UNIVERSITY PARK - The average American eats more than a hundred pounds of potatoes every year - less than half are fresh. That is a dramatic shift from even 1960 when most of the potatoes we consumed were fresh. The rise in processed con sumption has been almost entirely in frozen products, particularly french fries, while consumption of potato chips and dehydrated potatoes has remained largely unchanged. The changes in consumption have encouraged a substantial shift in the location of production. Most of the facilities for the ex panded processing portion of the industry are now located in the Northwest. Over the last 30 years, changes in the structure of the U.S. potato industry have had a negative impact on the industry in Penn sylvania. Potatoes are still the major vegetable crop in the state, with production valued at |35 million. In 1950, Pennsylvania was the sixth largest potato-producing state in the nation and in 1961, it was 13th. Acreage dropped from 60,000 in 1955 to 22,000 in 1961, a decline of 63 percent. Other northeastern states shared this decline in production. Whereas in 1950 Northeast produced ap proximately 30 percent of the U.S. potato crop, in 1980 it produced only 15 percent. Several factors combined to precipitate the decline in the Northeast and to shift production westward, according to James W. 800 Rnhrnt V .3d\lC.i3 <«««««{<««««««««««««(«««(c««««««««(««««<(««««{««««««««««««««««««««<(««««««««««(u Harrisburg, pa 13 Models Up To 3700 Pound Capacity 814-793-2194 717-933-4138 HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. 717*564*303X Dunn traces Dunn. “Despite an increase in market price from $1.78 to $6.50 per hundred pounds in the last three decades, potato production has not been as profitable as other uses of the resources involved,” said Dunn. “Farm input prices and production expenses rose just as rapidly as did potato prices. In creased yields required more intensive use of fertilizer and HARRISBURG Inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1 in the 10 states conducting quarterly hog surveys is estimated at 41.6 million head, three percent above last March, according to the Penn sylvania Crop Reporting Service. This number is eight percent below March, 1981, and is the first in crease in the March inventory level since 1980. The 10 quarterly states are Georgia, Illinois, In diana, lowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina and Ohio. Breeding inventory at 5.91 million head, was six percent more than a year ago but nine percent less than March 1981. This is the first increase in the March breeding herd since 1979. Market hog inventory at 35.7 million head, is two percent above last year but eight percent below two years ago. The December 1982-February 1983 pig crop was 15.5 million head, 10 percent more than last year but two percent below two years ago. There were 2.08 million sows that *lOO HD Drive Bob-Tach For Attachment Chi 1700 lb Fated Capacity 2 75-inch Diameter AxU potato production drop pesticides, and thus expenses increased.” This decrease in profitability affected producers in the Nor theast more than it did those in the Northwest. The varieties of potatoes grown in Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast are round white potatoes best suited for eating, tablestock or potato chip portions of the market, r.cither of which hoc hc? r ' »x Hog inventory up 3 percent farrowed during the past quarter, an increase of five percent from a year ago but five percent below the same period two years ago. Sows farrowing averaged a record high 7.44 pigs per litter compared with 7.11 last year and 7.24 two years ago. The litter rate UNIVERSITY PARK - A growing trend in Pennsylvania is part-time farming-a situation where a farm operator receives a substantial portion of his income from off-farm sources. For any family interested in part-time farming, the Cooperative Extension Service has a booklet that explores all aspects of this way of life. “Farm Management for Part- Time Farmers” outlines the ad vantages and disadvantages of operating a farm and discusses the Cold Weather E; Fuel Gai Warning Lights 1 Operator Comfr Adjustable f Smooth Hydros! and Hydra Controls Roomy Hose Protect! Grab Handli Seat Belt Parking Brakes! LiA Arm Stop Available!—-,. 8 Bolt Tires 1 Flol Carlisle, PA PETERMAN FARM EQUIPMENT 717-249-5338 Chambersburg, PA CLUGSTON IMPLEMENTING. 717-263-4103 Part-time farm booklet available Seat Bar bobcat • ; Drums, PA HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. 717-788-1127 Honey Grove, PA NORMAN D. CLARK & SON INC. 717-734-3682 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 2,1983—D21 panding. The premium potato used for tablestock and for making french fries is the predominantly western variety, the Russet. This variety grows poorly in the relatively rocky, disease and pest prone soils of the Northeast. Dunn says that continuation of the present production patterns seems most likely for the near future, but he makes some w Battery Somerset, Pa. BENDER IMPL. INC. 814-443-4611 Slatington. PA SCAT ENTERPRISES INC. 215-767-1711 Tunkhannock, PA Fuel Tank Hydraulic jit Keeps :an Ti^pe ich )oor •Proof Accessible ■ain Quariyville, PA GRUMELLi’S FARM SERV. 717-786-7318 Rising Sun, Md. AG-IHOUSTRIAL 301-658-5568