Potato Prices & Commentary

Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA

More of the outdoor new season crop has appeared on the market this week. However, yields continue to disappoint even where irrigation was applied.

It appears, there will  only be sufficient volumes to supply roadside and local sales over the coming weeks, with the larger retailers having to wait until production increases in July.

Sales of old season crop have improved in the past week and demand in the peeling market remains strong. Although farm gate prices in the peeling sector have only marginally improved in recent weeks, it is worth considering that product for this market will still be required into October due to the late season.

The prolonged dry spell is continuing, with areas in the south east and east having received virtually no rain in over seven weeks. Potato crops which were planted in April are now under severe stress where irrigation is not available. With little rain forecast for the next 10days later planted crops will also fall into this category.

Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA

The high temperatures continued to dampen potato sales, however, as the week progressed cooler weather has improved matters somewhat. As expected, demand has certainly improved in the peeling and fresh chip sector and this will continue throughout the summer.

The first of the outdoor early crop has appeared on the market this week. This crop was planted at the end of February but due to the adverse weather spring yields are disappointing. It is estimated that only 70 ha of crop was planted up to the beginning of March and there was a subsequent gap of 6 weeks until any other significant plantings occurred.

As a result, we will see only limited volumes being available to the market up until mid-July. A lot of potato crops, particularly in the south east and east are struggling due to the lack of rain, with many areas having had little or no precipitation for six weeks.

Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA

The warm spell of weather has reduced potato sales, particularly in the larger pack sizes. However, demand from the peeling trade still remains strong and this should only improve as the summer tourism trade kicks in. A number of growers have cleared stores in recent weeks and this should strengthen the hand of those still in the market to push for further price rises. Planting is virtually completed apart from a few small pockets. Due to the warm weather establishment has been rapid, however, crops are still behind, especially those planted during April. May has been a very dry month across the country with only 19mm of rain recorded at Dublin airport. Some growers in Eastern areas are already applying irrigation and if this weather trend continues it will certainly impact on yields.