A provincial survey aims to establish a baseline of data on bacterial soft rots in potato storage and blackleg in fields during the 2024 growing season. The two diseases are common yet the bacterial species responsible are becoming more aggressive, particularly with the Dickeya genus, one of the newer species responsible for blackleg and soft […] Read more
Tag Archives potatoes — page 2
Survey an opportunity to learn about potato diseases
Goal is to uncover more about soft rots and blackleg
Late blight threat forecast is high for potato crops in 2024
Strategies offered at Ontario Potato Conference on how to mitigate the risk
Sometimes Mother Nature provides perfect conditions for late blight, but on-farm mitigation practices can help control it. Reducing late blight risk was the focus of a panel discussion at the Ontario Potato Conference held in Guelph in late February. Why it matters: Late blight has been increasing in potato growing regions in recent years. “We’re […] Read more
Potato wart survey comes back clean
Fungus-fraught P.E.I also gets clean bill of health
Fungus-fraught P.E.I also gets clean bill of health
Canadian potato output rises in 2023
Alberta vaults to first place in provincial potato production
At 32.063 million hundredweight of potatoes this year, Alberta vaulted from third to first place as it improved on the previous year’s crop of 26.813 million. Manitoba moved into second spot from third with its harvest of 29.760 million cwt. following last year’s 26.139 million. Prince Edward Island saw its output reduced in 2023 to 25.813 million cwt. from 27.789 million. In 2023, the trio combined for 68 per cent of Canada’s total potato harvest of 128,801 million cwt.
Feds ask for feedback on potato wart plans
The documents will be used in a new national national management plan
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is asking for feedback on several guidance documents and recommendations related to developing a new national potato wart plan, it said Friday.
McCain launches new predictive ag firm
McCain Foods has formed a new digital agriculture subsidiary, Presia Ag Insights. The move builds on McCain’s 2022 acquisition of a “predictive crop portfolio” from Resson, a Fredricton, New Brunswick firm that uses artificial intelligence to advise farmers on crop management decisions. McCain, in a media release, said the Presia launch is “the result of […] Read more
Cimegra label expansion to help control potato beetles
BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions (BASF) has expanded the Cimegra insecticide label for foliar use on potatoes to control Colorado potato beetles. “Cimegra is a unique product in our insecticide portfolio because it is currently the only Group 30 available on the market,” said Chris Vander Kant, BASF Canada’s corn, soybeans and horticultural crop manager, in […] Read more
At Agribition: Northern community integrates tech, education into market garden
Flying Dust working to improve operation's food distribution
Riverside Market Garden, operated by Flying Dust First Nation, started in 2009 with two people and an old alfalfa field. Today it employs about 20 people, plus summer students; provides food for the community and some wholesalers; and gives youth a chance to learn about agriculture. Over the years the First Nation, just north of […] Read more
Climate change and early dying dominate potato research
Retailers attend open house to inform future purchases
Climate change resiliency and early potato dying studies were highlights of the Aug. 23 Elora Potato Research Open House. Vanessa Currie, University of Guelph potato breeding technician, said the five-year research study on which varieties hold up best under increasing climate pressures was launched this year. Why it matters: The annual potato research open house […] Read more
Kenyan potato producers cultivate Ontario connections
Owners of FreshCrop Ltd. plan to implement lessons learned here
Seven years ago, Chris and Ashley Gasperi planted four acres of potatoes on their idle land in Kenya. Today, their company, FreshCrop Ltd., is one of Kenya’s largest certified seed producers, with thousands of potato producers under contract and now in the process of building a 20-acre french fry processing facility and biofertilizer plant. FreshCrop […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
