Waterlogged paddocks have created a unique challenge for producers this year, who struggled to get machinery in to unearth paddocks from the soil.

Dealing with the wettest autumn since 1975 has not only delayed harvest, but has led to a delayed harvest for some, and opened up the potential for another threat.

Pink rot thrives in wet conditions and is a pathogen that particularly thrives in the wetter states, like Tasmania. A pathogen that can lay dormant in the soil for years, rendering them unusable for potatoes, is responsible for up to 30 per cent crop losses each year. Despite being a significant threat to Tasmanian potato farmers, not much is known about the conditions that lead to pink rot infestation.

However, a new research project conducted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture hopes to change that.

Senior research fellow Robert Tegge is embarking on a two-year project to investigate whether environmental factors, such as soil pH are factors in development. There are about 25 sites across Tasmania which will participate in the two-year- project.

Dr Tegg said the project is likely to get underway in September when planting starts at the sites. It's the first research project of its kind.

"We don't know why but it seems like regions that have higher rainfall, like in Tasmania, have a higher occurrence of pink rot contamination."

One of those sites is Sisters Hills farmer Leigh Elphinstone, who has pink rot susceptible paddocks.

"We do have some paddocks on the farm that seems to be more susceptible to pink rot," he said.

Mr Elphinstone said he hoped the research trial would help give farmers a better understanding of how to manage the soil-borne pathogen.

"There isn't any management control, there is one chemical, metalaxyl, but it is costly," he said.

Metalaxyl is a fungicide, but its use needs to be used frequently to be effective. The only other control method used by farmers is longer crop rotation, which is something Mr Elphinstone said he uses.

He said pink rot was a significant issue for many farmers, particularly in the far North-West and the North East regions.

"There are farmers in the North East who have contaminated paddocks that they can't use anymore, they are too afraid to try putting potatoes there again."

He said that issue meant previously rich potato-growing paddocks have been landlocked due to the ever-present pathogen.

Mr Elphinstone said his harvest season had been "one of the worst" he'd seen, a sentiment echoed by his father, who had been farming for 50 years.

"We have had so much rain here on the far North-West Coast, and we haven't been able to get the machinery into harvest," he said.

"It was too wet to get tractors in from April to June."

Thankfully, he said, July was the driest on record and it allowed him to make up for the lost time.

However, he said he had experienced crop losses as a result of delayed harvesting.

Mr Elphinstone said the wet days were not the only thing that impacted his crop this season but also the bushfires that swept across the country in March.

"When the bushfires were going we had a lot of hazy days," he said. "So it meant we weren't getting the high UV levels needed to ripen the crops."

Smoke blanketed much of Tasmania for several days in March, as bushfires raged across the country.

The smoke drifted from Victoria across the Bass Strait and caused poor air quality and visibility.

Not only that but potato growers in Tasmania have also been dealing with price negotiation with Simplot and impacts of COVID-19 on potato demand.

Tasmania accounts for the majority of Australia's potato industry, which is fed into different demand streams.

However, COVID-19 shut down most hospitality businesses and as a result demand for potatoes, to be used in the french fry market, dried up.

Mr Elphinstone, who supplies to Simplot, said credit needed to be given to the processor, who honoured all tonnage agreements with its growers.

"They have had to manage the impacts of supply on their end but they honoured our agreements," he said.

A spokesperson for Simplot said this year had been a difficult one for many reasons.

"Our growers have experienced the wettest autumn since 1975. Wet conditions make the harvest very difficult and impact the quality of the potatoes," the spokesperson said.

The wet conditions have also delayed harvest significantly, with some potatoes still in the soil.

However, it's been the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic that has been a juggling act for the company.

The spokesperson said there had been both an upswing and downward demand for the product.

"Like so many other food and grocery suppliers we initially saw increased demand from our retail customers, due to the public's panic-buying," the spokesperson said.

The Foodservice part of the business, however, had seen downward pressure on demand due to the closures of cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and events.

"Like so many businesses, COVID-19 has had an impact [on our operations]," they said.

"However, with the easing of some COVID-19 government restrictions across the country, and many people treating themselves to takeaway meals, we are seeing improvements across our foodservice business."

The spokesperson said COVID-19 had an impact on the demand for Simplot's potato products but the company had worked hard to ensure a virus-safe environment.

"Throughout the pandemic, the decisions we have made have been based on two key priorities - keeping our people safe and healthy, and ensuring the continuity of our operations so Australians can access the essential and trusted food products we produce."

The harvest and processing of potatoes were deemed an essential service so operations continued throughout the pandemic's peak.

"Our employees, contractors and growers have all supported the changes we have made, and we continue to work together to manage the situation." They said many processes and systems had been put in place to mitigate any impacts of the virus.

Dr Tegg said pink rot was a significant problem in Tasmania, which was the main motivator for the research study.

"We believe it's in 90 per cent of farms in Tasmania," he said.

He said it was costing growers in crop losses but also in terms of management, through fungicides, so he wanted to investigate if he could learn about how the pathogen develops.

The Simplot spokesperson said in some regions of Tasmania pink rot was a significant issue.

"Growers often incur increased costs in the management of pink rot, such as additional inspection at harvest and fungicide treatments during the growth of the potato crop," they said.

"Simplot is highly supportive of the study. We will collaborate with the research team to provide any data on current practices and provide access to trial sites in problematic areas for research to be undertaken."

Dr Tegg said while it was a significant issue, there wasn't a lot known about pink rot, so they were hoping to find out.

The pink rot research study is being funded through the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, which is a joint project between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government.