Manitoba Potato Yields recover due to one of the warm fall seasons on record

It's unusual to see farm equipment working in Manitoba fields in late November -- but that's exactly what happened this year.

Cool, wet weather dominated Manitoba's growing season, bringing fears that most crops would see a drastic drop in yields. But fears were abated as the wet summer gave way to one of the warmest fall seasons on record.

Potato growers, especially those with processor contracts, were just as relieved as everyone else as they set to work harvesting approximately 79,000 acres planted in the spring.

Tom Gonsalves, business development specialist – potato with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives says his department estimates the cultivated acreage is down by about 2,000 acres over previous years. 

Frost in early October halted harvest with about 1,000 acres of crop left in the ground. Despite the growing problems during the summer, harvest showed a yield of 275 hundred weight per acre, more than making up for the problems.

Warm weather also improved the moisture content of potatoes and their colour, both important characteristics for processors.