Alberta
By: Terence Hochstein, executive director of Potato Growers of Alberta
With the calendar now reading 2024 it’s time to reflect back on the past year. 2023 turned out to be Alberta’s largest crop on record. For the first time, over 80,000 acres were planted in the spring. Despite the drought that plagued the southern prairies, the province harvested an excellent crop. An open fall and excellent weather allowed growers to store one of the best crops that many had ever experienced.
Crop year 2023 returned to a more normal weather pattern for the seed industry with necessary rains throughout the season, including leading up to harvest. This resulted in an excellent seed crop going into storage. The demand for the Alberta seed continues to grow with some early season seed having already been delivered in the fall. Shipping will resume early in 2024 to some of the export customers.
With the announcement last spring of the McCain Foods processing plant expansion in Coaldale, Alta. the Alberta industry will continue to grow over the next couple of years. With this growth comes an opportunity for new farms to enter the potato industry. As of right now, the planned start-up of the new plant is still on target for June, 2025.
The storage crop so far is storing well and all processors have indicated that they have more than enough crop to get them through to the crop year 2024 harvest.
With spring on the horizon, the process of contract negotiations has begun in earnest across North America. The long and arduous process takes many hours and days but, in the end, is a very necessary process that keeps this industry moving forward.
British Columbia
By: Hugh Reynolds with Reynalda Farms in Delta, B.C.
British Columbia has a good supply of regular potatoes to last us into the summer. This hasn’t been a normal year. Variety trials have been held annually with continued improvements in the quality of appearance, yield and combined with season long good weather.
The scientific analysis of variety testing is done over the winter and presented to growers in the early spring. Attendance at these meetings is critical to the yearly insights that can be incorporated into plans for the upcoming year. The meetings are followed by a social evaluation of the presentations.
There will always be some provincial cross border traffic of potatoes with a local retail chain routinely carrying Prince Edward Island stock. Our main advantage is to normally plant Warbas in March and lift in May before most Canadian potatoes emerge.
The weather in B.C. remains odd with mild temperatures and the mountains without snow. Our Mediterranean climate is dependent on snow melt as it seldom rains for us in the summer.
Manitoba
By: Susan Ainsworth, general manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association
Despite a later spring and below average rainfall, the above temperatures in May and June coupled with nearly ideal growing conditions in July resulted in excellent yields that surpassed many growers’ expectations. The increased production in 2023 is a welcome change compared to the last few years.
Digging conditions were favourable with only a few minor storage issues reported during the early storage season. A larger size profile coupled with a mature, high gravity crop has resulted in some challenges with bruising in certain instances, however quality and storability on a whole look very good at this time. Seed potatoes are showing excellent quality and are storing well with no issues.
A grading workshop hosted by the Keystone Potato Producers Association (KPPA), including Ag World demonstrations, was held in late November and was well attended. Additionally, the KPPA annual general meeting was held on Dec. 12, 2023. Negotiations for the 2024 crop are planned to begin in late January/early February. Manitoba Potato Production Days happened Jan. 23 to 25, 2024. There were over 85 exhibitors on the tradeshow floor and a speaker schedule filled with interesting topics.
Ontario
By: Kevin Brubacher, manager of the Ontario Potato Board
The 2023 harvest in Ontario concluded in a timely manner, however extremely warm conditions for a few days slowed digging for some across the province. This season Ontario growers were fortunate to receive ample precipitation across all growing areas. In some areas excess moisture caused disease pressure and late blight in isolated instances. Production is up as a result of above average yields.
Due to wet conditions coupled with higher-than-normal temperatures at harvest we have seen some isolated incidents of breakdown in storage. Growers have done an excellent job of working through trouble areas and minimizing losses. Dec. 1 storage holdings show that there should be adequate supply to fill our markets through to new crop.
The Ontario Potato Board held a successful 48th annual general meeting on Dec. 6, 2023. Attendance was our highest ever with industry representatives from all across Canada. The keynote speaker this year was Chris Koch presenting “If I Can”. For those of you that don’t know, Koch and his story is one I suggest you look it up. He’s an inspiration and a wonderful speaker. Thank you to all our growers, industry representatives and those from out of province for your contribution to a great day.
The annual Ontario Potato Conference hosted by Eugenia Banks will once again be held in Guelph, Ont. at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre. The conference will be held Thursday, Feb. 29, 2023. This event will be highly informative with a lineup of speakers you don’t want to miss. Everyone is welcome to attend this event, please contact the Ontario Potato Board at (519) 846-5553 or email [email protected] for information on how to register.
