Canadá: PEI potato planting passes halfway mark, growers worry about high costs

The conflict in the Ukraine, together with supply chain issues, have pushed prices for fuel and fertilizer up significantly — in some cases double or more.

Ryan Barrett, agronomy lead at the PEI Potato Board, said there is definitely a great deal of concern among growers about whether they will see prices that will offset those costs when it comes time to sell this fall according to www.peicanada.com

In addition to high input costs, Mr Barrett noted many growers are having trouble finding enough workers, causing added stress and workload. Admitting that potato producers tend to be an optimistic lot by nature, he said “they are the least optimistic now than any time I have seen them since I have been in this job.”

That assessment was shared by Lorraine MacKinnon, who is the potato specialist with the Department of Agriculture and Land. She said rising input prices are a major topic she hears in her dealings with producers.

“I have also heard people say ‘I’m going to put in the same acreage as last year and carry on as normal’,” Ms MacKinnon said. “I really hope it is a good season for everybody.”

While it is still too soon to tell, Greg Donald, general manager of the PEI Potato Board, predicts there will likely be a reduction from the 84,000 acres planted last spring. Mr Donald noted seed growers are still not allowed to ship product anywhere in Canada or the United States until all of the testing is completed on the two fields where potato wart was found last October that resulted in tablestock potatoes being kept out of the American market for 20 weeks.