Friday's Weekly Potato Report from Manitoba Agriculture noted that the potato harvest in the province is estimated at about 15 to 20 per cent complete, ranging from those who have yet to start to producers that now have over 50 per cent completed.
Potato & Horticulture Crops Pathologist Vikram Bisht says tuber set and size profile are generally good, with a large percentage of tubers in the 5 to 10 oz range.
Rain and high temperatures have slowed down harvest operations as warm potatoes don't store well, there have been reports of early breakdown of tubers that were harvested when tuber pulp temperature was high.
Harvesting was delayed in the eastern potato regions due to significant rainfall as storm activity on Monday and Tuesday resulted in about 135.5 millimetres of precipitation in the Winkler area.
According to the report, there is no report of late blight, but with the recent rains, the blight risk is now at the moderate level.
Early blight disease is prevalent in all potato growing areas with verticillium wilt and black dot complex showing up especially in areas with nitrogen deficit or moisture stressed crops.
For the full report with more details including graphs and photos, please check the link or website www.mbpotatoes.ca