Wet weather puts damper on spirits of potato growers

ALBERTON - Heavy rain on Sunday and Monday only made things worse for Prince Edward Island's farmers.
"She's just short of a disaster at this point," said Gorrill Produce co-owner Wayne Gorrill.
So far the farm has managed to harvest only 150 acres of its 950-acre potato crop.
On Monday, with water laying between the potato rows, Gorrill had part of his crew installing dual wheels on the tractors, anticipating even heavier going when they finally get back on the fields. They also carried out repairs and modifications on their trucks. Some crewmembers weren't needed at all.
'We're running less than half," said Gorrill.
Unlike the 50 to 60 acres per day harvesting rate other falls, on their best day this year they've managed 28 to 30 acres. After 70 to 90 millimeters of rainfall to start the week and more on the way, Gorrill isn't anticipating an improvement in the digging rate soon.
Elmsdale grower Johnny Wallace estimates he only has 10 per cent of his crop in storage.
He described the crop as fair but admitted he's worried about rot.
"There's going to be a lot of damage," he predicted, pointing out potatoes can't survive being submerged in water.
"End of story right there," he remarked.
Wallace said some growers haven't even started to dig yet.
Brian Beaton, potato specialist with the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture, said it's too early to assess the harm the heavy rainfall will cause but admitted pink rot is a worry. Pink rot exists naturally in the soil and can infect the crop weakened by wet conditions
Beaton said potatoes can drown in water-filled rows. He said farmers might be better off skipping right over the low spots. Otherwise, he said, farmers should be careful to keep those potatoes separate, near the front of the pile.
"We always figure, '50 per cent out by the 15th of October, we're in pretty good shape,'" said Arlington potato grower Allison Dennis, who admits the latest rainfall ruins his chances of meeting that objective.
"That's about the same thing as me getting to the moon before supper," he scoffed.
Only 20 per cent of his crop is out.
Although he described conditions as being "as bad as I've ever seen," Dennis said the season might still be salvageable if a stretch of good weather follows the rain.
But until conditions improve, Dennis knows the harvest will be slow going.
"The machinery is designed to work in mainly dry conditions. It's not designed to work in mud," he said. "It's very discouraging."

Bertie: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:41

JD,

Maybe we should stop subsidizing you living there and force you to move to a place where you don't need handouts from the rest of Canada.

Such hypocricy make these posts funny to read.

Submit a Comment

Mr: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:14

I always thought potatoes were too cheap. I never say that about anything, except maybe for potatoes. Farmers should be able to get more for their product. Just my opinion, I don't want to add more to anyone's grocery bill per se, I just think a 10lb bag of potatoes should go for close to twice what it goes for now. There's a lot of food in a bag of potatoes.

Get Ready For a Bailout: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:57

You new It was coming!!
The Goverment started by bailing out the fisherman so they will have no choice then to help out the farmers.But, keep in mind that the farmers CAN NOT apply for EI like the Fishers.I say help the farmer!To the fisherman, you got your handout this year so don't even think about going against the farmers on this issue!

Island Atheist: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:21

Quiet Observer, I find the term 'act of God' offensive.

This is not the work of an imaginary shy fairy.

Reality: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:26

Bertie from AB:

I'd like to bring to your attention that Alberta oil companies have been indulging in taxpayer subsidies for many, many, many years now; even during the good times. Look it up!

Albertans seem to forget this fact and the fact that the rest of this great country has bailout your province during poor times in the past. Can you say the pot.... Shame on you!...:(

JD: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:08

We all knew it was coming and now we see the ground started.
The Farmers are blaming the weather and so now they will need big bailouts from the taxpayers yet for another year.

We will also see the people who like go on about farmers being the the main reason why PEI even exists.

I expect we will see a few of the farmer huggers going on that if we don't bail them out we will have No food this winter.

I would expect the former Mayor of Georgetown will be quickly diving into this and suggesting we export our wet weather to Japan along with the rest of Mr. Mitchell's beef.

I will say one thing at least the farmers are consistent no matter whether it is good year or bad one they expect money every year.

Check it Out: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:31

I agree with Mr. Cranky. Some retailers are charging $5.97 for 10 lbs of potatoes, and the farmer gets less than 1/3 of this amount (and that's on a very good year). Despite this, retailers try to chisel the farmers down to lower prices, and the price to the consumer will NOT change much. The system is broken. Hog farmers get 48 cents/pound, but have a look at what the stores charge. It's almost criminal.

The farmers in this article are not asking for bailouts, nor did they contact the newspaper. The reporter called them to see how the wet weather impacts them. Why do you have to bash the people who are just trying to make a living while providing food for us all to eat?

Thank you, farmers, and I hope you have a safe harvest.

NOT MY TAX DOLLER: - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:29

NOT ANOTHER BAILOUT NO MORE TAX MONEY (NEVER)

Quiet: - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:50

Excuse me of cynical ones, but I didn't see any mention of these farmers asking for a government bailout.

There is nothing farmers can do about the weather. Nothing. It is irrelevant to price or to market conditions or ant other factor that the farmer may be able to have some affect on it. It is an act of God that the farmer has to take what is handed to him.

Again, read the article. The farmers are not asking for money.

Danni.: - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:32

To ,not my tax dollar,well guess you
don't like potatoes,you would have
potatoes from ONT,NB,QUE,NS,if you do.
Also to Mr good job ,you must work for
prov,fed govt.

good: - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:26

o well thats the way the world goes around just like they say , looks like mother nature and the ((goverment)) got the best of the island , so i just say everyone go and get drunk yehooooooooooooo