Latest estimate of the Canadian potato crop

Potato Production in Canada for the year 2021, is estimated at 123,054,000 hundredweight. This is up 18.9 million hundredweight or 18.2% above 2020 (which had very low production in the two Eastern provinces). Higher production was expected as Canadian growers responded to increased demand,(particularly processing), and expanded acreage by 26,500 acres to meet those needs.
 

Canadian yields increased to 322cwt./acre from 293cwt./acre in 2020. Excellent harvest conditions allowed almost 99% of the planted crop to be harvested this year. See the following for regional details: Canadian Crop Report December 7, 2021

Statistics Canada has estimated Canadian Potato Production in 2021 to be 123,054,000 hundredweight. This is up 18.2% or 18,990,000 hundredweight below the 2020 crop. Yields climbed to 322.2cwt./acre making it the highest yield on record. Seasonal growing conditions were excellent in the four Eastern provinces but very hot and dry for the potato crop in Western Canada.

Comments on individual provinces are below:

Prince Edward Island:

Stats Canada estimates production at 28,510,000 hundredweight, up 35.8% from last year’s 21,000,000cwt. (a crop that suffered from a severe drought). Yield per acre is estimated at 334cwt./acre making it the highest yield on record.

An excellent growing season was responsible for a big portion of the increased production. PEI had the largest planted acreage in Canada with 86,000 acres reported this year and the province produced 23% of Canadian Production. Nova Scotia:

Production is estimated to be up 19% above 2020, at 357,000 hundredweight. Estimated yields of 310cwt./acre are up substantially from last year’s 250cwt./acre. Planted acreage stayed the same as last year at 1,200 acres.

New Brunswick:

New Brunswick had the largest percentage increase in potato production over last year, at 58.3%. Stats Canada estimates NB production at 18,200,000 hundredweight compared to 11,500,000 hundredweight in the drought a year ago.

Excellent growing conditions provided yields of 350cwt./acre compared to last year’s 237cwt./acre. NB growers planted 53,000 acres in the spring, an increase over 2020, to meet the needs of their local processor, but similar to the two years previous. Unharvested acreage was 1,000a.

Quebec:

Statistics Canada estimates production in the province of Quebec at 14,587,000 hundredweight, an increase of 14.4% over 2020. It is also estimated that yields have risen from 286cwt./acre in 2020 to 307cwt./acre in 2021 thanks to a great growing season.

Quebec growers increased their acreage in the spring by 2,385 acres to meet increased demand for both fresh and process. It is estimated 800 acres were not harvested due to wet weather at the end of digging.

Ontario:

Stats Canada estimates Ontario’s production to be 8,953,000 hundredweight or 19.1% above year-ago figures. The additional 1.4 million hundredweight is the result of an excellent growing season and increased acreage.

Yields are reported at 240cwt./acre compared to 210cwt./acre one year ago. Harvest became difficult at the tail end and Stats Can estimates 1,022 acres were left in the field due to wet weather. Acreage in the spring had increased by 1,800 acres mostly for increased chip volume.

Manitoba:

Manitoba’s production is estimated at 24,180,000 hundredweight which is almost equal to last year’s 24,000,000 hundredweight. Hot dry weather, unfortunately, lowered the yield to 310cwt./acre from last year’s 337cwt./acre and 346cwt./acre from the previous year.

Growers had increased their acreage in the spring by 7,000 acres to 78,000 acres, in hopes of fulfilling the needs of their new processing plant. Manitoba harvested 100% of their crop and represents 19.6% of Canada’s production this year.

Saskatchewan:

Production is estimated at 1,519,000 hundredweight, 8.5% above last year. Yields moved up to 245cwt./acre from last year’s 233cwt./acre. Growers planted 6,200 acres in the spring and harvested all of their crops.

Alberta:

Stats Canada estimates Alberta increased its production by 5.2% or 1,207,000 million hundredweight in 2021 bringing production up to 24,614,000 hundredweight. Alberta produced 20% of Canada’s production this year. Unfortunately, the growing season was a hot dry one, reducing yields to 363cwt./acre, one of the lowest for Alberta in recent years.

Growers had increased their acreage in the spring by 8,700 acres to 68,450 acres to meet the increased needs of their processing expansion and also demand for their seed production. Stats Can estimates 650 acres were not harvested this year, some from spring drown outs.

British Columbia:

Stats Canada estimates production in British Columbia to be down 3.5% from 2020. Total production is expected to come in at 2,080,000 hundredweight. Yields of 325cwt./acre were slightly below last year’s record-breaking 332cwt./acre.

Harvest became difficult at the end due to heavy rains, however, Stats Canada estimates only 100 acres were not harvested out of the 6,500 acres planted.