fertilizer per acre and following better soil moisture and disease
and insect control methods as they are developed. The above factors
were largely responsible for the increase in yields per acre. Variations
in growing conditions over the State and within areas have been very
important in the fluctuations in yields from year to year.
Production.--The increase in yield per acre coupled with an
increase in acreage from the low point reached during the 1947-48 season
has resulted in a substantial increase in total production. The largest
3
Table l.--Acreage, Yield, Production and Value of Florida Irish Potatoes, 1924-
25 to 1960-61 and Five-Season Averages, 1924-25 to 1960-61
Season
1924-25
1925-26
1926-27
1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
1930-31
1931-32
1932-33
1933-34
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
1937-38
1938-39
1939-40
1940-41
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
1955-56
1956-57
1957-58
1958-59
1959-60
1960-61a
Five Season Averages
1924-25--1928-29
1929-30--1933-34
1934-35--1938-39
1939-40--1943-44
1944-45--1948-49
1949-50--1953-54
1954-55--1958-59
1959-60--1960-61b
Acres
Harvest
21,900
23,100
28,000
31,000
22,000
31,000
27,000
21,500
17,000
23,500
24,800
24,500
31,300
31,400
26,700
25,600
26,800
25,000
26,600
28,600
31,100
35,300
23,100
20,700
21,800
24,600
24,200
30,600
41,500
32,800
38,000
41,700
54,300
44,400
37,000
37,300
34,100
25,200
24,000
27,740
26,520
26,400
30,740
43,080
35,700
- I--r
1,785
1,570
1,966
2,129
2,751
4,696
6,034
5,172
3.25
2.04
1.82
2.40
3.62
3.00
3.01
3.00
preliminary data.
bTwo Season Average.
Source: USDA, Agricultural Statistics, 1957 and Florida Crop and Livestock
Reporting Service, Florida Vegetable Crops, 1961.
: Yield
ed : per Acre
Hundredweight
74
71
63
75
71
48
79
42
79
84
58
62
73
80
78
97
70
92
77
67
97
102
79
102
147
136
156
150
148
178
160
162
140
135
133
122
170
5,798
3,195
3,578
5,114
9,960
14,071
18,157
15,540
_~_~_ _I_________ll_~IUIUII-~-UILIII)
-- ---- -u-rr~r---r-;,r^-n ~*r-- r~ulr~.---~~----.u ~~-----I... .. ..-._...._
II-----`^-~~-~"--U-"1"9-` -^---
Production of
Value in cwt.
1,000
Hundredweight
1,630
1,636
1,764
2,338
1,558
1,488
2,138
903
1,346
1,974
1,443
1,515
2,271
2,525
2,078
2,484
1,877
2,294
2,065
1,927
3,021
3,606
1,817
2,107
3,205
3,351
3,774
4,589
5,926
5,839
6,080
6,766
7,076
5,582
4,668
4,535
5,810
Average
Price
Dollars per
Hundredweight
2.90
5.07
3.12
2.47
3.01
3.10
1.78
2.13
1.42
1.88
1.73
2.42
2.20
1.17
1.82
1.52
1.50
2.57
3.23
3.33
3.98
3.28
2.65
4.18
3.84
2.80
3.08
4.11
2.66
2.52
3.99
3.65
1.97
2.65
2.81
3.92
2.29
Total
Value
1,000
Dollars
4,726
8,287
5,498
5,785
4,695
4,606
3,818
1,933
1,908
3,708
2 504
3,652
4,998
2,960
3,774
3,766
2,803
5,901
6,675
6,431
12,033
11,828
4,809
8,807
12,321
9,379
11,624
18,877
15,747
14,727
24,279
24,723
13,910
14,744
13,127
17,794
13,286
- --
Acres
Harvested
60,000,
50,000-
40,000
30,000
20,000
I. '
/
.'\ /
-- Acres : i\
,I / \ I \ i\
i- / /
I '\ I I
Ii i
I\
i /
/ 7
t / /
I\
Yield -f /
' /1 '/
' I I -i /
, I
r i
Production
(1,000 cwt.)
7,200
6,600
6,000
5,400
4,800
4,200
3,600
3,000
2,400
1. 800
S/ Production
10,000 1
1924-25 1929-30 1934-35 1939-40 1944-45 1949-50 1954-55 1959-60
Seasons
Fig. 2.--Acreage, Yield per Acre, and Production of Irish Potatoes in Florida, Seasons 1924-25 tc
Source: Table 1.
J, 80
1,200
0
Yield
cwt. per
Acre
- 180
- 165
- 150
- 135
- 120
- 105
- 90
- 75
- 60
- 45
- 30
- 0
1960-61
_
u
production on record was the 7,076,000 hundredweight harvested during
the 1956-57 season. For the five seasons 1954-55 to 1958-59 production
averaged 6,034,000 hundredweight. This was 119 percent larger than the
average 1945-49 production and nearly triple the average annual pro-
duction for the period 1940-44. Production of value in 1959-60 was the
lowest in nine years.
