PORTLAND (AP) – Maine’s potato production this year is coming in below last year’s harvest.

According to the Department of Agriculture, farmers this fall harvested an estimated 1.65 billion pounds of potatoes.

The 2007 production, however, is about 8 percent below the 2006 output because of reductions in acreage and yield. Maine farmers planted 57,100 acres, or 1,400 fewer than in 2006.

The yield of 29,000 pounds per acre was high by historical measures, but fell short of the record high yield set in 2006.

AP-ES-12-24-07 0745EST