Potatoes: 19/09/2018

Ex-farm potato prices reported to the IFA

Comment: With the National Ploughing Championships officially marking the end of the holiday season and with schools fully back in action, consumption of potatoes is set to continue to increase over the coming weeks as people return to their normal routines. According to a recent potato stock survey carried out by the IFA, stocks of Queens are getting scarce, with many farmers out of Queens. There is approximately 15% of the Queens left to sell nationwide. Any stocks remaining are reported to be moving well, with growers expecting to be finished with Queens inside the next fortnight.

Prices are stable, with no major change from last week, with new-season Rooster averaging €650/t. The new-season Rooster has fully kicked in at retail level, with very little old-season Rooster left. However, there won’t be a major supply of Rooster for another couple of weeks due to the delayed sowing date and the difficult growing conditions experienced by the crop throughout the summer. Across Europe, the situation remains similar to Ireland, with yield reported to be 20% less than last year and 16% less than the five-year average in Holland.