Prince Edward Island
By: John Visser, chair of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board
Prince Edward Island has completed a successful harvest season, harvesting approximately 98 per cent of total planted acreage, despite challenging conditions in the final weeks of harvest. Yields ranged from average to above average, varying across the province, but very positive overall. The growing season presented challenges early-on of drought-like conditions and changing mid-season to surplus moisture. Despite the variability in the weather conditions, the harvested crop offered both favourable quality and yields.
In the processing sector, growers across P.E.I. report sufficient yields to fulfil their contracted obligations. In addition, there will be some open volume available of processing varieties for fryers of the Atlantic northeast. Processing quality parameters such as colour, specific gravity and size profile are scoring at average or above-average levels.
For the fresh market, concerns arose over the large crop in western North America. Below average crops in regions surrounding P.E.I., coupled with P.E.I.’s proximity to their markets has mitigated the impact. While wet harvest conditions may stress some storages, growers are diligently monitoring and optimizing crop usage. Prices, though softer than last year’s highs, remain strong. Recent movement was boosted by Thanksgiving and Christmas sales, and the usual post-holiday lull is anticipated.
Post-harvest test results have been excellent thus far in the testing completed. P.E.I. experienced high aphid populations in 2022, contributing to higher virus pressure in seed harvested. The virus cap was maintained and not adjusted. In 2023, growers focused on management practices for maintaining the integrity of high-quality seed.
The annual P.E.I. Potato Industry Awards Banquet was held on Nov. 24, 2023, recognizing influential participants of the Island’s potato industry. Individuals acknowledged for their substantial contributions included Ray Keenan with Rollo Bay Holdings, Andy Walker who is a retired Island farmer, and Brenda Simmons and MaryKay Sonier — both of whom retired in 2023 from the P.E.I. Potato Board.
The International Potato Technology Expo is scheduled for Feb. 22 to 23 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. This is a great opportunity for all industry members to explore cutting-edge technologies, network with industry experts and stay updated on the latest developments in potato technology and agriculture.
New Brunswick
By: Matt Hemphill, executive director of Potatoes New Brunswick
The potato crop in New Brunswick faced significant challenges this year primarily due to excessive rainfall. The excessive rain led to waterlogged fields, hindering proper potato growth and reduced yields and quality.
Compounding these weather-related challenges, the poor payables on the processing crop added financial strain to potato farmers in New Brunswick. Insufficient returns for their efforts and investments in cultivating potatoes for processing created economic difficulties, affecting the sustainability of potato farming operations in the region.
This combination of adverse weather conditions and financial constraints posed a dual threat to the potato industry in New Brunswick, emphasizing the need for support and adaptive strategies to mitigate the impact on both the agricultural and economic aspects of the sector.
Quebec
By: Sarah-Maude Larose-Lavallée, project officer for Les Producteurs de pommes de terre du Québec
Ideal digging conditions helped alleviate the pressure exerted from the heavy rainfalls received this summer. Low lying areas and drown outs were left unharvested. For some, a significant drop in yield was observed most likely due to nutrient leaching from excessive rainfall. Overall quality in heavier soils is somewhat down from past years, with more growth cracks, hollow hearts, misshapen potatoes present. Lower yields, lower pack out rates and storage issues are raising concerns over supply tightness. Seed potato quality and supply is also a concern due to the growing conditions. Our annual seed day will be held on Feb. 15, 2024 in Quebec City.
As a significant portion of the crop required specific attention going into storage to mitigate spoilage, processors and packers are utilizing the stored raw to the best of their abilities. However, holding numbers show that utilization is higher than expected. The industry is working together to move the crop as our thoughts begin to look toward spring.
Saskatchewan
By: Anita van Loon, administrator of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association Inc.
Generally speaking, the potato harvest in Saskatchewan this past fall was decent. Weather was cooperative and most growers have been reporting average yields, to slightly above average yields on some varieties. Seed quality is very good.
The fall and first part of winter have been unusually mild in Saskatchewan. Some growers reported having to run refrigeration until mid-November to adequately cool storage bins.
Hopefully we will soon see some moisture on the ground. Most potato growing regions in the province have had very little or even no snow accumulation.
The growers and staff of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association wish all potato growers and industry personnel across Canada a happy new year. May 2024 be safe and productive for all of us.