Value.--Increased production has resulted in a substantial
increase in cash income from potatoes. The highest income on record was
the $24,723,000 received by farmers for their 1955-56 crop. This was
more than 4 times the income received annually during the five year
period 1940-44 and 76 percent greater than that received during the
period 1950-54. Even with a substantial increase in production, prices
remained relatively favorable and income increased until the 1956-57
season. Income was lower for the 1958-59 season than for any of the
immediately preceding seven years or the 1959-60 season. Reduced income
in the last five seasons may indicate a change from the increasing value
trend since World War II.
Relative Trend in the Production of Potatoes in
Florida and the United States
During the past two and one-half decades there has been only
a moderate change in the production of potatoes in the United States
(Fig. 3). A slight increase from 1936 to 1946 was offset by a decrease
for the period 1947-51. Since 1951 United States production has
increased about 50 percent. Florida's production, on the other hand,
doubled from 1935 to 1946 and doubled again during the 1950-57 period.
Florida -
/
\^\/e S---y
S \ .-
\ "United States
1945
1950
1955
1960
Years
Fig. 3.--Relative Trend in Production of Irish
United States and Florida, 1935 to
(1947-49 = 100)
Potatoes,
1961.
Source: Appendix Table 1.
Index
250
200
150 r
100
50
1935
1940
,. ~I. 1~.I I i -' ~-L.
I
r
I
I
For the nine seasons, 1953-61, Florida production has been nearly three
times what it was during the 1935-39 period. Florida produced 2.9
percent of the total United States production in 1956-57 and 2 percent in
1960-61 as compared to less than 1 percent during the years 1935-39.
Trend in Winter and Spring Acreage in Florida
Commercial Irish potato production in Florida is rather easily
divided into three areas--West, North and South Florida (Fig, 4). West
Florida production is centered primarily in Escambia County. Potatoes
in that area are shipped with those from Baldwin County, Alabama. Except
for Escambia, few counties west of the Suwannee River produce potatoes
for the commerical market. North Florida production is centered in
the Hastings area, comprising St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler counties.
Alachua, Bradford and Union counties also produce some potatoes for the
spring market. All counties south of the Pasco, Sumter, Lake, Orange
and Volusia county lines have been included in South Florida. The Dade
County, Everglades and Fort Myers-Immokalee areas of South Florida
produce the winter crop. Some early spring potatoes are also grown in
South Florida,
From the 1939-40 season to the present time, the trend in
acreage of Winter and Spring harvested potatoes has been quite similar
(Fig. 5). Acreage declined in both harvesting periods from 1939-40 to
1941-42, then increased to the 1945-46 season. Acreage declined
sharply after 1945-46 for one season in the Spring area and for two
seasons in the Winter harvesting area. Following two seasons of adjust-
ment, harvested acreaged increased steadily in both areas, reaching a
peak in the 1952-53 season. Both areas reduced acreage in 1953-54 but
North
Florida
West "\v ; "\ -.
Florida 19
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COUNTIES IN FLORIDA
NUMBERED TO AGREE WITH KEY MAP
- Hastings
1. Alachua
2. Baker
3. Bay
4. Bradford
5. Brevard
6. Broward
7. Calhoun
8. Charlotte
9. Citrus
10. Clay
11. Collier
12. Columbia
13. Dade
14. DeSoto
15. Dixie
16. Duval
17. Escambia
18. Flagler
19. Franklin
20. Gadsden
21. Gilchrist
22. Glades
23. Gulf
24. Hamilton
25. Hardee
26. Hendry
27. Hernando
28. Highlands
29. Hillsborough
30. Holmes
31. Indian River
32. Jackson
33. Jefferson
34. Lafayette
35. Lake
36. Lee
37. Leon
'38. Levy
39. Liberty
40. Madison
41. Manatee
42. Marion
43. Martin
44. Monroe
45. Nassau
46. Okaloosa
47. Okeechobee
48. Orange
49. Osceola
50. Palm Beach
51. Pasco
52. Pinellas
53. Polk
54. Putnam
55. Santa Rosa
56. Sarasota
57. Seminole
58. St. Johns
59. St. Lucie
60. Sumter
61. Suwannee
62. Taylor
63. Union
64. Volusia
65. Wakulla
66. Walton
67. Washington
South \ 56
Florida \,-
Fort Myers-
Immokalee
Fig. 4.--Areas of Commercial Irish
Potato Production in
Florida.
/ 1 Spring
/ Acreage
1944-45
1949-50
Seasons
Fig. 5.--Trend in Acres of
Source: Appendix Table 2.
Winter and Spring Irish Potatoes Harvested, Florida,
1939-40 to 1960-61.
