b'eyeMANITOBA PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDDan Sawatzky, general manager, Wayne Townshend, board chairman of theKeystone Potato Producers Association Prince Edward Island Potato BoardMild weather has been the story of the winter in Manitoba to this point. InThe drought of 2020 was the big potato story in Prince Edward Island for this the first week of January, we are seeing temperatures 10 C above normal. Thepast season and has implications for all sectors of the industry. Canadian warm temperatures should relate to better ability to store the potato crop.production numbers show potato volume in P.E.I. down almost 14 per cent, al-More ability to bring in fresh air along with less condensation from extremethough this is variable with the south-central area of the Island most severely outside temperatures allows for a better environment to optimize potato stor- affected. Fortunately, very few acres were left unharvested this season and age management. Along with the ideal harvest conditions, we are surprisedquality is good.by the storage issues which have been popping up. Fortunately, we have notTable stock shipments are ahead in both domestic and United States mar-become overwhelmed as the processors have been able to address the issueskets so far this year and prices are comparable to last year or slightly higher. in a timely manner. It is expected shipments will level off after the holidays as dealers balance The harvest ended in the first week of October for the processing side oftheir supplies to keep their regular retail customers supplied throughout the the industry and by mid-month the table potato crop was also safely in theremainder of the shipping season. Demand for different size packs continues bin. For many farms, the harvest was completed in record time despite theto vary depending on the food service activity. potential of the new threat of interference from the COVID-19 pandemic. AProcessing markets are still very volatile as the COVID-19 pandemic is late start to planting, along with a few weeks of heat reaching above 30 Cresulting in various lockdown measures across Canada and the U.S. This shortened the yield potential. An overall dryer than normal summer kept thevolatility is expected to continue through the winter and will make contract irrigation equipment running until harvest. The drought continued this yearnegotiations challenging. As the COVID-19 vaccines roll out in 2021, we hope throughout harvest, opposite of the last two years, which allowed the crop tothat will bring some stability to processing markets for the 2021 crop. be harvested in good condition. With fall rains and very little snowfall to date,With reduced production in 2020 it is expected seed supplies in eastern we will need additional moisture to begin next years cropping season. Canada will remain tight for the 2021 planting season. Processing potato yields were off by an average of 15 per cent, which hasThere is a tremendous list of winter meetings and conferences which are left processors short of their needs and has necessitated the importationplanned as virtual events in the early part of 2021. This is a good opportunity of raw potato supply. With the pandemic continuing to have the potential tofor growers to take in some events from different production areas as well as bring instability in market demand, we continue to work with our processors tothose with more local application. monitor their requirements.This will be a different winter for everyone as we continue to deal with Although farming operations continue providing food for the world despitethe changes brought upon us by COVID-19 and we join everyone across the the COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic adjustments and fatigue are a reality.country in hoping for a more positive 2021.We have missed connecting together as an industry through the summer golf tournament and other events such as our annual meeting, Manitoba Potato Production Days, the United Potato Partners Seminar/spring production meeting and other area grower meetings. Zoom, although a helpful tool is not the same. We are looking forward to the time we can connect with each other on a personal basis.66 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2021'