Kevin MacIsaac, general manager at the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) released the latest crop report on the current Canadian potato crop situation today. From information published in the report it is clear that most provinces are reporting lower than average yields at this stage of harvest, as well as lower tuber sets and in some areas lower size profiles, while prices are reportedly higher in Prince Edward Island.
Nature is not kind to growers in some areas. Rain finally came in the last week for Prince Edward Island growers, but it was much too late, MacIsaac reports. Yields will definitely be below average again this year in Canada’s major potato producing province.
Harvest has been stalled in Alberta, with snowfall amounts at Calgary airport reported at 35 cm on October 2nd. Low temperatures of minus 8 degrees in the Edmonton area and minus 4 Celsius in the Taber area have been concerning as well.
In general the size profile is smaller and percentage of jumbo or oversize tubers is not expected to exceed 25% in Quebec.
The 2-week forecast for Manitoba continues to call for single digit temperatures with rain and snow, but if harvest can be completed and storage issues avoided, supply will be adequate for processing needs.
Below is the full report issued by the UPGC:
Prince Edward Island:
The summer of 2018 has been extremely dry, and poor growing conditions continued in the month of September. Some early variety fields had started to show their age early due to stressful growing conditions. Tuber set appears to be down and sampling throughout the season showed the crop to be almost 2 weeks behind normal. The crop needed an open fall with favourable growing conditions and extended time to allow late season varieties to bulk up. Unfortunately most areas of PEI experienced a very early vine killing frost frost on September 24th with temperatures dipping below 0 to -1 degrees Celsius. Growth in many green fields of Russet Burbank’s was halted. Rain finally came in the last week but it was too much, too late! Some areas received over 100 mm. Yield and quality is expected to be quite variable across the Island. It is still too early to get a handle on overall yield, however it will definitely be below average again this year and less than last year’s yield of 284cwt./acre. The main harvest in PEI has only been in progress for two days after being stalled by rain this week so at press time about 10% has been harvested. Shipments of new crop are going at a similar pace with prices above last year.
New Brunswick:
After a hot dry growing season yields appear to be coming in below last year. Tuber set is down providing fairly good size on the earlier varieties, but also lower tonnage. Some fields with a higher set do have more tonnage. The quality does not seem as good as last year, with issues of hollow heart, off type, and smalls. The higher dockage is also a contributing factor to overall lower yields. Early Shepody harvest has been disappointing with hollow heart dockage. In a reverse pattern this year the lower St John River Valley received better moisture levels than the Grand Falls area and as a result yields appear higher in Carleton County than Victoria County. Russet Burbank quality seems a little rougher and hollow heart is prevalent. Size profile also appears smaller on Russet Burbank, as the crop needed additional rainfall to complete tuber bulking. New Brunswick also received early freezing temperatures on September 24th with weather stations in Grand Falls reporting -6.5 degrees and Woodstock reporting -4 degrees Celsius. Last year’s yield came in at 294cwt./acre – this year’s appears to be lower with a very wide range of reported yields. At press time, harvest is about 45% complete.
Quebec:
The potato crop in Quebec has experienced a hot and dry summer, which has lowered, both yield and size profile compared to a year ago. A killing frost occurred this week in the Saguenay and Lac-St.-Jean area eliminating any further growth. In general the size profile is smaller and percentage of jumbo or oversize tubers is not expected to exceed 25%. Although some rain was received in September, it came too late for varieties like Goldrush resulting in a smaller size. Quebec growers have considered asking CFIA to extend the minimum size grade requirement from 2.25 inches to 2-inch minimum. Some non-irrigated regions have now experienced two dry seasons. Areas like Bas-St-Laurent are plunged into a catastrophic situation and will need to ask the government for help through the AgriRecovery Program. Other regions such as Lac-St-Jean have yields equal to, or better than last year. Last year’s yield was 306 cwt./acre. An estimate at this time would be 285 cwt./acre, a decrease of 7%. Harvest as of today is 50% complete in the eastern and northern regions and reaching 75% in the more Southern Regions.
Ontario:
The hot summer temperatures (both night and day) reduced the yield even in irrigated fields. Processing yields range from below average to average. A few cases of heat necrosis and/or calcium deficiency due to drought and heat stress have been reported. Harvest of the processing crop into storage began on September 10th with favourable conditions allowing a non-stop harvest and storages filling fast. However fall arrived at the end of September and the harvest has been slowed this week by rain and cool weather. The weather outlook for the next 7 days is poor with rainy and cool weather expected. Process acres are 62% harvested (about 12 days behind normal) and soil is wet. The hot summer temperatures also affected the yield of the fresh market crop, and the early crop has been cleaning up in an orderly manner with good quality. Some fresh growers are done harvesting while others are at the 60-75% mark.
Manitoba:
Harvest in Manitoba has been one of the most challenging ever. Following a hot dry summer everything changed during the second week of September. Rain began and the temperature has been locked in a pattern of being 8 to 10 degrees below normal. Harvest into storage has been delayed as rain and wet conditions prevent good progress. Rainfall amounts ranged between 4 to 6 inches without sunshine or warmth to help conditions. The first hard frost of minus 6 Celsius on September 29th resulted in minimal tuber damage on green fields but did nip potatoes close to the surface on others. The Oct 4th overnight temperatures of minus 9 damaged some areas that lacked in snow cover. The 2-week forecast continues to call for single digit temperatures with rain and snow. Progress varies from farm to farm with a handful completed to some at less than 30% harvested. Overall estimate is 70% completion. The yield is variable but overall surprising. If harvest can be completed and storage issues avoided, supply will be adequate for processing needs.
Saskatchewan:
After a hot, dry summer in Saskatchewan the weather has moved to another extreme. The first killing frost was on September 4th however temperatures dropped as low as -11 degrees Celsius this week. Snowfall may have prevented tuber damage, however, growers were not so fortunate with another day reaching – 9.8 Celsius with no snow cover. Harvest is stalled and at press time many producers have only one third of their acreage harvested.
Alberta:
Like other western provinces, after a hot dry summer, Mother Nature challenges growers to finish their harvest operations before abnormally cool and snowy conditions set in. Harvest has been stalled, with snowfall amounts at Calgary airport reported at 35 cm on October 2nd. Low temperatures of minus 8 degrees in the Edmonton area and minus 4 Celsius in the Taber area have been concerning as well. Yields on the crop already harvested to date, have been average to slightly above, so far. The processing crop is about 85% harvested. The seed crop is average at best with a smaller size profile. Seed harvest is about 75% complete.
British Columbia:
The harvest started out a bit dry, but an excellent period of harvest weather allowed about 80% of the crop to get harvested. However conditions changed in mid September with heavy rain moving into the province. The last 10% of the acreage will be a struggle to harvest with very wet soil conditions. Yields have been good with 300 cwt./acre an estimate at this time. This would be above last year’s 285cwt./acre.
For more information, contact Kevin MacIsaac: Kevin@unitedpotatocanada.com
