Potato harvest slow on Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island potato growers are being hampered by the elements as they try to harvest the most expensive crop ever planted.

Usually, harvest is half done by Oct. 15, with Oct. 31 being the typical deadline to avoid the risk of frost damage. But so far, October has brought more rain than sun. Fields are drenched and harvest has slowed to a crawl.

Last year in P.E.I., hundreds of acres were either left in the fields or developed problems in storage due to extremely wet weather in August and September. Coupled with an increase in fertilizer prices, many growers didn't even plant a crop this year. Those who did were hoping for that often elusive combination of a good harvest and strong prices.

"It's been really slow going,"says Boyd Rose, chair of the P.E.I. Potato Board. "Other years, I could harvest 30 acres in the time it's taking me now to do 20."

There is still time for the situation to turn around. However, Rose says, the need for dry weather is urgent.