The potato harvest in Canada is almost ready. Weather conditions during the harvest were good in most areas, with the exception of British Columbia, with no frost and heavy rainfall. What can be said about the Canadian potato yield?
Yields are below the multi-year average in the western provinces, above the multi-year average in the central provinces and well above the multi-year average in the eastern provinces, reports the Canadian Association of Potato Growers (UPGC). For Prince Edward Island, the largest growing area with approximately 34.000 hectares, the yield is estimated at 340cwt/acre (approximately 43 tons per hectare). Last year the yield was 250 cwt/acre (approximately 31 tonnes per hectare) and the ten-year average is 288 cwt/acre (approximately 36 tonnes per hectare) according to Statistics Canada data, 2006 was the last year with a comparable high yield.
In New Brunswick, also in the eastern part of Canada, even slightly higher yields are reported at 350 cwt/acre (approximately 44 tons per hectare) compared to 237 cwt/acre (30 tons per hectare) last year, when the area with extreme had to deal with drought.
The further west, the lower the yield
According to the preliminary results, yields in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are around the multi-year average. In Alberta and British Columbia, potato yields are disappointing. This area experienced extreme heat last summer. Yields have lagged behind, especially on plots without irrigation. The UPGC does not provide exact figures, but the organization expects a 10% to 15% lower yield compared to last year, when potatoes in these areas performed above average.