Potato Planting Nearing Completion

Jun 01, 2020

Manitoba's potato crop is starting to emerge.

Keystone Potato Producers Association (KPPA) Manager Dan Sawatzky says, on the processed side, planting is basically complete.

He talked about potato acres for this year.

"They're down a little bit from last year. COVID-19 has disrupted our markets, we're guessing around 2,000 acres below last year. One of the processors is up a little bit in volume and acreage and the other one is down."

Sawatzky says at least one processor has made layoffs due to COVID-19. He notes growers are being forced to store potatoes from last year, which can lead to a greater potential for deterioration.

The 2020 potato crop is about a week to ten days behind normal.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.