The acreage of potatoes in Canada will grow by 5% this year. All segments record an increase. It is especially important that French fries producers have contracted more potatoes. However, the question is whether these extra kilos will come. An extremely long hot and dry period has gripped parts of the country for months.
Western Canada in particular has had to deal with high temperatures and drought. The heat wave can be called historic. The mercury even touched 46,6 degrees. For the first time in the country's history, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees in many places at the end of June. In addition, in many places not a drop of rain has fallen in more than a month. The consequences for agriculture are obviously enormous. For example in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.
5,3% more area
Looking at the land surface, potato cultivation is mainly focused on the cooler and wetter east coast. Yet the prairie states do count in terms of hectares. Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan have the lion's share of the cultivation: more than 60.000 hectares, mainly of French fries potatoes. The east coast is good for 56.000 hectares, including many table and seed potatoes. According to statistics from Stats Canada, the total area will grow 5,3% this year. This means that 7.700 hectares more were planted than in 2020.
The total area of 153.200 hectares is the largest in years and comparable to France, while Canada is 15 times larger! More than 37 million people live there, compared to 67 million in France. It is not without reason that Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia.
More fries potatoes
All market segments show more cultivation. Processors in Canada – but also the US – have added capacity. Potatoes are needed for that. The growing areas are mainly in the hot and dry prairie states. So the question is whether kilos will ultimately be delivered. It should be noted that almost all of these hectares are under pivots or other irrigation systems. Yet this technology also has its limits.
Canada's largest and most famous potato area: Prince Edward Island (PEI) increases slightly by 1% to 34.200 hectares. Manitoba (number 2) is growing no less than 10%. Especially because Simplot has opened a new factory here. Good for almost 3.000 hectares. Alberta is in third place with 3% growth (13 hectares). In French-speaking Quebec, the area is the only one to shrink significantly by almost 3.150%. Good for 6 hectares.
Last year, a small part of the Canadian potato harvest was lost due to the onset of winter weather. This year, crops are already being written off early due to the heat. Water sources are literally drying up and poor quality due to forest fires also affects growing conditions. However, the yield loss due to these weather extremes has not been too bad so far, official sources report. That is why a 14% larger harvest is expected than in 2020. However, insiders expect that this increase will certainly not be achieved in the west.
Less raw material
Factories in North America, on both sides of the borders, are therefore less short on raw materials than previously thought. Thanks to new locations and extra lines, the 14% extra potatoes could certainly be processed, partly due to very good demand for both fries and dried products. This is positive for Europe, given the increasing exports to the continent.