Business Archives - Spud Smart

World Potato Congress Inc. Announces New Director

Compiled by Staff on October 16, 2019

World Potato Congress president, Romain Cools, is pleased to announce Greg Donald has joined its board of directors. Greg Donald has been the general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board since 2009. The P.E.I. Potato Board represents P.E.I. potato producers working together to ensure long-term profitability and sustainability through marketing, advocating, negotiation and activities that support quality potato production. Donald has a BSc in agriculture with a major in plant protection from Dalhousie…

Creating the World’s Best Vodka

By Mark Halsall on October 16, 2019

Ontario potato farmers Ken and Liz Beattie got into the craft distillery business back in 2016, using surplus, non-saleable spuds otherwise destined for cattle feed to make potato vodka. Their fledgling company called Beattie’s Distillers has certainly come a long way since then. Proof of that came at the 2018 World Beverage Competition,a major event for the beer, wine and spirits industries. At that event—the first international competition for the Beatties —…

Cavendish Farms Opens New $430 Million Frozen Potato Processing Plant in Lethbridge, Alberta

Compiled by Staff on October 8, 2019

Cavendish Farms’ newest plant is officially open for business. The announcement was made at a ceremony held Oct. 3 at the new Lethbridge frozen potato processing facility. Cavendish Farms President Robert K. Irving was joined by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman and other dignitaries to celebrate the largest private sector investment in the history of the City of Lethbridge. “It is a great day for Lethbridge and for our…

Market News, Oct. 1, 2019

By Mark Halsall on October 1, 2019

Many potato growers across the country had to deal with some serious weather challenges in 2019. In August, severe hailstorms caused widespread crop damage in southern Alberta, while in September, Hurricane Dorian delivered torrential rain and gale-force winds to Prince Edward Island. Those areas — as well as most of the other potato-producing regions in Canada — experienced a cool, wet spring, which delayed planting by up to two weeks. This was…

UPGC Potato Crop Report, September 11, 2019

By Kevin MacIsaac on September 16, 2019

The United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) has released its most recent Canadian Potato Crop Report. Prince Edward Island The weather was dry and hot well into the summer this year until the province finally got rain in the last week of August. In contrast to last year, the western part of P.E.I. has had good moisture all along. The Summerside area had 90 mm of rain a week ago, and then…

Spud Smart Webinar: The Ins and Outs of Potato Yield Monitors

By Kari Belanger on September 10, 2019

With increased input costs and skyrocketing land prices, profit margins are shrinking — it’s never been more important to have a good handle on what’s happening in your fields. Data generated from yield maps provide insight on how to manage your crop to improve your profit margin, your yield, or both. Whether this is your first season or your fifth using a potato yield monitor, our guest speakers will make sure you’re…

NEPG Estimates 2019 Potato Harvest at Five-Year Average

Compiled by Staff on September 10, 2019

The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimates the 2019 forecasted potato harvest between 27 and 27.3 million tons for the five leading potato countries. This is three per cent more than the five-year average and 12 per cent more than last year. At this stage, the estimations are mainly based upon trial digs. Nevertheless, the NEPG stresses this is an estimation — final trial digs will take place at the beginning of October — and…

Northwestern European Potato Countries Fear Drought

Compiled by Staff on August 20, 2019

In July, although the area in the five largest Northwestern potato countries increased 2.2 per cent towards 611,190 ha — a record — the NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) is not convinced they are heading for average yields. The condition of the crop is good, however, in almost all NEPG-growing areas, drought and water levels are the biggest concern for the growers. More Potato Area With the exception of Great Britain, all…

Cavendish Farms Announces New Potato Research Centre in Prince Edward Island

Compiled by Staff on August 6, 2019

New Annan, P.E.I. — Cavendish Farms is pleased to announce the construction of a new potato research and plant breeding centre in New Annan, P.E.I. The $6-million facility, which is fully funded by the company, is an investment in the sustainability of Prince Edward Island’s all-important potato industry. As witnessed over the last two summers, the growing season is changing with hotter temperatures and less precipitation at critical times. This is a real…

Statistics Canada Releases Potato Acreage Estimate

By Kevin MacIsaac on July 19, 2019

Statistics Canada released its first estimate of potato acreage in Canada as a result of data obtained from its survey of potato growers in Canada. Statistics Canada has estimated the 2019 potato acreage to be up 3.3 per cent or 11,526 acres above 2018. Given some of the additional acreage required to supply two new fry plants and a recently completed new line in Canada, industry had expected the increase to be…

Spudsmart

Browsing Category Business