Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission proposed measures on Wednesday to support farmers hit by the coronavirus restrictions, including aid to store surplus dairy and meat products. Under the proposals, the Commission will grant aid for private storage of milk powder, butter and cheese as well as beef, sheep and goat meat for a […] Read more
EU sets out COVID-19 support for farmers
Moves meant to stabilize markets
Local propagation a sweet potato opportunity
Reliance on North Carolina propagators could present challenges for Canadian growers
Ontario’s sweet potato sector might not be large, but researchers at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre says market opportunities in domestic propagation could help drive lucrative growth in the commodity. Why it matters: Existing greenhouse infrastructure could be used to improve domestic sweet potato production. Valerio Primomo, a vegetable breeder with Vineland, is involved […] Read more
Plummeting french fry sales have potato growers re-evaluating
Restaurant closures slash demand, though 'chip sales have been great'
French fry sales are down across North America as tens of thousands of restaurants have closed during COVID-19, meaning the potato industry has to adapt quickly. Companies that turn potatoes into french fries, wedges and hash browns are slowing down, because there isn’t enough space to store all the frozen product. In Alberta and Manitoba, […] Read more
Potato seed handling critical to production
Seed, soil and planter factors contribute to efficient emergence
Potato seed choice and preparation, planter setting, and creating the best seed bed all drive better plant emergence. Steven B. Johnson with the University of Maine told the 2020 Ontario Potato Conference and Trade Show held in Guelph March 5, that managing seed is critical to getting even emergence. Why it matters: Inefficient emergence can […] Read more
Saskatchewan crop insurance deadline pushed to mid-April
Governments offer farmers 'flexibility'
The month-end deadline for Saskatchewan farmers to finalize contracts with the provincial Crown crop insurance agency for 2020 has been moved to April 13. Provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit and federal Ag Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Monday announced the extension on farmers’ deadline to “apply, reinstate, cancel or make changes” to crop insurance contracts. “We […] Read more
Fungicide reductions challenge potato growers
Spraying programs could double in cost in 2020
Regulatory changes by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) are limiting fungicide options for Ontario potato farmers. That means more cost and more chance of resistance, says Darin Gibson with Gaia Consulting Ltd. in Manitoba. He spoke on the topic at the 2020 Ontario Potato Conference held in Guelph March 5. Why it matters: The […] Read more
Crop input availability should be normal despite COVID-19
Farmers should take steps to limit risk of future disruption, says GFO CEO
Barring some changes to business interaction behaviours, producers should be able to access production inputs as usual this growing season – but accessing seasonal labour is another story. Why it matters: Currently, the supply of fertilizer, chemicals, seed, and other inputs remain unaffected by the spread COVID-19 and subsequent mitigation efforts. Keith Currie, president […] Read more
Unseasonal rain, hail damage winter crops in India
Crop quality issues may pressure prices
New Delhi | Reuters — Unseasonal torrential rains and hailstorms have damaged the winter-planted crops of millions of Indian growers, inundating wheat, potato, chickpea and rapeseed farms in large parts of the fertile northern plains, farmers said. Most farmers were caught by surprise by the repeated rain and hail that has lashed fields full of […] Read more
Sandhill Cranes continue to cause damage
A resolution to allow seed treatments for control of Sandhill Cranes was passed at the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association annual meeting. The cranes dig up seeds and other crops such as potatoes and cause significant damage when they stop in North Ontario. Mac Emiry, who farms in the Sudbury district has heard that […] Read more
Making better spraying decisions with low-cost, early fungal disease detection
Spornado is being tested across Canada, especially in higher value vegetable crops
It was a call from a client looking for a low-tech method for early detection of a fungal disease in potatoes that charted a new course for Toronto microbiology lab Sporometrics. The resulting innovation, Spornado Sampler, has been called the first reliable, early alert system for fungal crop diseases that’s available to farmers at an […] Read more
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