NAPMN predicts 4.1% reduction of potato acreage in Canada in 2010

Bruce Huffaker, editor of North American Potato Market News forecasts the total area planted to potatoes in Canada to be 356,000 acres - 15,100 fewer acres than planted in 2009, a 4.1% reduction. "It exceeds our May acreage forecast by 3,000 acres,"Mr Huffaker said. Processors made several late adjustments to contract volumes, which boosted acreage in some growing areas. Some growers appear to have been unwilling to cut back on acreage, even after fryers reduced Canadian contract volume significantly.

It appears that the Canadian growers will have open potatoes to market this year, at least in New Brunswick, and possibly on PEI, Mr Huffaker said. He expects PEI’s potato acreage to fall slightly short of the 85,000 acres planted in 2009. However, the cuts will be minimal. In New Brunswick, McCain Foods cut 2010 contract volume by 20%. With half of the province’s potato crop devoted to processing potatoes, it would have taken a 10% acreage cut to compensate for the reduced contract volume. There is little evidence to suggest that this year’s acreage reduction is anywhere near that level, Mr Huffaker said. He believes that Alberta’s 2010 potato area declined by 3,500 acres, to 49,000 acres.