Potatoes in Canada

Inching toward a solution

Jack Kazmierski — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:21:08 +0000

Managing common scab is progressing, but a final solution is still in the works.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) estimates that potato common scab disease costs producers more than $17 million dollars a year in economic losses. Common scab disease makes potatoes less appealing to consumers, restaurants, as well as chip and fry manufacturers.

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Embracing technology

Lukie Pieterse — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:20:53 +0000

The rise of smart farming in Canadian potato production.

The global agricultural sector is undergoing a technological revolution, and Canadian potato growers are no exception. Challenges in weather patterns, labour and a rising demand for sustainable practices are prompting growers to turn to smart farming tech to transform their operations.

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Checking the potato pulse

Bree Rody — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:20:37 +0000

Canadian Potato Summit taps into industry and agronomic trends.

Growers can rarely rest on their laurels. Being proactive is better than being reactive. And good things take time to see.

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Uncertainty, resilience and... elephants?

BREE RODY — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:20:13 +0000

This morning, I sat down to rewrite (yes, rewrite – more on that in a moment) this editorial, when I found myself unable to free myself from a certain distraction: there was an elephant in the room (well, cubicle). He kept poking me on the shoulder, saying, “Hey, you’re going to write about that thing, right?” (For the purpose of this story, let’s say elephants can speak English). If only the elephant knew I’d been trying to write about that thing for two weeks – but I keep having to rewrite it.

If you haven’t figured it out, the elephant in the room was insisting I discuss the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. president Donald Trump had been promising to impose on Canadian imports since November. The move affectsthe entire Canadian economy, and potatoes are no exception. Canada is a net exporter of potatoes, and most exports go to the U.S. In total, we had more than $3.1 billion in net exports for 2024, according to Stats Canada.

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Rotations to boost yields and profits

Carolyn King — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:19:49 +0000

A look at alternative crop options for potato rotations in P.E.I.

These days, many Prince Edward Island potato growers are combining their own expertise with practical research results to choose alternative crop rotations focused on achieving their goals for productivity, profitability and sustainability.

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Beating the heat

Carolyn King — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:19:30 +0000

Developing practical strategies to reduce heat stress impacts in Alberta potato crops.

You can’t stop an extreme heat wave as it slams into your region, but you might be able to reduce the harm to your potato crop.

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What makes a potato processing powerhouse?

Jim Timlick — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:19:16 +0000

For Alberta, physical, geogrpahic, economic and even cultural qualities come into play.

With a focus on Canada’s role in the North American and global economy sharper than ever before, those outside of Canada’s borders have begun to take notice – if they haven’t already – of Alberta as oil country. It’s well-known to Canadians, and beyond, that it is home to one of the largest oil reserves in the world.

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