The potato area in Canada has increased significantly this year. After a favorable spring, an above-average harvest was expected. Yields are still estimated to be record high in mid-September, but top yields are no longer available everywhere due to weather influences.
Insiders calculate a total potato volume of 5,73 million tons. By comparison, 5,57 million tonnes were harvested last year, according to Statistics Canada. In August, insiders still expected almost 5,8 million tons, but weather influences have tempered yield expectations.
weather influences
In the prairie provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, growing conditions were dry but reasonably good last month. This also applies to British Columbia, a small player in Canadian potato cultivation. The provinces in eastern Canada have had a lot of rain and dark weather, which means growth there has been disappointing. This causes a decrease in expected production.
The largest Canadian potato state, Alberta, also saw the largest percentage increase. Production is estimated to increase by almost a fifth, good for 1,43 million tons of potatoes. This is a record amount. This is partly motivated by a significant increase in area of 2.800 hectares. In Alberta, potatoes are mainly grown for processing and here too, processors have deployed more hectares of potatoes under contract. The hectare yields are estimated at an average of 44,8 tons per hectare. Despite dry and sunny weather this summer, growers have managed to maintain growth with the help of irrigation.
Excessive precipitation on PEI
Manitoba, number two in the rankings, is expected to produce 1,2 million tons of potatoes. Almost 8% more than last year. The area has increased slightly. Here too, the returns are positive. Prince Edward Island (PEI) – number three – produces an estimated 1,18 million tonnes of potatoes. This is slightly less than in 2022, which is mainly due to excessive rainfall this season. Residents of the island braced themselves for the remnants of Hurricane Lee on Sunday, but the damage was extremely limited.
The province of New Brunswick was more affected by the ex-hurricane. In addition to strong winds, which caused many power problems, up to 120 millimeters of rain fell locally in a short time. Potato growers there had already had more than enough rain, which caused quality problems in their crops. This is also the case on PEI.
Risk factor
In the prairie states, the storage harvest has been in full swing since early September. Favorable weather ensures that harvesting proceeds at a smooth pace. On the east coast it's a different story, because rain throws a spanner in the works and the harvest has yet to properly begin. It is estimated that almost 158.000 hectares will be cleared. Ultimately, the weather has the final say. If frost occurs early or excessive rainfall means that not all plots can be cleared. Those are real scenarios.
Expectations for the total harvest size may have been somewhat tempered compared to a month ago, but they remain above average. Especially for potato growers in the prairie states. This will allow Canada to further strengthen its position on the world export market, mainly for French fries.