b'eyeMANITOBAheat stress, and it appears to have good potential. The early varieties are producing Dan Sawatzky, General Manager, average yields and as the main Russet Burbank harvest is beginning, we are seeing Keystone Potato Producers Association decent yields, but size is off a little due to high sets and slow emergence this spring. Top growth remains healthy with no damaging frosts and no reported late blight.As I write this article in mid-September, the storage potato harvest is finally fullyHarvest, although stressful, is the time of year when one can look back at all underway. Rain that was in short supply over the summer came in the early partthe hard work over the spring and summer and begin to feel a spirit of gratitude as of the month, limiting harvest progress. Processors managed their supply throughthe crop comes in. Planning for next year is also on producers minds, and the fall rain stock, asking growers with direct contracts to lay their product in sheds to beactivity of planting cover crops, purchasing inputs, preparing ground, pulling up shipped during the rain events. The shrinking harvest window between rain delays,irrigation pipe, moving irrigation systems, and planning equipment replacement or the extreme heat forecast over the next few days with highs of 30 C and lows ofrepair among other activities, contribute to the year-round nature of farming. only 18 C, and the impending frost later on certainly tested the growers mettle. The Simplot expansion continues to take shape with start-up production sched-Some adjustments have been made to improve harvest efficiency followinguled for late January, early February. A few sheds are being completed and others the devastating harvest last year where only four per cent of process producersstarted this fall for additional production needs. As farms grow and continue to managed to fill their contracts due to wet conditions and frost, but the weather willlearn to improve their operations, there is anticipation and excitement for the need to cooperate to bring the crop in. future here in Manitoba.The crop has fared well throughout the growing season with intensive cropPlanning begins for our annual conference, Manitoba Potato Productions Days, management, including irrigation and fertigation coupled with the avoidance ofon January 28 to 30, 2020. More information is available at www.mbpotatodays.ca.62 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2019'