Acres
Harvested
30,000
28,000
26,000
I
I '
/
' /
I
I
SWinter
Acreage
1939-40
increased acreage for the three succeeding seasons. Since 1956-57 the
decline in Winter harvested acreage has been greater than that of acreage
for Spring harvest. Of the total acreage in Florida for the five seasons
1956-57 to 1960-61, 33 percent was for Winter harvest and 67 percent
for Spring harvest. A good bit of the change in the winter acreage of
potatoes from the 1954-55 to the 1957-58 season occurred in the
Immokalee area.
Percent of Winter Potato Acreage in Various Areas.--The largest
proportion of the potatoes in the Winter harvesting area is produced
in Dade County (Fig. 6). However, the proportion of the Winter crop
grown in Dade County has fluctuated widely over the last 21 years. In
the 1939-40 season, acreage in Dade County accounted for 63 percent of
the total Winter plantings. For the next six seasons the proportion
of the Winter crop grown in Dade County declined, reaching a low of 48
percent in the 1945-46 season. Dade County acreage increased to 79
percent of the total Winter crop in the 1947-48 season and decreased to
47 percent in the 1956-57 season. In 1960-61, 63 percent of the Winter
acreage was in Dade County. Plantings in the Collier-Hendry-Lee and
Palm Beach-Martin county areas have been erratic.
Percent of Spring Potato Acreage in Various Areas.--The Hastings
area grows the major proportion of the Spring potato acreage (Fig. 7).
Normally 80 percent or more of the acreage is in that area. The pro-
portion of the Spring acreage grown in the Hastings area declined from
the 1940-41 to 1945-46 season, reaching a low of 57 percent in that year.
The proportion of the Spring acreage grown in other North Florida
counties has decreased from 15 to as low as 3 percent annually. For
11
Percent
100
Other South Florida Counties
90
80
70
.... Dade County -
20
50 ..... .. .. .*:-7 .y** .*
1939-40 1944-45 1949-50 1954-55 1959-60
Seasons
Fig. 6.--Percent of Winter Irish Potato Acreage in Selected Areas,
Florida, Seasons 1939-40 to 1960-61.
Source: Appendix Table 2.
12
Percent
Other Counties
90 == = = = == ==SouthFlorid=
90
:: ::: counties :
70
.. ...... .. .
380 9--Other N rt 1'0 .....
...,es ::... ........... .. .....
....... ... .................. .. .. .......
... ...........................
..,.....:............ .. ......
...... ......... ....'..""
.. .... .. .. ...... :,; : ,;: ,s
.:..,.... ........ ..,,............. ,, : -+
................... ...... ....
.. .... ........ .. ....
.. .. .. . ... .
: .,4'."......".. ........ ...
S ,. ... .. .. .... .. .: :: ,
S ... ............:
0 ......... ... .. ...... r :
1939-40 1944-45 1949-50 1954-55 1959-60
Seasons
Fig. .--Percent of Spring Irish Potatocreage in Selected Areas,
Source:. Appendix Table 2.
the five seasons 1956-57 to 1960-61, 84 percent of the Spring acreage
was grown in the Hastings area, 5 percent in other North Florida counties,
6 percent in South Florida counties and 5 percent in other counties
including Iest Florida.
MOVEMENT OF POTATOES
Many potatoes in the late producing areas are stored as they
are dug and are shipped to market during the winter and spring months.
The first new crop potatoes begin to move to market from Florida in late
December or early January. During the early part of the season, new crop
volume:is small and the amount of stored crop potatoes moved into the
market is an important factor in the demand for new crop potatoes.
Shipment of Stored Crop and New Potatoes
from Florida and Other States
During the past five seasons the movement of stored crop potatoes
has ranged between 4,100 and 6,500 cars per week from early January until
the middle of April of each year (Fig. 8). Thereafter, stored crop
movement declines rapidly each week and is usually completed by the
middle of July. Florida is almost the sole producer of new crop potatoes
from December to mid-April. Volume is light in December and January
but increases with Dade County harvesting in February, March and early
April. The volume of potatoes moving from Florida does not reach 500
cars per week until the early part of April (Figs. 8 and 9)A During the
past five seasons, volume of 1,000 cars per week was not reached until
the last week in April. The advent of harvesting in the Hastings area
increases movement to 1,400 cars per week by mid-May. After the last
12 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 45 1 2 3 4
Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Iay
Weeks
1
J
Fig. 8.--Weekly Carlot Shipments of Stored and New Crop Irish Pot
the Florida Season, Average 1956-57 to 1960-61.
2 3 4 1 2 3
une July
atoes During
Source: D. L. Brooke, Florida Truck Crop Competition, Agr. Econ. Mimeo.
Reports 58-4, 59-3, 60-3, 61-3 and 62-6.
week in May, Florida shipments decrease rapidly, normally to end in late
June. The movement of the Florida crop about equals the movement of
stored crop potatoes in late May and June. Because of weather con-
ditions the movement of the Florida crop, especially in the'Hastings
area, has been three to four weeks later than usual.
The movement of new crop potatoes from states other than Florida
does not begin in volume until the second or third week in April when
harvesting starts in Alabama and California (Fig. 9). Volume from
other new crop states increases rapidly in May and June.
