Agronomy
Potatoes Harvested in the Rain: How to Dry the Crop and Keep It in Storage
Long rains force many farms to dig in wet soil. Wet tubers carry a higher rot risk, and the first 30 days in storage decide the fate of the lot.
International edition
IRRIGATION
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Agronomy
Frost During the Potato Harvest: How to Keep Frozen Tubers Out of Storage
Night frosts often arrive before the harvest is over. Frozen tubers look normal at digging but can start rot in the whole store. Here is what specialists advise.
Agronomy
Global: Seed Pieces of 1.5–2.5 Ounces Give the Best Returns in Potato Planting
Seed pieces of 1.5–2.5 ounces (about 43–71 g) give the best returns, extension research shows. Undersized seed cost Idaho growers 50–60 cwt per acre on average.
Agronomy
Global: Potato Irrigation Should Start Before 30–50% of Available Soil Water Is Used
Potatoes lose yield when more than 30–50% of available soil water is used. Guides from FAO, UC IPM and Oregon State give thresholds and sensor readings for irrigation timing.
New potato variety
Global: Potato Cyst Nematode Declines Only 10–30% a Year Without a Host, Making Rotation Slow
Globodera pallida populations fall only 10–30% a year without potatoes, while susceptible crops can multiply them 46–100 fold. Rotation alone takes at least eight years.
News
Global: Mineral Oil Sprays Cut PVY Spread in Seed Potatoes by 43–58% in Field Trials
Field trials in Finland, Canada and Belgium show that mineral oil reduces potato virus Y spread in seed crops, but not fully. Straw mulch and oil-insecticide mixes add protection.
Agronomy
Peru: Potato Output Doubles to 6.58 Million Tonnes Since 2000 as Yields Reach 19.5 t/ha
Peru harvested 6.58 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, twice the 2000 level, as average yields rose to 19.5 t/ha. More than 710,000 families grow the crop.
Agronomy
Bolivia: Potato Harvest Reaches 1.38 Million Tonnes but Yields Stay Near 6.5 t/ha
Bolivia grew 1.38 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, almost double the 2000 level. Yields remain near 6.5 t/ha, far below Peru and Argentina.
Harvesting
Brazil: São Paulo Winter Potato Crop Falls 56% as Planted Area Shrinks
IBGE state data show São Paulo's third-season potato crop at 115,241 tonnes in 2026, down 56%. Minas Gerais also cut its winter crop by 17.5%.
Harvesting
Brazil: 2026 Potato Crop Seen at 4.2 Million Tonnes, Down 8.2%
Brazil's statistics agency IBGE expects 4.20 million tonnes of potatoes in 2026, 8.2% less than in 2025. Planted area fell 9.2%, while average yields held steady.
Agronomy
Morocco: Potato Output Doubles to 2.19 Million Tonnes Since 2000 as Yields Reach 32.8 t/ha
Morocco harvested 2.19 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, twice the 2000 level. The area stayed near 60,000–67,000 hectares, so almost all the growth came from yields.
Seeds
Algeria: Imported Arizona Seed Potatoes Cost Up to 4 Times Local Seed
A seed trader told Maghreb Emergent that class 1 Arizona seed potatoes cost about 100 dinars when local and up to 400 dinars when imported. Prices rise every year.