Planting after this date comes with a cost. Unexpectedly wet soil conditions in spring last year forced many growers to delay planting until after mid-November. Take Tasmania's growers, who produce almost a third (31%) of Australia's potatoes. And the continual battle against soil-borne disease. The increasing costs of production in fertilizer and other inputs. For producers, there are still many worries. With the major rains at an end for now, potatoes are returning to the shelves and frozen food section.īut potato lovers aren't out of the woods yet. Many growers find them to be one of the most profitable crops they can grow-as long as they're prepared to face risks such as disease. Stored properly, potatoes can last up to eight months. The amount of food energy we get per hectare of potatoes is many times greater than other staples like rice and wheat. While you might associate these tubers with snack foods, in reality they're highly nutritious and an important source of complex carbohydrates. Potatoes need a lot of fertilizer and water.
And the skyrocketing costs of fuel and fertilizer have forced some growers not to plant potatoes. Other issues included delays to harvesting and planting due to the weather. Waterlogged or diseased potatoes cannot be sold. Our main growing regions in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia were hard hit by flooding and heavy rain due to La Niña, which created conditions ripe for potato diseases to spread. In the lead-up to Christmas last year, Australia had a major potato shortage. This knowledge could let growers respond quickly with fungicide or stopping irrigation to slow or prevent a severe outbreak. Our research team is monitoring soil moisture and temperature levels to help us predict whether we're likely to see an outbreak. When there's a sudden pulse of water, they spread and can destroy entire fields of potatoes. They're almost impossible to eradicate down there. They're the fourth most important staple food after rice, wheat and corn, and the largest non-cereal crop.ĭiseases such as pink rot and powdery scab can live in the soil for years. More than a billion of us eat them regularly. That's a problem, because potatoes are vital. Growers in Tasmania were worst hit, with mainland growers in New South Wales and Victoria also hit.Įven 175 years after Ireland's devastating famine caused by an introduced potato blight, we're still struggling to combat these diseases. What was behind it? Wet weather, floods-and highly persistent fungal diseases.
0 kommentar(er)