Shipment of Potatoes from Various Areas of Florida
Although potatoes are shipped from Florida from December to
June, 80 percent of the crop moves in March, April and May (Fig. 10).
The two peak months are April and May when the crop is moving in
volume from the Hastings area.
The first movement of potatoes from Florida is usually from the
Lake Okeechobee section. During December and January practically all
of the shipments originate there and in the Fort Myers-Immokalee area.
Shipments from Dade County begin in February and continue until early
April. Two-fifths of the volume in February and over three-fifths in
March is from Dade County. The end of shipments from Dade County,
about April 10, coincides with early harvesting in the Hastings area.
During April, about 55 percent of the shipments are from the Hastings
area, 30 percent from Dade county, 14 percent from other South Florida
counties and 2 percent from other North Florida counties. During May
and June, 88 to 90 percent of the shipments are from the Hastings area
New Crop- /'
Other
States /
/ Stored Crop
I
/
I
I
'I
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3
Dec. Jan.
41234123
Feb. Mar.
4 1 2 3 4 5 12 3412 3 4 1 2 3
Apr. May June July
Weeks
Fig. 9.--Weekly Carlot Shipments of Stored Crop and New Crop Irish
Potatoes from Florida and Other States During the Florida
Season, Average 1956-57 to 1960-61.
Source: D. L. Brooke, Florida Truck Crop Compettion, Agr. Econ. Mimeo.
Reports 58-4, l, -3, bl- aud 2-6.
/ -
/
/
I
I
I
r
`J
New Crop
Florida
5 \
Fig. 10.--Percent Monthly Potato Shipments are
Shipments from Selected Areas are of
of Yearly Shipments and Percent
Monthly Shipments, Florida,
Five Season Average, 1956-57 to 1960-61.
Source: USDA, AMS, Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, Florida
Vegetable Crops, Vols. XIII through XVII.
and from 4 to 8 percent from other North Florida counties. Of the
shipments from Florida for the five seasons 1956-57 to 1960-61, 64 percent
originated in the Hastings area, 17 percent in Dade County, 15 percent
in other South Florida counties and 4 percent in other North Florida
counties.
PRICES OF POTATOES
Prices received for potatoes by Florida farmers depend upon:
(1) the season of the year in which they are sold, (2) the volume of
stored potatoes, (3) the size of the Florida crop, and (4) the general
price level. The effect of these factors on the prices of Florida
potatoes is treated in subsequent paragraphs.
Variation in Monthly Prices and Seasonal
Price Pattern of Potatoes by Decades
Average monthly prices received for potatoes by Florida farmers
normally decrease as the season progresses. For the decades since 1930,
highest average prices were generally received in January (Figs. 11 and
12). As a rule, prices in January average 15 to 30 percent above the
average annual price. In the period 1950-59, the January price
averaged $3.88, February $3.45, March $3.22, April $3.58, May $2.92
and June $2.70 per hundredweight. Increased production of March
harvested potatoes in South Florida during this decade resulted in a
lower than normal March price. The increase in average price during
April over March was due primarily to high prices resulting from the
late March 1955 and February 1958 freezes.
4.00
Months
Fig. 11.--Average
Monthly Prices Received for Irish
Selected Periods, 1930 to 1961.
Potatoes,
Source: Computed from: A. H. Spurlock and C. V. Noble, Florida
Farm Prices, Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 399, June, 1944
and Agr. Econ. Mimeo. Report 49-9. USDA, AMS,
Agricultural Prices, May, 1954, Jan. 1956, Sept. 1957,
Sept. 1958, Jan. 1959, Jan. 1960, June 1961, Jan. 1962.
Index
1301
Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July
Months
Fig. 12.--Seasonal Price Pattern, Florida Irish Potatoes,
Selected Periods 1930 to 1961.
Source: Computed from: A. H. Spurlock and C. V. Noble, Florida
Farm Prices, Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 399, June, 1944
and Agr. Econ. Mimeo. Report 49-9. USDA, AMS,
Agricultural Prices, May 1954, Jan. 1956, Sept. 1957,
Sept. 1958, Jan. 1959, Jan. 1960, June 1961, Jan. 1962.
The amount of spread between the January and June price has
increased each decade since 1930. During the decade 1930-39, the drop
in price from January to June was $0.83 per hundredweight, $1.01 in the
decade 1940-49 and $1.18 in the period 1950-59. For the two seasons
1959-60 and 1960-61 the spread between the January and June price
averaged $1.44 per hundredweight. Greater production in areas outside
of Florida harvesting in June and July has lowered prices for those
months.
