b'MARKET NEWSDespite Wide Ranging Weather Potato Yields DecentAs the Canadian potato harvest rolls on, early reports point towards there not being spud shortages this year. BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONFOLLOWING A GROWING seasonGrowers are not yet in athere to be shortages within the processing which saw hot, dry weather in the west andor fresh sectors, but there will still be spuds wet weather in the east, Canadian potatoposition to comment onbeing shipped from Alberta to Manitoba yields are looking decent. Good weatheroverall yields for storagethis year. throughout planting was able to give thecrop, but for those whoIts not because theres a problem with crops the leg up they needed to make itthe crop. Manitoba at this point just cant through the tougher conditions during thehave harvested to date weplant enough acres to supply their internal summer.have had reports of good yields on trend,processing capacity. So, its not a result of Its pretty early, Victoria Stamper,with the exception of perhaps Quebec.a short crop or a problem with the crop or general manager of the United Potatoanything like that. Its just the nature of the Growers of Canada, says in a phone Victoria Stamper beast right now in terms of planted acreage, interview. Growers are not yet in a positionshe explains.to comment on overall yields for storageThere could be some opportunities for crop, but for those who have harvested tomore Canadian spuds to make the trip date we have had reports of good yields396,922 acres across the Atlantic though. Early season on trend, with the exception of perhapsof potatoes planted in 2023 harvest reports had European yields lower, Quebec. but as the crop has bulked up yields have From Manitoba through the rest of387,103 acres improved. However, Stamper says there the western provinces, growers had tostill could be export opportunities as there battle with hot dry conditions. In Britishof potatoes planted in 2022 has been a shift of planted acreage from Columbia, Stamper says shes receivedfresh to processing as the global demand for reports that potato fields saw two and halfprocessing has increased.months with no rain, only finally receivingNorth America is looking at how can some precipitation in the form of a smallwe take advantage of any shortage in the rain shower at the end of July and then aEuropean crop either directly through thunderstorm at the end of August.shipments of fresh, or more likely though In the east however its been the oppositeVisit spudsmart.com/category/business/markets- exports of frozen product, which is not with Quebec receiving rain all summer long.and-pricing/ for regular potato market updates. something under grower control. And Ontario also received quite a bit of rain.shipments of fresh would have to be well The wet conditions in the two provincesplanned and organized to arrive in good did cause the perfect circumstances for lategrowers in the Maritimes were reportingcondition over those distances, Stamper blight to form, with a few reports of cases inthey had enough rain, and to date the cropsadds. It is likely Europe would look closer Ontario and one case in Quebec during thewere looking good. to home for their needs.growing season. However, Stamper notesAccording to the Statistics CanadaIn Canada, the seed industry has been the cases were isolated with growers able toacreage report released in July, Canadianresponding to the increased processing get them under control. potato growers planted 396,922 acres ofdemand with a bump in seed potato acreage. P.E.I. and New Brunswick are likepotatoes, up from 387,103 acres in 2022 More seed acres were planted in Quebec Ontario, they are very well saturated,marking the largest potato crop planted inand Stamper notes there are reports of but not quite as bad as Quebec, I wouldCanada in more than a decade. Accordingmore people looking at the seed acreage in say, Stamper says. By the end of August,to Stamper, the industry isnt expectingSaskatchewan and the possibilities there. 48SPUDSMART.COMFall 2023'