Potatoes in Canada

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UPGC: Provincial potato production breakdown

December 12, 2019  By United Potato Growers of Canada


Overall, potato production was up across the country but not up to par with industry’s expectations to meet expansion demands. Despite this, potato yields have improved.

The United Potato Growers of Canada provided a provincial breakdown of Canada’s potato production in 2019:

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Prince Edward Island

  • Average 2019 yield: 300 cwt./acre
  • Production is up by 2.5 per cent from the five-year average
  • An estimated 1,500 acres were left unharvested, less than the 6,800 left in 2018

The country’s largest potato growing province faired better than last year due to improved yields and a better fall for harvesting. There were higher yields in the western part of the province, however excess rain from Hurricane Dorian, also resulted in some unharvested acres in that area.

Statistics Canada estimates that P.E.I. left 1,500 acres in the field, a substantial improvement over last year’s abandonment of 6,800 acres. Yields are estimated at 300 cwt./acre, above the five-year average of 293 cwt./acre. Some of the earlier harvested varieties were lighter than the provincial average. Overall production is estimated at 25,200,000 hundred weight, an increase of 2.5 per cent above the five-year average.

Nova Scotia

  • Average 2019 yield: 260 cwt./acre
  • Production is up by 1.7 per cent from the five-year average

Yields for one of the country’s smaller producers are estimated at 260 cwt./acre, which is below the five-year average of 272 cwt./acre. Production on the 1,600 acres in N.S. is estimated to be 416,000 hundred weight.

New Brunswick

  • Average 2019 yield: 311 cwt./acre
  • Production is up by 10 per cent from the five-year average
  • An estimated 100 acres were left unharvested, a sharp decrease from the 1,000 acres left behind in 2018

The 2019 potato crop appears to have been good in the country’s fourth largest producing province. New Brunswick growers planted an additional 1,000 acres in the spring to meet processing volume expansions, as the industry shifts to growing less table and seed potatoes in the province. Like most areas, planting was delayed in the spring, but the crop caught up throughout the season.

Yields are estimated at 311 cwt./acre, above the five-year average of 305 cwt./acre. Quality has improved over last year’s results. Officials feel only 100 acres went unharvested this fall, in comparison to 2018 which saw 1,000 acres left out. Overall estimated production is estimated to be 16,400,000 hundred weight, up from last year and above the five-year average of 14,914,000 hundred weight, an increase of 10 per cent.

Quebec

  • Average 2019 yield: 299 cwt./acre
  • Production is up by 6.8 per cent from the five-year average
  • An estimated 385 acres were left unharvested

After a delayed planting season, the potato crop in Quebec experienced a hot and dry summer, however, growers feel their crop turned out very well with good yields, at 299 cwt./acre.

After a slight increase of 2.4 per cent in planted acres this spring, to meet industry expansions, the overall production is estimated at 12,739,000 hundred weight, an increase of 6.8 per cent above the five-year average. For the most part, the province escaped cool harvest temperatures, allowing most of the crop to be harvested (with the exception of 385 acres), in
comparison to 2018 where 1,730 acres were left out during the winter.

Ontario

  • Average 2019 yield: 200 cwt./acre
  • Production is down by 10.7 per cent from the five-year average
  • An estimated 500 acres were left unharvested

Ontario growers experienced a break in their planting schedule as rain delayed the finish, with planted acres very similar to one year ago. The hot summer temperatures challenged growth of potato plants, however crops did well for summer fresh growers and early processing fields. The bigger storage area in the province was very dry even with access to irrigation.

Statistics Canada estimates the yield at 200cwt./acre, below the five-year average of 217 cwt./acre. Harvest was a tough one and industry officials estimate 500 acres were not harvested, which would be double of 2018. Overall production is estimated at 6,705,000 hundred weight, a decrease of 10.7 per cent below the five-year average of 7,509,000 hundred weight.

Manitoba

  • Average 2019 yield: 346 cwt./acre
  • Production is down by 6.9 per cent from the five-year average
  • An estimated 13,000 acres were left unharvested, more than double the 5,300 acres left in 2018.

