Manitoba Potato Producers Store Record Crop

Dec 01, 2016

That from Carman-area producer Jason Kehler, who grows about 850 acres of the processing variety for Simplot and McCain.

2016 was a record year for many potato growers thanks to cool, wet weather conditions and an early planting season. However with the large crop, storage has been in issue for many producers.

"We had just enough room," said Kehler. "I ended up having to leave probably about five acres in the field, so we cut it pretty fine. We filled everything up corner to corner, front to back....It's only a good a crop if you can store it."

Kehler says late blight was also an issue for many producers this season.

He notes the industry has seen its ups and downs over the years.

"It fluctuates a little bit with the dollar," he explained. "In the 90's, we were losing some acres, things were a little tough, the dollar was a little stronger. Then into the early 2000's, the dollar backed off a bit and we couldn't grow enough potatoes. Then obviously five or ten years ago we were losing some again. Now, obviously our dollar has backed off again and so production is up."

Source : portageonline.com

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

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