Canada: Potato growers begin their season in uncertainty

The market is unpredictable, so it’s a little harder to predict how many hectares will be available for seed, says farmer Robin Steign , whose farm is in York .

Mr.  Steign typically sells about 30% of his potatoes to the United States. Trade tensions with the United States continue to worry farmers.

He adds that equipment, fertilizer and other supplies cost more, but the price of potatoes, on the other hand, has never really increased much .

The ups and downs of potato demand

Processing plants are paying less for supply contracts this year, according to Greg Donald , executive director of the Potato Marketing Board.

Contracts were concluded at lower prices than last year, which certainly creates a new source of concern , says Mr.  Donald .

Farmer Soleil Hutchinson , who operates an organic farm in Bonshaw , sells all of her produce locally.

We see that local demand is really higher these days because the rates in the United States... That’s it, the demand is higher , says Ms.  Hutchinson .

However, she is concerned about the future of agriculture because a lot of farmland is for sale and rural land prices are high, making it difficult to attract new farmers.

"We should have more support for farms and young farmers who want to start ," says Soleil Hutchinson .

Farmers add that spring is a time of hope, even in these difficult times.