Farm Price of Potatoes in April in Florida
and the United States
The price received for potatoes in April by farmers in Florida
is very closely correlated with the April price for all potatoes in the
United States (Fig. 13). Normally, the Florida price moves up or down
with the United States price but at a higher level. However, the
spread between prices in Florida and the United States has varied
significantly. Between 1925 and 1961 the largest relative spread in
prices between Florida and the United States came in the period 1925 to
1929. The annual average April price spread from 1925 to 1929 was $1.59
as compared to $0.89 in 1940-44, $1.20 in 1950-54 and $1.51 per hun-
dredweight annually from 1955 to 1959. The spread averaged $1.08 per
hundredweight for the two seasons 1960 and 1961. In individual years
the spread in price between Florida and the United States has ranged
from $0.35 in 1938 to $2.46 per hundredweight in 1928.
Relation Between Production and Price
of Potatoes in Florida
From year to year there tends to be an inverse relationship
between production and prices received by farmers for potatoes in Florida
I'
I'
I
S- Florida
4 1~
I i1
ii I ~
I !
I I I
/
- United States
1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960
Fig. 13.--April Price
Years
per Hundredweight Received by Farmers for Irish
United States and Florida, 1925 to 1961.
Source: Appendix Table 4.
Price
per cwt.
i '
I'
I'
IAn
\' \
\ \
Potatoes,
\k \
(Fig. 14). If production increases, prices decline and if production
decreases, prices increase. A slight upward trend characterized the
production of potatoes from 1925 to 1940. During this period, prices
generally declined from the high levels attained during World War I
and the early 1920's. Since 1941 there has been a decided upward trend
in the production of potatoes. Production increased each year from
the 1946-47 to the 1956-57 seasons except in 1953-54. Even though
acreage decreased in some years, production increased because of higher
yields per acre. A slight downward trend is evident in prices of potatoes
since the 1944-45 season. However, over this period, there has been a
wide fluctuation in prices. The prices of $1.97 and $2.29 per hun-
dredweight received for the 1956-57 and 1960-61 crops by Florida farmers
were the lowest season average prices since the 1940-41 season.
Relation Between Shipments and Prices of Potatoes
Prices received for potatoes by Florida farmers generally show
an increase from December to January and then decline from month to
month during the Florida season (Figs. 12 and 15). Shipments, on the
other hand, show a steady month to month increase, reaching a peak in
May (Fig. 15). Although shipments from Florida are small in June, new
potatoes are moving in volume from other areas and prices usually
continue downward. Because of the lateness in the season and hot,
humid weather, quality of the potatoes shipped from Florida in June is
probably not as good as that of those shipped earlier.
Production
S(1,000 cw.t.)
6,600 --
Price
per cwt.
,dollars)
6,000 5.00
II
5,400
4,800 -4.00
4,200 \ 1
S/ \ \
3,600 \ / Price 3.00
\ / \ \1 \ 1 \ //
I \\ i
3,000 I I
0 0
1,800 \
'i
1,200 \/ 1.00
600
0 I ., I I I t I I i, I t I
1925 1930 1935 1 40 1945 1950 1955 1960
Seasons Ending
Fig. 14.--Trend in Price and Production of Irish Potatoes, Florida, 1925 to 1961.
Source: Table 1.
Price
per cwt.
(dollars)
Carlots
per month
6,000f
Mar.
Months
Fig. 15.--Monthly Trend in Florida Shipments and Prices of Irish
Potatoes, Five Season Average, 1956-57 to 1960-61.
Source: USDA, AMS, Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service,
Florida Vegetable Crops, Vols. XIII through XVII.
Relation of Prices Received for Potatoes in Florida and the
General Level of All Farm Prices in the United States
Prices received for potatoes in Florida tend to fluctuate with
and around the index of prices of all farm commodities in the United
States (Fig. 16). From the 1924-25 to the 1937-38 season, the index of
prices received for potatoes in Florida was above the index of prices
of all farm commodities in the United States. From 1939-40 to 1945-46
the index of Florida potato prices was above the index of all farm
commodities in the United States except for the 1940-41 season. Since
1946-47 the Florida price index has been above the U. S. all-commodity
index in six seasons and below in nine seasons.
Potato growers are quite conscious of the fact that the cost of
items of production used for potatoes has continued to increase but they
have not been able to sell their product at a higher price. However, many
probably fail to realize that the volume of production has doubled. The
volume being produced at the present time is such that Florida potatoes
must be sold more in direct competition with the late (stored) crops.
This explains to some degree the relationship of the Florida potato
price index to the United States all-commodity price index.
During the past two decades, because of better varieties,
increased use of seed and fertilizer, better insect and disease control
and improvements in technology, increases in yields per acre have been
large. This has helped to decrease per unit cost of production or has
kept unit cost from increasing as much as individual cost items. With
an improvement in technology, some of the savings is usually passed
on to the consumer in the form of a better quality product, a lower
Index
160
II
I
120 I
I/ \ I"
i \/ \,
\ /--' Florida Potato /
80 / \ Prices \
\ U.S. All Farm
S/ Products Prices /
0\ \ t\ I I
C t.I I t I I I I t
1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960
Years
Fig. 16.--Comparison of the Index of Prices Received for Irish Potatoes in Florida with
the Index of Prices Received for all Farm Commodities in the United States,
1925 to 1961 (1947-49 = 100)
Source: Appendix Table 5.
relative price or both. It appears that consumers have received some
of both of these benefits with respect to Florida potatoes.
