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SPUDSMART.COM SUMMER 201530 ROUNDTABLE Expert views on best management practices in potato production. SUPPORTED BY JOHN GOFF Potato grower in Manitoba Post-harvest Field Care YVES LECLERC Director of agronomy North America for McCain Foods DOUG PRYOR Co-owner of Delta Ag Services in Manitoba SUCCESSFUL potato growers know that even the best soils can produce inferior yields and quality if steps arent taken after harvest to prepare their fields for the following year whether its being planted with potatoes or another crop in their rotation. We asked the following experts to identify and discuss some of the best management practices theyd recommend for an effective post-harvest field care strategy Yves Leclerc McCain Foods director of agronomy for North America whos based in Florenceville N.B. John Goff a potato grower and co-owner of Corduroy Plains Farms Ltd. in Carman Man. and Doug Pryor an agronomist and co-owner of Delta Ag Services based in Portage la Prairie Man. PLANTING COVER CROPS Leclerc Goff and Pryor all agreed that when possible planting cover crops after potatoes makes a great deal of sense as it helps keep soil from being carried away by wind or water though the winter. One thing we need to promote as much as possible is cover crops after harvest. I know its not always possible to do that because we tend to harvest late but whenever theres an early harvest adding a cover crop will help prevent soil erosion says Leclerc. If you can maintain your soil especially in areas that are prone to water or wind erosion thats very critical. Pryor believes that planting a winter annual crop right after harvesting potatoes is essentially a must for growers who can manage it. Im a firm believer that every potato field should have a cover crop planted on it he says. According to Pryor this is particularly important in potato-growing areas like parts of Manitoba that have sandier soils which are often more prone to soil erosion. Traditionally in our area in central Manitoba we either look at winter wheat or fall rye. If you can get it in early enough then well seed winter wheat and if its a little later than well seed fall rye he says. Potatoes being harvested in New Brunswick. The heavy equipment required in potato production can cause compaction problems in the field. PHOTO COVERED BRIDGE POTATO CHIP COMPANY.