b'EYE ON THE NATION BRITISH COLUMBIA NEW BRUNSWICKHugh Reynolds with Reynalda Farms Jean-Maurice Daigle, director of market in Delta, B.C. information for Potatoes New BrunswickAs of Feb. 1, the early potato seed trucks were on the road.The New Brunswick 2022 crop produced good yields for British Columbia potato growers were dreaming of plantingthe second year in a row (following the worst crop in 2020). Warba seed. Since then there have been two major Arctic frontsShortages of processing potatoes in the western United States come through. As of writing on Feb. 27, and the snow is stillagain this year means that eastern raw is moving west again. falling right down to southern California.Movement is much smoother than was the case last year and Last year I predicted in this spot that it was time for La Ninamost of the volume stated to move has been already shipped. to end. Now the computers are watching changing indicatorsProcessors are running hard and taking advantage of strong and have declared that for sure we are looking at neutral ENSOdemand for frozen products.conditions by May. That means we should get average weatherOverall, the storage crop is keeping well and payables at the conditions, with western Canada expecting good growingplants have been slightly lower than the five-year average mostly conditions for 2023.due to higher incidences of hollow heart and sunburn. B.C. growers are receiving fair prices with light supplies.Table potatoes are keeping well, and prices for the product Potato quality remains good, and agencies are selling slowly onhave kept at acceptable levels for the packers even if demand is limited inventory.average. Transportation doesnt seem to be the bottleneck this year as it was last year and although transportation cost has gone up, availability is adequate. ALBERTA Seed growers are facing challenges this year as a large influx of aphids were present at the end of the growing season. Lab tested virus levels on the seed crop are significantly higher than Terence Hochstein, executive director of the Potato Growers of Alberta it has been in the last number of years and availability of good low virus seed will cause challenges this year. A bit sooner than planned, but we did italmost a year to theAs we get closer to planting, growers are keeping a close eye date, the Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) team has been ableon the increasing costs of inputs, fuel, labour and materials and to move back into our newly constructed head office in Taber,equipment as these costs are increasing significantly for the Alta. Where once stood an arch ribbed building that was built insecond year in a row. These factors will likely lead to growers the late 1950s, it has been replaced with a new modern designedonly planting the acres that are under contract. We estimate that office building that will serve the Alberta industry well for theNew Brunswick will plant the same acres as in 2022.next 50 plus years.Like all places in North America this year, the Alberta crop took a hit in the yield department last fall. Quality is excellent but every processor will be looking forward to the 2023 crop coming on early and strong to make up for the tight supply this year. Even the seed industry, whose total yield was slightly higher than the previous year, had most of its inventory sold or spoken for by Christmas. With the increase in demand across North America, the ability to find seed, of any variety, will be next to impossible.The 2022 PGA Conference and Tradeshow, held in mid-November, was once again a huge success. With the absence of the live event the last two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, over 425 growers, family members and industry participants, gathered together for the three-day event. Plans are already underway for the 2023 version to be held Nov. 20 to 22, 2023 at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino in Calgary, Alta.As spring approaches, contract discussions continue with the Alberta processors as we work towards having settlements prior to going to the field for planting. With the dramatic increases in input costs and rising interest rates the risk of growing potatoes is at an all-time high.54SPUDSMART.COM Spring 2023'