A hail storm in Ontario and excessive heat in Manitoba are weighing on potato crops, crop updates from both provinces say.
A hail storm on the evening of July 1 damaged potato crops in the Millgrove-Waterdown area of southern Ontario, a July 3 update from the Ontario Potato Board’s Eugenia Banks says. There was also four inches of rain recorded.
Banks notes the potato variety trials suffered minor hail damage and should recover in a week.
In Manitoba temperatures over the week of June 21 to 27 ranged from mid 20 C to 32 C, the July 2 provincial potato report from Manitoba Agriculture’s Vikram Bisht says. The following week recorded temperatures in the mid-30 C range.
“Irrigation is needed to make up the crop water demand, not met due to less rainfall in the week,” Bisht says.
Crops are in different stages of tuber formation with it being a critical time for supplemental irrigation, Bisht notes. There have been minor reports of blackleg, early blight and PVY-like symptom.
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