Relation Between Prices Received for Potatoes in Florida
and the General Level of Prices Paid by Farmers
in the United States
Prices received for potatoes in Florida have fluctuated more
than prices paid by farmers in the United States for commodities used in
production (Fig. 17). From 1924-25 to 1929-30, the index of prices
received for potatoes in Florida was above the index of prices paid by
farmers in the United States. From 1930-31 to 1940-41 the index of
Florida potato prices fluctuated around the index of prices paid.
Between 1941-42 and 1948-49 potato prices were above prices paid except
for the 1946-47 season. Since 1948-49 Florida's season average 'otato
price has been equal to or below the index of prices paid by farmers
in the United States, with an ever widening spread between the two
indexes.
Potato producers have bridged this gap by increasing yields and
by adopting improved technological methods, as explained earlier. In
seasons ending in years such as 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954 1957, 1958, 1959
and 1961, the increased production per acre has not been sufficient
to offset the rising costs of items used in production.
Comparison of Average Price Received for Potatoes
with Parity Price, 1946 to 1958
In only four seasons since 1946 has the average price received
for potatoes in Florida been higher than the Florida parity price
equivalent (Table 2). In three seasons average prices received have
Years
Fig. 17.--Comparison of the Index of Prices Paid for Commodities, Interest, Taxes, and
Wage Rates, United States, with the Index of Prices Received for Irish Potatoes
in Florida, 1925 to 1961. (1947-49 = 100)
Source: Appendix Table 5.
NO
Table 2.--U. S. Parity Price for Irish Potatoes, Florida Parity Price
Equivalent, Average Price Received by Florida Farmers, and Price
Received by Florida Farmers as a Percentage of Florida Parity
Price Equivalent, Crop Years, 1946-1961
: : : : Price received by
: U. S. : Florida parity : Price received : Florida farmers as
Crop Year : parity : price : by Florida : a percentage of
: price : equivalent : farmers : Florida parity
: : : equivalent
Dollars per hundredweight Percent
1946 2.20 3.30 3.28 99
1947 2.78 4.02 2.65 66
1948 3.09 4.05 4.18 103
1949 3.00 4.14 3.84 93
1950 2.82 3.98 2.80 70
1951 2.98 4.15 3.08 74
1952 2.88 4.15 4.11 99
1953 2.72 3.80 2.66 70
1954 2.54 3.53 2.52 71
1955 2.44 3.20 3.99 125
1956 2.33 3.54 3.65 103
1957 2.45 3.84 1.97 51
1958 2.44 3.51 2.65 75
1959 2.32 3.63 2.81 77
1960 2.34 3.23 3.92 121
1961 2.46 3.42 2.29 67
Note: Data subject to revision.
aAverage during Florida marketing season (January June).
Source: Data furnished by the Statistical Reporting Service and Crop
Reporting Board; compiled by the Vegetable Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S.
Department of Agriculture, March 13, 1962.
been equivalent to 92 to 99 percent of parity. In four of the five seasons
1949-50 to 1953-54, the average price received for potatoes in Florida
averaged 70 to 74 percent of the State parity price equivalent. It was
during this period and again in 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1961 when season
average prices were 51, 75, 77 and 67 percent, respectively, of the
Florida parity price equivalent that farmers became seriously concerned
about prices received for potatoes. However, it should be noted that
total production for the period 1949-50 to 1956-57 was 97 percent more
than for the preceding five seasons and the cash value of potatoes sold
was 67 percent more. Due to improvements in production technology,
farmers apparently found it profitable to increase their production of
potatoes until 1957 even at relatively lower prices in relation to
parity.
COST OF PRODUCING POTATOES
The cost of producing potatoes in selected areas of Florida is
shown in Table 3. Per unit costs vary inversely with the yield per
acre, being high in periods of low yield and lower when yields are high.
Yields and costs vary too between different producing areas of the
State in the same year. Yields were above average and costs low in
Hastings while the reverse was the case in Dade County in 1960-61. In
comparing returns to growers in 1960-61 with the average for the period
1953-57 only the Fort Myers-Immokalee area showed an increase in net
returns.
Table 3.--Yields and Per Unit Costs and Returns for Irish Potatoes
in Selected Areas in Florida, 5-Season Average 1952-53 to
1956-57 and 1959-60, 1960-61
5-Season 1959-0
Yields and Costs Average 1959-60 1960-61
Yield per acre in hundredweight
Amount per hundredweight:
Growing cost
Harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net returns
Yield per acre in hundredweight
Amount per hundredweight:
Growing cost
Harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net returns
Yield per acre in hundredweight
Amount per hundredweight:
Growing cost
Harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net returns
Yield per acre in hundredweight
Amount per hundredweight:
Growing cost
Harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost
Crop sales
Net returns
164
$1.50
.86
2.36
2.88
$0.52
Hastings Area
131
$2.28
.91
3.19
3.72
$0.53
Dade County
200
$1.32
.88
2.20
2.27
$0.07
126
$1.79
1.1.4
2.93
3.32
$0.39
$2.64
1.26
3.90
3.21
$-0.69
Everglades
114
$1.66
1.33
2.99
3.54
$0.55
$2.03
1.24
3.27
3.00
$-0.27
Fort Myers Immokalee
169
$2.05
1.20
3.25
3.30
$0.05
$1.99
1.28
3.27
3.39
$0.12
Source: D. L. Brooke, Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta.
