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There’s no question that commercial potato production has its challenges, and Canadian growers seeking to maximize their yields of top-quality spuds are being advised to stack the deck in their favour by taking steps to mitigate problems before they begin.
“Your highest yield potential is before that potato is ever planted. As soon as you put it into the ground, there are only things taking away from it,” says Justin Dalebozik, Fruit and Vegetable Sales Agronomist for Bayer Crop Science. “Your main priority is to set that potato up to have the best possible growing conditions for the season. You want to put your best foot forward.”
Dalebozik notes the challenges Canadian potato producers grapple with can vary from year to year and from region to region. In some parts of the country, wet soils and cool temperatures in spring can delay emergence, slow growth and increase disease pressure. In others, dry conditions can impact spud quality and yield potential. And let’s not forget the joys of late-spring frosts, which can damage emerging plants, delay maturity, reduce yields and affect uniformity.
Often, it’s the decisions producers make early in the season that have the greatest impact on crop yields and spud quality later in the year. Here are some considerations to start the season off strongly.
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