POTATO CULTURE IN MICHIGAN 



Special Bulletin No. 117 



BY H. C. MOORE 



Favorable climatic and soil conditions, combined with relatively close 

 markets, make Michigan one of the leading potato growing states of the 

 country. The potato crop is also a good one to include in a standard rotation 

 where such conditions exist to favor its development. It is one of the best 

 cash crops grown in the state, and the average returns per acre are usually 

 greater than for any other general crop. 



Based on the five year average, 1915 to 1919 inclusive, Michigan was fourth 

 among the states in order of total production. The average yield for this 

 five year period was 75 bushels per acre. There wero 340,000 acres of potatoes 

 grown in Michigan in 1921 with a total production of 27,200,000 bushels. 

 Figure 1 shows the distribution of the potato crop in Michigan in 1921. 

 It will be seen from this map that there were only four counties in the state 

 that produced less than 50,000 bushels each. 



The potato thrives best in a cool, moist cli?Tiate, and the quality is best 

 when the crop is grown on light loamy soils. These conditions, which prevail 

 in many sections of the state, are very favorable for the production of good 

 yields of high quality potatoes. 



Michigan is advantageously located with reference to markets. Ohio, 

 Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky are dependent upon the northern potato 

 growing states for a large portion of the potatoes they consume. A five-year 

 average of potatoes needed annually by Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky in 

 excess of the crop produced in these states is as follows: Ohio, 20,999 car 

 loads; Indiana, 9,502 car loads; Kentucky, 6,920 car loads. The distance 

 between this large potato consuming center and the potato producing center 

 of Michigan is comparatively short. The cities and large towns of Michigan 

 also furnish excellent markets for Michigan potatoes. 



Great advancement has been made in Michigan during recent years in the 

 co-operative marketing of potatoes. Through this movement, new and 

 more direct markets are being developed. 



The following table of statistics from the Federal Crop Report for Michi- 

 gan, January 1, 1922, furnishes a continuous history of the potato production 

 in Michigan since 1866. It will be seen from this table that the greatly in- 

 creased total production secured during the latter part of this fifty-six year 

 period is due to increased acreage and not to increased yields to the acre. 