58-8, 60-4 and 62-9.
Agr. Econ. Mimeo.Reports
-
APPENDIX
Table 1.--Index
and Production of Irish Potatoes, United States and Florida,
1934-35 to 1960-61 (1947-49 = 100)
S Production in hundredweight Index (1947-49 = 100)
Date
S United States Florida United States : Florida
(000)
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
1937-38
1938-39
1939-40
1940-41
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1943-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
1955-56
1956-57
1957-58
1958-59
1959-60
1960-61a
227,332
194,369
225,864
213,505
205,419
226,147
213,414
221,335
275,327
230,351
251,634
292,383
233,386
269,932
241,407
257,932
192,308
209,455
228,040
213,614
228,974
243,716
239,539
265,729
243,281
257,435
290,939
(000)
1,443
1,515
2,271
2,525
2,078
2,484
1,877
2,294
2,063
1,927
3.021
3,606
1,817
2,107
3,205
3,351
3,774
4,589
5,926
5,839
6,080
6,766
7,076
5,582
4,668
4,535
5,810
91.6
78.3
91.0
86.0
82.7
91.1
86.0
89.2
110.9
92.8
101.4
117.8
94.0
108.7
97.3
103.9
77.5
84.4
91.9
86.1
92.2
98.2
96.5
107.0.
98.0
103.7
117.2
60.7
63.8
95.6
106.3
87.4
104.5
79.0
96.5
86.8
81.1
127.1
151.7
76.5
88.6
134.9
141.0
158.8
193.1
249.4
245.7
255.9
284.7
297.8
234.9
196.4
190.8
244.5
preliminary data.
Source: USDA, AMS, Agricultural Statistics, 1960, Crop Production, 1961
Annual Summary and, Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service,
Florida Vegetable Crops, Vol. XVII.
Table 2.--Acreage of
Winter and Spring Irish Potatoes Harvested by Production Areas
and Total, Florida, 1939-40 to 1960-61
: Winter Spring
Date Other Other South West Florida Total
SDade South Total Hastings North Florida and Other Total
Florida Florida Counties Counties
Acreage Harvested
1939-40 6,000 3,500 9,500 11,750 1,950 1,550 850 16,100 25,600
1940-41 6,000 3,800 9,800 12,600 1,900 1,150 1,350 17,000 26,800
1941-42 4,800 3,800 8,600 11,850 2,250 1,150 1,150 16,400 25,000
1942-43 5,100 4,050 9,150 11,850 2,750 1,950 900 17,450 26,600
1943-44 6,000 4,500 10,500 12,950 2,700 1,400 1,050 18,100 28,600
1944-45 6,350 5,450 11,800 11,850 2,850 3,550 1,050 19,300 31,100
1945-46 6,500 7,100 13,600 12,350 2,900 5,160 1,290 21,700 35,300
1946-47 6,050 4,250 10,300 9,500 1,850 600 850 12,800 23,100
1947-48 5,800 1,500 7,300 10,200 1,825 750 625 13,400 20,700
1948-49 6,700 2,000 8,700 9,900 500 950 550 11,900 20,600
1949-50 6,600 3,200 9,800 11,200 750 940 910 13,800 23,600
1950-51 5,700 2,800 8,500 12,500 650 1,025 825 15,000 23,500
1951-52 8,000 2,700 10,700 15,500 950 1,775 875 19,100 29,800
1952-53 10,800 4,200 15,000 19,300 1,500 3,450 1,450 25,700 40,700
1953-54 8,800 2,800 11,600 17,000 1,400 1,270 1,130 20,800 32,400
1954-55 8,400 4,400 12,800 21,000 1,750 1,010 1,040 24,800 37,600
1955-56 8,900 7,100 16,000 21,000 1,875 1,425 1,400 25,700 41,700
1956-57 10,700 12,300 23,000 26,000 2,025 1,525 1,750 31,300 54,300
1957-58 8,450 5,050 13,500 25,500 1,450 2,100 1,850 30,900 44,400
1958-59 7,200 4,800 12,000 21,500 875 1,300 1,325 25,000 37,000
1959-60 6,700 3,300 10,000 22,800 1,100 2,075 1,325 27,300 37,300
1960-61 6,100 3,600 9,700 21,000 925 1,800 675 24,400 34,100
Source: USDA, AMS, Fla. Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, Florida Vegetable Crops, Vols. II
through XVII.
