USDA data shows U.S. potato plantings totaled 873,000 acres in 2026, down from 902,000 acres in 2025 — a reduction of 29,000 acres, or 3.2 percent year over year. Idaho, the country's largest potato-producing state, accounted for the largest share of the acreage decline.
Smaller planted acres generally signal tighter supply potential heading into the fall harvest, though actual yields will depend on growing conditions through the rest of the season. The reduction follows a period where stored supply was already running below year-ago levels.
This is worth tracking for buyers sourcing fresh-market potatoes in the second half of the year. If yields come in at or below average, the acreage reduction could translate into meaningfully tighter supply and firmer pricing into late 2026.