b'MANITOBA NEW BRUNSWICKDan Sawatzky, general manager, Jean-Maurice Daigle, director of market Keystone Potato Producers Association information for Potatoes New BrunswickThe story of the summer in Manitoba this year was the heat2021 has proven to be a much better year for the potato industry coupled with the ongoing drought. The average high daytimein New Brunswick. COVID-19 continues to affect our industry temperature from June 1 through Sept. 1 was 28 C. The month ofwith the uncertainty of food service restaurants, are they opened July alone recorded over 30 C on more than half the days.or closed? But we remain optimistic quick service restaurants Rainfall during the majority of growing season varied betweenand retail will continue to fill that gap.40 and 70 per cent of normal for potato growing regions ofNew Brunswick growers planted more contracted processing the province. This kept the farms that had access to wateracres this spring and about the same acreage for seed and table.busy irrigating adding additional expense. This shortfall inThe planting season was ideal, and optimism is high for a precipitation followed the driest winter in many years whichgood harvest season. With the early varieties just starting to meant some irrigation reservoirs werent able to be filled in thecome out of the ground as of Sept. 2, we are experiencing spring resulting in some fields without adequate watering. slightly higher yields and great quality. The same can be said for The third week of August brought some much-needed reliefall three sectors, table, seed and processing.with cooler weather and some significant rainfall. For some ofLets hope mother nature continues to cooperate and we can the early varieties the rain came too late to make a difference butget these potatoes in storage ASAP!for later varieties it was welcome and should add to yield. Direct harvesting began on Aug. 10 with varied yield results early on. As the season moved on yields generally have improvedONTARIOwith the later fields seeing some yields come in close to average expectations. Storage of Russet Burbank harvest is still aheadKevin Brubacher, general managerof us at the time of writing at the start of September, and itsof the Ontario Potato Boardunknown to what extent yield and quality was affected by the heat and drought although we do know that some of the early setThe growing season in Ontario has been exceptional throughout was dropped. the province. Some areas some areas were hit by extreme With the main harvest just around the corner the excitement ofweather events which caused isolated damage to crops, but they putting the crop in the bins builds for those who are harvestinghave recovered nicely. In general, crop conditions and yields are their first crop or their 60th crop. Equipment is ready and theexcellent and will surely be above average. staff is in place. Hopefully the existing and additional shed spaceAt the time of writing this in early September, harvest of the will all be used. Trusting that the weather will cooperate, and all2021 early Ontario potato crop is well underway. Due to the high will have an enjoyable, safe and profitable harvest. yields in the early crop, harvest will be drawn out longer than We are planning and hoping to go ahead with an in-personusual. Fresh potatoes hit the market in large volumes mid-July Manitoba Potato Production Days (MPPD) event at the end ofbut movement has been slower than usual. Pricing has been January as provincial COVID-19 regulations allow. We all agreestrong and stable. Quality has been excellent and yields above that the in-person networking and social aspect to MPPD is oneaverage. Harvest of early process potatoes began in early August of the best aspects of the show. with excellent quality and yields. In the next week or two, harvest of the storage crop will be in full swing for both fresh and process potatoes. Early indications are that yields, and quality are exceptional. The annual general meeting of the Ontario Potato Board is scheduled to take place Dec. 1, 2021. We are hopeful to hold an in person meeting but will monitor the COVID-19 situation and make a decision closer to the date. Please direct any questions regarding the annual general meeting to the board office at [email protected] or (519)-846-5553.SPUDSMART.COM Fall 202149'