The economics of potato crop rotations in southern Manitoba
Date
2003-02-18
Authors
Khakbazan, M.
Kularatne, H.
Mohr, R.
Volkmar, K.
Tomasiewicz, D.
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Abstract
Rapid expansion of the potato industry in Manitoba has led to increased potato
production in Manitoba. While the introduction of potatoes into current cropping systems
may provide an opportunity for producers to increase the profitability of their farming
operation, development of economically and environmentally sustainable production
systems is key to the long-term success of the industry. Currently, little information is
available about the economic and environmental impacts of such crop rotations with
respect to potato production in Canada. Recognizing the importance of sustainable
production systems, in 1998, a potato crop rotation study was established at Manitoba
Crop Diversification Center (MCDC) at Carberry to develop recommendations for
irrigated potato management in southern Manitoba. Six crop rotations ranging from two
to four years in duration, and containing potatoes in combination with oilseed, cereal
and/or legume crops, were included in this study. Each phase of each rotation was present
in each year making a total of 18 treatments. This paper discusses the economic return of
these six different crop rotations. The data with respect to all the production practices,
including storage, transport and marketing for the period of 1998 to 2001 were collected
and analyzed using a computer model developed for this purpose. Econometrics View
software was used to develop this model, and the model takes into account the whole
system for each rotation when analyzing the data. The preliminary results suggest that,
for the period of 1999 through 2000, both potato-canola and potato-oat-wheat rotations
appeared to be promising rotations. However, the poor potato yield of the potato-oatwheat
rotation in 2001 resulted in low average net income for that rotation. The higher
net benefit of the potato-canola rotation during the time period analyzed was primarily
the result of a higher proportion of the tuber yield being of marketable size, not for higher
gross tuber or canola yields. It is, however, difficult to make firm conclusions at this
point of time as to which rotation will be most profitable in the long term. This is mainly
because of the rotation treatments have only been in place since 1998 and, as such,
observed differences among rotations may be a function not only of the rotation but also
of environmental conditions and management within a given year.
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Keywords
sustainability, canola, wheat, oat, alfalfa
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Soils and Crops Workshop