b'EYE ON THE NATION ALBERTA BRITISH COLUMBIATerence Hochstein, executive director ofHugh Reynolds with Reynalda Farmsthe Potato Growers of Alberta in Delta, B.C.One of the strongest attributes of anyone involved in theThe British Columbia fall potato harvest season is off to a good agricultural industry, is eternal optimism. Every spring when astart. The good open spring gave most crops an early start to farmer plants their crop, they believe its going to be a great one.2021 with the majority of the crop being planted by mid-May. An This is the year we are going to hit it out of the park is always theextended dry period started June 15 and stretched longer than attitude thats needed to be involved in this industry. With acresusual as a heat dome settled over western North America. The up this year in all sectors, the growers were looking forward tohigh heat checked the growth of many fields and many plants putting the 2020 crop year behind them. Alberta, like the rest ofset new tubers when the cooler weather returned. We have the western half of North America, started out great, but ran intoexperienced some early maturing of potatoes from the heat, as the late June, early July eternal heat wave. Couple that with verywell as upon test digs, minor instances of sprouting potatoes in little moisture in dryland areas and irrigation that couldnt keepthe ground before harvesting.up and here we are in September with less than an optimal crop.This years crop profile would be considered average when compared to the past decade, although some varieties are smaller profiled compared to 2020s exceptional year for size and yield. Overall, the crop has come off well, albeit with a small/medium profile. There has been earlier than anticipated good yields, With acres up this year in all along with very good demand at the retail and foodservice sectors, the growers were lookingsectors. This is expected to continue, especially at retail into the forward to putting the 2020 fall as consumers work their way back into the routines which accompany back to school and shorter daylight limiting outside crop year behind them.activities.The pandemic continues to affect buying habits. Retail TERENCE HOCHSTEIN shoppers are pleased to see a strong selection of various sizes and grades to suit their grocery budget as the majority of meals are still being prepared at home.B.C. growers are focussed on harvest as early fall rains can wreak havoc on our soils primarily formed of glacier flour from This abnormal weather event was a first for growers here inthe mountainsjust a few inches of rain can have a huge Alberta. Normally when the heat arrives in mid-July, we alreadyimpact on our harvest. A strong growing season has allowed have row closure, and the plants can handle the heat. This yearmany growers to start pitting earlier this year and the weather is with the heat wave coming around June 22, there was no rowgenerally cool enough to allow it.closure, leading to much of the crop dropping a portion or all ofLooking at the variety trial test digs it seems we will have good its first set. After that everything went sideways, with a small or nohealthy and mature potatoes, although total yield will probably second set, heat runners and the tubers which did survive beingbe slightly lower than the large harvest of 2020. Softer pressure anything but pretty. Forty days of extreme heat, excessive smoketests being experienced on potatoes this year may culminate in and no moisture has ed to a harvest which will be one for thesome issues during the grading process as we get deeper into the books. A late, open frost-free fall will help what crop is there toactual storage crop season, but this in an unknown at this time.bulk up, short of that it will leave many storage sheds less than full. Potato prices are consistent with prior seasons and rotation Happy harvest everyone, stay safe. crop prices are robust helping the bottom line in a year when input prices have been above average.48SPUDSMART.COM Fall 2021'