Tariffs threats fuelling trade uncertainty for potato industry

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

By Trevor Busch
Commentator/Courier
editor@tabertimes.com

F

or an industry that primarily exports eighty-five per cent of its product annually, Alberta potato producers are worried about the threat of a 25 per cent U.S. tariff – but the jury is still out on how negative that influence could be.

“I don’t know what it’s going to look like. I don’t think anybody knows, other than the gentleman that keeps saying he’s going to,” said Potato Growers of Alberta executive director Terence Hochstein.“Could it have a potential impact on us? Absolutely it could, but we don’t know.”

Hochstein has been unimpressed with Canada’s trade negotiation tactics so far.

“I mean, the biggest fear right now is the fear of the unknown. Say nothing – I mean, we just keep (engaging) and that’s the frustrating part. The Canadian government, we just keep showing our cards. Play poker, but if you’re gonna throw them all down on the table, well, it makes the game pretty easy.”

In 2024, roughly 75,500 acres of potatoes were planted in Alberta, with 57,000 of that in southern Alberta.

“We’re going to be down this year. Don’t know what that number is yet, just because of the economic situation, the unknown of what’s happening now,” said Hochstein. “North America was long last year in potatoes, so there was an excess pile. So we’re just going to need less this year – the demand is a little bit less.”

The 2024 crop turned out to be excellent, says Hochstein, despite early fears of severe drought that were later dispelled when the sky opened up.

“Surprisingly, considering we were under allocation, very well. Those May, June rains made a huge difference, it allowed the crop to do what it should have done, and a long fall. We were very late in the fall, so that allowed the crop to bulk up longer. So it turned out very, very well. Better than expected.”

There were few concerns regarding hail or disease.

“Last year’s crop turned out very well. There were very little hail in the area, no disease pressure. So overall, we had a really good crop last year – a little bit smaller. The profile was smaller. It just had a tough time getting going when it was cool and wet in May and June, and then July heat didn’t help it at all. But overall, it was a really good crop with smaller profile,” said Hochstein.

Contracts and marketing are under external pressure, says Hochstein.

“This year, very slow going. Have nothing at this point in time settled in ongoing discussions. Eventually we’ll get there. It’s just the uncertainty right now in the world and in North America, with the governments on both sides of the border and tariffs, and all of that.”