Potato Archives - Grainews

File photo of 10-pound sacks of potatoes loaded on pallets at a Canadian distribution centre. (PierreDesrosiers/iStock/Getty Images)

Canada’s potato crop edges up in 2022

Alberta up into top spot among potato-producing provinces

By GFM Network News February 9, 2023

MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada (StatCan) issued its potato production report Thursday, which noted a 1.5 per cent increase in the country’s crop in 2022. Across Canada, nearly 122.9 million hundredweight (cwt) of potatoes were harvested last year, with an average national yield of 322.3 cwt/acre on 381,351 acres. Alberta rose from third into the top […] Read more

File photo of a P.E.I. potato field against the backdrop of the Confederation Bridge. (Onepony/iStock/Getty Images)

Crops, Potatoes

P.E.I. testing finds potato wart in another field

Testing stemmed from last October's detection

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News March 9, 2022

Soil samples taken on Prince Edward Island following detections of potato wart last fall have turned up another field with the fungus that causes the disease. The P.E.I. Potato Board on Tuesday said the field in question is near to, and is “directly associated” with, a field where the soil-borne disease was found in October. […] Read more

A tractor-mounted snowblower runs through rows of piled-up surplus potatoes on a field near Victoria, P.E.I., about 35 km west of Charlottetown, on Dec. 20, 2021. The shredded potatoes are expected to break down over the winter as compost. (Screengrab from P.E.I. Potato Board video)

Crops, Markets, Potatoes

Feds put up funds toward managing P.E.I. potato surplus

Ottawa budgets $28 million for distribution and disposal

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News December 21, 2021

Prince Edward Island potatoes locked out of the U.S. export market will go either to food banks or “environmentally-sound” disposal with new federal funding. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Monday announced $28 million “to support the diversion of surplus potatoes, including help to redirect surplus potatoes to organizations addressing food insecurity and support for […] Read more

Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow speaks Nov. 24, 2021 in the House of Commons. (Screengrab from supplied video)

Crops, Potatoes

End date sought for P.E.I. potato export ban

A ban from Washington would be harder to reverse, Liberals say

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News November 25, 2021

The federal Conservatives want to see a clearly defined end zone for the Canadian government’s suspension of Prince Edward Island potato exports to the U.S. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced the suspension of certification for P.E.I. potato exports to the U.S., — a move which, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, […] Read more

Farm Life, FarmLife

Who doesn’t love spuds?

First We Eat: No matter how potatoes are served, most would agree, they are a favourite veggie

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith August 14, 2020

As a dedicated spudnut, I save potatoes for seed. This year I planted Pink Fir Apples, Amarosas, Kennebecs, German Butterballs, Linzer Delikatess, Yukon Golds, Norlands and Purple Vikings. When I dig the first crop, it’s a sign that we’ll be eating spud dishes of all sorts: boxty, champ, shepherd’s pie, colcannon, kugel, latkes, Parmentier, rosti, […] Read more

Cerisa is a yellow-fleshed specialty variety with slightly firmer cooking texture and excellent flavour. Plants produce high numbers of smaller elongated baby potatoes, a favourite in salads.

Farm Life, FarmLife

Singing Gardener: Nutritional benefits of the potato and a little-known way of baking it

Plus, Ted shares more reader feedback

By Ted Meseyton June 11, 2019

Something tells me this intro might appear a little longer than usual. It’s all for good informative reading. Got your sprouted seed potatoes in the ground yet? It’s not too late to plant more! There’ll be a thing or two said about spuds further along. Plus — one method for baking potatoes and some reader […] Read more

Jill Ebbett and Robert Anderson, OYF Atlantic Canada regional finalists, produce quality seed potatoes.

Crops, News, Potatoes

Canada’s OYF: Atlantic nominees

Robert Anderson and Jill Ebbett rely on technology to produce quality seed potatoes

By Angela Lovell November 23, 2018

Since taking over the fifth-generation New Brunswick family farm from his parents in 2000, Robert Anderson and his wife, Jill Ebbett, have focused on technological advancements to help them improve the quality of seed potatoes and other crops, increase productivity and improve soil health. These investments have helped them gain recognition as innovators in their […] Read more

Wireworms are the larval stage of the click beetle.

Crops, Features

Wireworm populations on the rise

Wireworms are a growing concern for the potato industry. Creative controls are needed 

By Julienne Isaacs March 20, 2018

Wireworm populations appear to be on the rise in Western Canada. Wireworm, which is the larval stage of the adult click beetle, affects many crops, including cereals and pulses, but they are particularly damaging to potatoes. Holes created by wireworms can render tubers unmarketable and serve as points of entry for potato pathogens. This pest has […] Read more

Small numbers of potato psyllids were found in Alberta between 2015 and 2017. The insect was found in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 2016.

Crops, Features, Potatoes

Zebra chip pathogen found in Alberta

This colour-changing disease is making  its way to western Canadian potato fields

By Julienne Isaacs March 8, 2018

Zebra chip” is a fun, jaunty name for a potato disease that has nobody in the industry laughing. The disease, which causes harmless but unsightly stripes in potato chips, costs producers millions of dollars annually in New Zealand and the United States. Now the zebra chip pathogen has been found for the first time in […] Read more

Machinery

New potato harvester from Grimme

Brand sees an emerging market for specialty harvester in North America

By Scott Garvey January 4, 2018

Big red Grimme potato harvesters are anything but a common sight here in Canada, but spud growers will likely recognize the name of one of Grimme’s brand subsidiaries, U.S.-based Spudnik, which it acquired in 2003. Spudnik has been a major potato equipment supplier in North America for a long time. The Grimme brand harvesters are […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle markets up ahead of report

U.S. grains: Soybean futures fall after Trump-Xi call

Prairie Wheat Weekly: Western Canadian bids slightly decline

GFM Network News