b'eyeMANITOBA BC VegetableBRITISH COLUMBIAMarketing Dan Sawatzky, general manager, Commission Hugh Reynolds, Reynalda Farms, Delta, B.C.Keystone Potato Producers AssociationIn the midst of a mild winter, growers in Manitoba are looking forward to anotherThe last few years have been a fortuitous window for British Columbia growers with growing season. Record attendance at Manitoba Potato Production Days indicatedboth fair prices and shortages of good-sized potatoes back East. In the future, a not only strong support for the planning committee and the trade show/speakerreturn to normal weather will mean eastern potato stock shortages will dissipate, line up, but also a resilience to look at ways of improving potato production on theand eastern agencies will not be as happy to receive our extra supply. B.C. growers heels of a couple tough harvest seasons. should be cognizant of this likely occurrencebarring another black swan event Storage issues continue to pop up due to the saturated field conditions duringin 2020. Keep to your long-term crop rotations because when the supply is high, harvest. Processors are juggling local supplies and deliveries with imports to aug- only the highest quality will sell.ment the short crop. Although run times will be reduced, the industry is managing the situation the best they can.The Simplot expansion has been receiving potatoes since January as it ramps up production capacity. PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDThe expansion has created the opportunity for additional acres and volume which has stretched the ability of current growers to meet this increase Jason Hayden, chairman of theespecially given the limitations caused by recent harvests. The business risk man- P.E.I. Potato Boardagement programs have not been very effective given the low level of coverage especially in the situation of unharvested acreage. The risks and ability to dealTo start the year, the board has adopted an updated strategic plan to guide our with them have brought reality to the forefront of growers situations. There hasactivities for the next five years. We welcomed all of the input provided by growers been some interest shown, although limited, by a handful on new growersforat our district meetings and the effort of the board directors and staff to review them it will be a new opportunity and learning curve. and refine all drafts. This will provide the touchstone to ensure all of our activities Meetings over the winter with the provincial government and Manitoba Agri- are focused as we move our industry ahead.cultural Services Corporation has resulted in a change to crop insurance coverageThe winter months offer many educational opportunities. Pesticide for this upcoming year, through a ramp up of yield contribution in coverage cal- applicator training sessions and agronomy initiative for marketable yield (AIM) culation. This comes as yield improvements in recent years havent been reflectedworkshops have been ongoing since December. The final AIM workshops were in the current yield method calculation. This is a welcome improvement for riskon March 12 and 13 and covered issues caused by soil compaction and how to coverage, but further improvements will be needed before we are likely to see aboth prevent and mitigate compaction. A wireworm workshop was held online return to higher producer participation. on March 24.Seed potatoes are in tight supply for Manitoba growers. Contract negotiationsThe International Potato Technology Expo and Conference was held in are ongoing locally, same as they are across most of the North American potatoCharlottetown, P.E.I, on Feb. 21-22. The trade show and conference sessions growing regions. provided excellent opportunities to learn about the latest technology available Have a safe and enjoyable planting season. to modernize production techniques and covered topics ranging from precision agriculture, farm labour to new potato varieties. Contract negotiations are a key focus this spring, as are efforts to balance supply and demand for the fresh, processing and seed sectors for the remainder of the shipping season. As we look toward planting the 2020 crop, we strongly encourage all growers to plant only for known markets as a return to normal crop yields and harvests across North America could result in an oversupply for 2020/21. Given the cost of production and the risk growers take producing potatoes under increasingly erratic weather conditions, overproduc-tion and low prices would be a serious financial setback.40 SPUDSMART.COM SPRING 2020'