b'EYE ON THE NATION ALBERTA processors are cutting it close to the line, patiently waiting for the Terence Hochstein, executive director ofnew crop to come online.the Potato Growers of Alberta Alberta acreage will be close to 72,000 acres this year, up from 68,500 acres last year. An increase in contracted processing acres Like most places across North America, the jury on the 2022and a slight increase in seed acres will make up the difference.Alberta crop is still undecided. The potential is there, but onlyOnce again, we are planning to host our annual potato time will tell. The planting season in the south started out late,conference and tradeshow in Red Deer, Alta. on Nov. 15 to 17, very cold and dry. Since then, we have received some timely2022. More details will be available online and in our monthly rains in the last few weeks. With a little heat and some sunshine,Potato Minute in the coming months. Stay tuned.there is hope to make up some of those lost days. Its often said that an inch of rain will go a lot farther than three inches of cold irrigation water.MANITOBAOur seed growers in central and northern Alberta have had almost ideal moisture conditions for planting. Since then, weeklyDan Sawatzky, general manager,showers have provided near perfect conditions to the start ofKeystone Potato Producers Associationwhat looks like a good growing season. Anyone that has lived in Alberta will tell you though that everything can change inWhat a difference a year makes. Last year, Manitoba was in an instant when it comes to the weather. Tomorrow the tapthe grips of a drought which prevented irrigation reservoirs could shut off and the heat roll in, and then everything changesfrom being filled, coupled with the persistent heat and drought dramatically. Around here we take things day by day, hope forthrough the summer leaving the province short on production. the best and take what we get. Overall, we are about a weekThis winter and spring we had adequate snowmelt to fill behind from previous long-term averages. reservoirs, but Colorado lows kept pushing snow and rain up The 2021 crop should be close to wrapped up by the time thatinto the province which has delayed planting on average about this goes to print. With the relatively short crop last year, thethree weeks. Crop insurance deadlines are upon us, and I am aware of two producers with some seed yet to go into the ground as of mid-June. Two days ago, a potato region between Portage la Prairie and Carberry received 100 mm of rain overnight resulting in major overland flooding with the Canadian Pacific rail line being washed out and a local state of emergency declared.Crop emergence is scattered with the early planted fields fully emerged, while the bulk of the crop yet to poke through. The wet conditions will result in seed rot, but the extent is yet unknown. Optimism for a good crop for the growers to fill the processors needs is beginning to fade, although the provincial potato pathologist still feels the crop has potential to make up lost ground with quicker emergence than other years. Coupled with adequate moisture and the remainder of the season still ahead of us the potential for a reasonable crop may still come to fruition.Contract settlements with the processing companies have been completed with a substantial increase in recognition of the ever-increasing cost of production. Fertilizer and fuel costs continue to see increases.Theperfect addition to yourRecognizing the stresses of the spring seeding season, \x1f hopefully the miracle of growth throughout the summer willeet. All aluminum trailer inserts will transform your dry vans intobring awe and optimism to those involved in this great industry.self-unloading bulk trailers. Built lightweight without troughs for maximum product capacity.Call today to see how we can help you maximize your product payload and reduce your transportation cost.48SPUDSMART.COM Summer 2022'