Rain delays completion of potato harvest

Some P.E.I. potato farmers have had to wait longer than usual to finish their harvest because of recent wet weather.

Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, told CBC News farmers usually plan to finish their harvest by the end of October.

This fall started with perfect weather conditions, but rain in the last week and a half have left some farmers waiting to finish harvesting the last of their potatoes.

"Fortunately most of the crop was harvested under good conditions and many finished up," said Donald.

"Unfortunately, for those who for whatever reason were a little later, that's the uncertainties of farming. So we're just going to hope that we have some decent weather here in the next week to get things wrapped up."

Donald estimates about three per cent of potatoes across the Island are left to be harvested.

They can't be harvested during wet conditions because the potatoes need to be dry when they're stored.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Opposition calls for suspension of P.E.I. government officials
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Morell community stresses importance of rural schools