Sad to see the farmers of PEI suffering from the market glut and low prices for potatoes. Here are some acreage stats on the reality of the North American market from this agricultural consultancy firm:
And speaking of potatoes...How introducing only a cap at the present 106,000 acres in addition to the practice of crop destruction in such a small part of the total continental market will effect the desired change is not clear to me - but it is not like there is really an answer to the whole situation.
- Slight dip in US potato acreage since 2003
- This year, total potato acreage across the United States is down 7% - or 88,300 acres. This year's total is 1,184,300 vs. 1,272,600 last year.
- Dramatic 5-year shift in potato acreage distribution in Canada
- since 1999, P.E.I.'s potato acreage has shrunk by 7000 acres.
- All other provinces' potato acreage has increased by 68,000 acres.
Comments
Ken Williams - January 28, 2006 12:34 AM
This is the closest post on your site relating to a story on pesticides I read on the CBC PEI website.
I wanted your opinion on it, you being lawyerly and all.
Alan - January 28, 2006 9:32 AM
Hi Ken,
There was an somewhat unfortunate ruling in 2002 on this area that sort of got into the quasi-legal principle that PEI was a special place and so the rules were a little different. I can't racall the name but generally the law of nuisance should apply and compensation be granted. But don't hold your breath...or rather don't forget to.