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P.E.I. potato crop under threat

August 1, 2012, Alberton, PEI – The president of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board says the dry weather in July is a threat to this year’s crop.

Summerside area grower Gary Linkletter says farmers in western P.E.I. are in “a game of survival” to keep their plants producing.

Linkletter says growers are hoping any rainfall is heavy, because the accumulation of dry weather is taking a toll on the potato plants.

Peter Griffin from WP Griffin Inc. says that in order to get a decent crop the Island needs two to three days of rain.

He says if that doesn’t happen in the next seven to 10 days the crop is “definitely toast.”

Weather forecasters are calling for about 10 millimetres of rain August 1.