Key indicators for the potato industry on Prince Edward Island and across North America include current holdings and planting projections; and based on numbers discussed at a recent international conference, things look positive for the new season, as Bill McGuire reports for Island Farmer.
Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, returned last week from the ‘crop transition conference’ in Minnesota, held annually by the United Potato Growers groups where industry experts and analysts from Canada and the United States converge.
“We study the supply situation of the old crop relative to what the market needs, and then look at everyone’s projections in anticipation of the new crop coming on, like acres planted. We try to get a handle on the supply-demand situation from old to new,” said Donald.
Donald said early projections are that Prince Edward Island’s (P.E.I.) acreage will be similar or slightly larger this year than last. The same projections are being offered by other potato growing areas like Idaho, Manitoba and Alberta.
Although its early, indications are that potato holdings are tight across North America and the marketplace is placing added demands for more production, according to Donald.
Source: Island Farmer. Read the full story here
Photo: Credit Henry Gartley from Pixabay
