Canada: Growers eye 14-day forecast to bring in potato crop

And with a long range forecast calling for more sun than rain, the Rollo Bay (Prince Edward Island) potato farmer is hoping he’ll be able to get the remainder of his 2012 crop out of the ground. The chair of the United Potato Growers of Canada, Keenan also says consumers can rest assured that the summer drought will not create a spike in the cost of their food.

“We are about 65 per cent complete now (on our farm) and with the 14-day forecast looking pretty good . . . we should complete the harvest without problems,” he said (Oct. 16). “The supply right across the country is slightly reduced overall, but the quality looks excellent.”

Despite losing some early varieties due to lack of water, a beautiful summer provided most growers with a solid crop. Now in mid-October, farmers are harvesting between the bouts of rain and glad the frost has held off. Keenan and his brother Alvin operate one of the largest operations in eastern P.E.I. and some smaller farmers are already wrapping up.

Source: www.atlanticfarmfocus.ca