Shortly after record breaking mid-November temperatures of 23C, winter arrived and promptly buried southern Alberta under 25cm of snow. Unfortunately, the severe winter storm coincided with us trucking potatoes to the McCain plant.

After loading the trucks, we cocooned ourselves in layers, jumped in the cab and ventured out of the farmyard.

With a fierce north wind howling and heavy blowing snowfall, visibility was rather challenging and the North Paddock convoy chugged down the motorway at 30mph. We followed the lanes more from memory than sight and eventually arrived safely at the plant.

On the return trip, the snowplough had been out waging war and road conditions had improved.

I approached a truck with hazard lights on, creeping along in the slow lane. As I got closer I could see that it was an empty cattle-liner. The gusting wind and icy roads were wreaking havoc on the trailer, which was partially sideways to the truck.

I overtook and saw the driver, chain-smoking and white knuckled, gripping the wheel to compensate for the unpredictable movements of his trailer. He glanced across and gave me a cheerful wave. Canadian truckers are absolute heroes.

We shipped a total of 1000t emptying one of our storage bins, which, due to the miserable 2010 season, was only partially filled.

Our dockages were higher than usual, greening and rot in particular – yet another hangover from the season. However, specific gravities and fry colours were right on target and achieving the bonus payments.

The remaining 2500t seems to be storing well. The curing period is almost over and sugars are remaining stable. I will soon start ramping down the bin temperatures before we treat the storage with chlorpropham around Christmas. On that note, I’d like to wish readers a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Eat plenty of potatoes over the festive period please folks.