Table 3.--Average Monthly Prices Received for Potatoes by Seasons, Florida,
1951-52 to 1960-61
Month
Seasoii
Dec. Jan. Feb. : Mar. Apr. May June July
Dollars per Hundredweight
1951-52 $3.75 $5.17 $4.33 $4.17 $4.17 $3.58 $3.58 $3.58
1952-53 5.00 5.00 3.50 2.67 2.83 2.17 1.50 1.50
1953-54 3.58 3.75 2.92 2.08 2.08 3.00 2.50
1954-55 1.50 3.25 3.58 3.42 5.75 3.67 3.33 -
1955-56 3.00 3.15 3.95 3.89 3.48 4.15 -
1956-57 3.25 3.10 2.50 2.25 1.81 1.84 1.56 -
1957-58 2.85 3.75 5.40 5.10 5.18 2.56 1.47 1.57
1958-59 3.30 3.50 2.10 2.06 2.66 3.33 3.85 -
1959-60 4.35 4.60 4.75 5.56 3.56 2.45
1960-61 3.30 3.15 2.80 2.55 1.95 2.33 -
Total 23.23 38.17 35.23 33.25 36.48 29.14 26.72 6.65
Average 3.32 3.82 3.52 3.32 3.65 2.91 2.67 2.22
Source: USDA, AMS, Agricultural Prices, May, 1954, Jan. 1956, Sept. 1957,
Sept. 1958 and,Florida Vegetable Crops, Vol. XVII.
Table 4.--April Price Received by Farmers for Irish Potatoes,
United States and Florida, 1910 to 1961
: Dollars per Hundredweight
Year .
: United States Florida
1910 .603 2.05
1911 .91 2.30
1912 1.93 2.47
1913 .745 2.13
1914 1.09 2.42
1915 .718 1.93
1916 1.56 2.53
1917 4.08 4.27
1918 1.26 2.58
1919 1.68 4.05
1920 5.35 7.50
1921 1.09 3.12
1922 1.64 2.93
1923 1.16 4.18
1924 1.44 3.92
1925 1.17 3.07
1926 4.40 5.00
1927 2.02 2.92
1928 1.87 4.33
1929 .958 3.05
1930 2.40 3.17
1931 1.27 2.17
1932 .625 2.33
1933 .662 1.40
1934 1.25 1.90
1935 .72 2.42
1936 1.40 2.50
1937 1.77 2.17
1938 .82 1.17
1939 1.20 2.25
1940 1.32 1.92
1941 .845 1.67
1942 1.85 3.08
1943 2.60 3.75
1944 2.12 2.75
1945 2.82 3.92
1946 2.57 3.33
1947 2.23 3.17
1948 3.25 5.00
1949 2.92 3.67
1950 2.07 3.17
1951 1.62 4.25
1952 3.78 4.17
1953 1.88 2.83
1954 1.15 2.08
1955 3.49 5.75
1956 2.72 3.89
1957 1.24 1.81
1958 3.03 5.21
1959 1.28 2.66
1960 3.15 5.56
1961a 1.81 2.55
preliminary data.
Source: A. H. Spurlock and C. V. Noble, Florida Farm Prices,
Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 399, June 1944 and Agr. Econ.
Mimeo. Report 49-9. USDA, AMS, Agricultural Prices,
May 1954, Jan. 1956, Sept. 1957, Sept. 1958, Jan. 1959,
Jan. 1960, June 1961, Jan. 1962.
Table 5.--Index of Season Average Prices Received by Florida Farmers for
Irish Potatoes, Index of Prices Received for All Farm Commodities
in the United States and Index of Prices Paid by Farmers for Com-
modities, Interest, Taxes and Wage Rates in the United States,
1920 to 1961 (1947-49 = 100)
Year
*
*
Index Numbers (1947-49 = 100)
Florida : United States
Potato Prices Received : Pr
Prices : by Farmers : by
188 78
94 46
77 48
103 52
100 53
82 58
143 54
80 52
70 55
85 55
87 46
50 32
60 24
40 26
53 33
49 40
68 42
62 45
33 36
51 35
43 37
42 46
72 59
91 71
94 73
112 76
91 87
75 102
117 106
108 92
79 95
87 111
116 106
75 94
71 91
112 86
103 85
55 87
75 93
79 88
111 88
64 88
preliminary data.
Source: Computed from: A. H. Spurlock and C. V. Noble, Florida Farm
Prices, Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 399, June 1944 and Agr. Econ.
Mimeo. Report 49-9. USDA, SRS, Agricultural Prices, Jan. 1962.
DLB:ba 3/22/62
Exp. Sta., Ag. Ec. 500
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961a
ices Paid
Farmers
86
62
60
64
64
66
64
64
65
64
60
52
45
44
48
50
50
52
50
49
50
53
61
68
73
76
83
96
104
100
103
113
114
111
111
110
111
114
117
119
119
120
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