Articles
TRENDS IN COMMERCIAL AND SEED POTATO PRODUCTION IN NORTH AMERICA AND EXPECTED FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Article number
213_11
Pages
95 – 104
Language
Abstract
Commercial potato production in North America has seen major reductions in hectarage, combined with marked increases in yields.
At the same time production areas have shifted west, particularly to Idaho, Oregon and Washington, where very large farms, completely mechanized and irrigated, are the norm.
In Canada trends in production are similar, but irrigation is not widely used and expanded hectarage is mainly confined to seed production in the maritime provinces.
Seed potato exports are an important part of the agricultural economies of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
At the same time production areas have shifted west, particularly to Idaho, Oregon and Washington, where very large farms, completely mechanized and irrigated, are the norm.
In Canada trends in production are similar, but irrigation is not widely used and expanded hectarage is mainly confined to seed production in the maritime provinces.
Seed potato exports are an important part of the agricultural economies of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
Seed production in North America is undergoing profound changes with the introduction of tissue culture technology and reliable testing procedures for potato pathogens.
Tissue culture techniques are being used by public agencies, private companies and individual seed growers.
As programs continue to develop and limited generation schemes are implemented, seed quality will improve.
While multipurpose, disease resistant, high-yielding new varieties are being continually sought to replace some of the old varieties, the Russet Burbank will be the dominant variety for the immediate future.
Authors
Edward D. Jones
Keywords
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