Manitoba Potato producers face challenges

Manitoba potato growers have had a tough go this season, but are pulling through.

The threat of late blight and irrigation issues have taken their toll on potato growers, but the direct delivery season is getting underway.

Some farmers were forced to plant crops a little bit later this year, while flooding forced others to miss out on acres on unplanted farmland, growers have faced some challenges, but farmers should see a healthy harvest for the most part.

Direct delivery harvesting has gotten underway as growers have begun sending their product to the potato processors.

According to the province's August 22 crop report, potatoes are being irrigated and crop yields are expected to be good. Early table potatoes are being harvested on limited acreage.

All three french fry processing plants in Manitoba have begun processing the 2011 potato crop, according to the province's August 22 crop production update. All three plants made the change from processing old crop potatoes that were in storage from the 2010 crop to new crop potatoes that are being dug and hauled into the processing plants. Direct delivery of potatoes to the processing plants will continue. The harvest of the main potato that will go into storage will begin about the middle of September.