Potato production declines across North America and Germany

Potato production is facing significant declines across North America and Europe. In North America, the combined planted area has fallen to 1.268 million acres, a 2.4% decrease from 2025 and the smallest area recorded in at least 40 years. In the United States, acreage in 13 reporting states fell to 873,000 acres, with Idaho seeing the largest reduction of 15,000 acres. Canadian acreage saw a slight decrease to 395,176 acres, though the Prairie Provinces saw growth to meet regional processing needs.

In Germany, a lower harvest forecast is driving up prices. The 2026 harvest is expected to yield 10.4 million tonnes, a 24.8% decrease from the previous year. This decline is attributed to an 11.1% reduction in cultivation area and lower yields per hectare caused by summer heat and drought. Consequently, German consumer prices for potatoes rose by 11.3% in September 2026 compared to the previous year, while producer prices for table potatoes saw a sharp increase of 61.5% in August.