Since 1997, the number of potato farms on the Island has declined from 460 to 186. Irving said the province should double the land limit allowed under the Lands Protection Act in order to allow potato farmers to increase their yields.
Irving said crop rotation, which limits potato harvests to once every three years on individual plots of land, is a sound agricultural practice. But, he said smaller producers need to be allowed larger acreages. The Island currently limits individual landholdings to 1,000 acres for individual farms and 3,000 for corporate entities.
Journalpioneer.com reported on Irving saying a limit of 2,100 acres would allow family farms to plant potatoes on 700 acres and rotate this crop over a three-year period.
