Lingering drought conditions have the potential to affect the New York potato harvest. With the harvest a few weeks away, unless the crop gets water, sizes and yields could be impacted.
“We're at a critical juncture,” said Executive Director of the Empire State Potato Growers, Melanie Wickham. “We need rain. The growers who are able to irrigate will be ok, but we really need rain.”
Harvesting is slated to begin at the end of the month and continue through October, and unless water arrives before then, sizes could be smaller and yields could be lighter. But Wickham said that prospects of a good season are still available, so long as the weather is favorable.
“The main challenge we're facing is getting water to get good yields, but if we get some rain, then we could be ok,” she said. “The next few weeks will be critical. It can be a good year, or it can be one we'll want to forget.”