Another Ag Industry Hit Hard by COVID-19

Potatoes are a staple for many in our country but with the COVID-19 pandemic, Alberta's potato industry is being hurt.

 

Southern Alberta's three major potato processors, Cavendish Farms, McCain Foods, and Lamb Weston, have cut the total size of contracted acreage this spring by 20 to 25 percent.  All three companies site plummeting sales, mainly in french fries, as the determining factor.  The cause of this is the restrictions and closures in the restaurant industry. The non-profit industry group Potato Growers of Alberta says that the processors have either shut down or are preparing to do so as they have no room in their freezer storage.  Many farmers are concerned as they have crop from 2019 yet to be sent to the processors.  

Video: Seed Storage: Protecting Quality from Harvest to Planting

Protecting seed quality starts in the field and continues through storage until planting — that was the focus of the Spud Smart–NAPSO webinar with Leroy Salazar, Amanda Wakasugi and Bill Crowder. Speakers stressed that vine kill timing, harvest conditions (soil moisture, pulp temperature), and minimizing mechanical damage set the stage for successful storage; modern buildings, calibrated sensors, VFD-controlled airflow,

rapid field-heat removal, and tight temperature uniformity then preserve seed quality. Ongoing monitoring for hot spots, condensation and early issues, plus sanitation and variety-specific handling, keep losses low and seed viable for shipping or cutting.