After coming out of a difficult harvest season in 2018, Manitoba growers were optimistic to be planting a new crop in 2019. Planted acreage increased by 9.2 per cent or 5,900 acres to meet some of the needs of the new J.R. Simplot French fry factory scheduled to open in Portage La Prairie, Man. in January 2020.

The growing season was a hot, dry one, but growers were able to get enough water on the crop for good canopies. As the crop headed toward maturity, stands looked excellent with the potential to even surpass last year’s record yields. Unfortunately, the rains which could have been used earlier in the season, started coming in copious amounts just as harvest was beginning, waterlogging soils and bogging down equipment.

As growers waited for heavier soils to dry out, they were hit by a major blizzard on October 10. After another delay, growers went back after two weeks and dug what they could but had to give up on October 26 as the ground froze for winter. The resulting abandonment is estimated at 13,000 acres. The Canadian industry sympathizes with this extremely tough situation for Manitoba growers who also had to leave 5,300 acres in that province last year.

Seed and table producers were able to harvest most of their crop with difficulty, but the processing sector is deeply affected, not only by field losses, but also with the challenges within storages to maintain this inventory. Manitoba’s overall production is estimated at 19,700,000 hundred weight, or 6.9 per cent below the five-year average of 21,154,000 hundred weight. Yields on the harvested acres are estimated at 346 cwt./acre, similar to last year but above the five-year average of 336 cwt./acre.

Saskatchewan

  • Average 2019 yield: 250 cwt./acre
  • Production is down 6.9 per cent from the five-year average
  • Saskatchewan producers had fortunate harvests, no significant amount of unharvested acres

After a hot, dry summer in Saskatchewan with very little rain since planting, the province received one to three inches all at once. The moisture provided good growing conditions for the potato crop and yield and quality for the predominately seed growing region appeared much better than in 2018.

Yield is estimated at 250 cwt./acre. Saskatchewan producers were fortunate to miss all the
weather-related harvested issues occurring in the provinces on either side of them and were able to harvest most of their crop. Overall production is estimated by Statistics Canada to be 1,500,000 hundred weight.

Alberta

  • Average 2019 yield: 382 cwt./acre
  • Production is up 8.8 per cent from the five-year average
  • 4,385 unharvested acres

In the spring of 2019, Alberta growers planted an additional 10 per cent or 5,600 acres to meet expanding seed markets and also to accommodate the volume increases required by the new Cavendish Farms French Fry plant that opened in Lethbridge, Alta. in October.

The growing season was hot and dry in the southern processing area of the province, in comparison to cool and wet in the northern seed growing area. The processing crop in the southern region was subject to a damaging hailstorm on August 6 affecting approximately 3,500 acres.

With a good average crop potential, harvest also became a challenge for Alberta growers as an early season snowstorm moved through the Taber area on September 28 with 30 per cent of the crop still to be harvested.

After almost three weeks with no harvesting and dipping temperatures, growers went back and dug another 3,000 acres before winter settled in on October 18. As a result, 4,385 acres
were left out, comprising 3,200 acres destined for processing and  1,185 for table and seed.

Fortunately, most of the seed grown in the northern region got harvested before cool weather set in. Statistics Canada estimates Alberta yields at 382 cwt./acre, below the five-year average of 388 cwt./acre, and last year’s record breaking 408 cwt./acre. Overall production is estimated at 21,718,000 hundred weight, or 8.8 per cent above the five-year average.

British Columbia

  • Average 2019 yield: 325 cwt./acre
  • Production up 14.6 per cent from the five-year average
  • Only 100 acres not harvested

Although the spring started off a bit cool the season turned out to be an excellent one for growing potatoes in B.C. Strong stands provided yields of 325 cwt./acre which is above the five-year average of 292 cwt./acre.

Although there was above average rainfall in September most growers had their crop out by the second week of September leaving only about 100 acres not harvested. Statistics Canada estimates overall potato production in British Columbia at 2,145,000 hundred weight, up 14.6 per cent from the five-average of 1,871,000 hundred weight.


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