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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —

One of P.E.I.’s most crucial industries must adopt a teamwork mindset to survive new challenges, says a technical product specialist.

Michelle Diamond of NutriAg was among the vendors who attended the 2019 P.E.I. Potato Conference on Tuesday at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.

NutriAg works with farmers to help them produce higher yields, and that’s particularly important on the heels of one of the hottest summers on record, Diamond said.

“It’s extremely important, especially with the challenging years of weather we’ve been having, to try to band together and figure out how even the littlest difference can increase the yield, because every little bit counts,” she said.

The market is there for higher yields, and so is the desire from farmers.

“Growers want the high yields to pay the bills.”

When the weather makes it difficult, it’s important for farmers to “keep an open line of communication between everybody in the community and in the industry to see how they can help each other out,” said Diamond.

The conference offered resources that can help growers in those troubling times, including equipment dealers and storage companies.

Working together is “the only way we’re going to be able to do this going forward.”

The P.E.I. Potato Board teamed up with the provincial Department of Agriculture to create the two-day conference.

The event began Tuesday with talks from Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill on weed resistance studies; Dr. Rick Peters on the status of alternaria, a damaging fungi; Dr. Mark Stalham on reducing soil compaction; and Dr. Mark Pavek on investigating row width.

Stewart Skinner, a farmer from Ontario, spoke about mental health on the farm.

Atlantic AgriTech, based in New Glasgow, P.E.I., was also among the dozens of vendors at the show.

Research agronomist Doug MacDonald said the company does crop research, pesticide testing and fertility trials, among other services.

The conference offered a chance for farmers to learn what’s happening in the field of research, he said.

“For ourselves, it gives us a chance to introduce what services we can offer to the various companies that are here.”

The potato board held its banquet and industry awards Tuesday night. Topics discussed Wednesday included wireworm, crop rotation, alternative irrigation technology and social media for farmers.