In Manitoba, the potato crop is off to a record start - over half the potato acreage has been planted -, but that does not mean potato growers are pleased with how the spring has progressed.
Growers of processing potatoes are still without price contracts from Manitoba's two main processors McCain Foods and Simplot Canada, as well as Cavendish Farms in Jamestown, North Dakota. Simplot has indicated the volumes it's looking for this year. Irrigated volumes have not yet been set by McCain.
Due to oversupply and reduced consumption, potato contract prices have dropped across the continent. McCain told growers earlier that contract volumes in Manitoba would be cut by 15 to 20 percent. However, now the company has told producers to only take home 70 percent of their seed until contracts are negotiated.
Meetings between growers and McCain Foods continue this week. It's expected deals with Simplot and Cavendish Farms will fall into place fairly quickly after a deal is reached with McCain, as McCain is responsible for over two-thirds of the processing in Manitoba.
