b"MARKETNEWS The pandemic and dry weather have pushed Canadian potato stocks down.Potato Plunge2020 WAS A hard year for Canadian potato growers between the global COVID-19 pandemic and dry growing conditions. The latest potato storage numbers from Statistics Canada illustrate this well. As of March 1, totalIts safe to say that the Canadian potato storage holdings were eight pernegotiators are off to a tough start cent below the three-year averagemarking a nine-year low. in the Pacific Northwest. There definitely are some regional differencesDALE LATHIMthere that will have some repercussions in some situations and creating shortages at packing sheds or some movement of potatoes around throughout the supply chain, Kevin MacIsaac, general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC), says during a potato markets presentation at the Canadian Spud Congress onAlmost every grower inFeb. 24.In Eastern Canada, stocks are 13.8 per centevery category is concerned less than the three-year average, while stocks inabout over planting. Western Canada are very close to their three-year average, a release from the UPGC notes.KEVIN MACISSACFor fresh potatoes, Canadian holdings are esti-mated at 8.1 million hundred weight (cwt), which is 5.8 per cent below the three-year average. The drop is led by Prince Edward Island, who was plagued by a drought during the 2020 growingwith New Brunswick suffering the biggest dropsaw repeated hot, dry growing seasons, so there season. Conditions were similar in New Bruns- at 37.7 per cent. B.C. seed stocks are down 25is concern that could continue, MacIsaac adds.wick, but potato stocks are above the three-yearper cent, while Alberta is up 12.4 per cent andThose are all the things that we don't have a average there. Table stocks in Western Canada areManitoba rose 10 per cent. handle on today. And I'm not sure anybody does, up 23.8 per cent in Manitoba, and 27 per cent inHeading into planting, MacIsaac has heardbut we have to track this closely as we get closer British Columbia. many concerns from growers. Most are still wor- to planning, MacIsaac says.It would need to be noted that New Brunswickried about the ongoing effects of the pandemic.Down south there has been some news about did import some potatoes into their threshold lastThere are a lot of questions about what demandcontract negotiations for processing potatoes for fall from the province of Quebec, mainly for theirwill look like moving forward and if there will be athe upcoming growing season. As of February, one fresh needs, because they realized they're going tothird wave. of the major processors was asking for a four per be short, MacIsaac says.Almost every grower in every category iscent reduction in price for contracts with growers Processing stocks are down 9.5 per cent belowconcerned about over planting. Doesn't matterin the Columbia Basin, Dale Lathim, executive the three-year average. New Brunswick sufferedif you're a fresh grower, process grower or seeddirector of the Potato Growers of Washington, Inc., the worst drop at 44 per cent. Alberta is down twogrower, most growers understand the negativesays during the potato markets presentation.million hundred weight below historical levels,effect it has in your profitability to plant too manyIt's safe to say that the negotiators are off to and P.E.I. is down 9.1 per cent. In Manitoba andpotatoes and more potatoes than what Northa tough start in the Pacific Northwest. While both Quebec though french fry spud holdings are aboveAmerica requires, MacIsaac explains. the growers and the processors admit that the three-year averages and in Ontario chip potatoThere is also concern about growing conditionsother side has been impacted by the pandemic, stocks are up 22.4 per cent. heading into the planting season. It has been drierit's very, very difficult to get either side to see Seed inventory across the country is four perthan usual in Western Canada with little snow- where each is coming from, Lathim says.cent below the three-year average at 8,360,000pack, meaning there could be a lack of moisture inASHLEY ROBINSONcwt. All four eastern provinces have lower stocksthe ground for planting. Eastern Canada has also 46 SPUDSMART.COM SPRING 2021"