Comment: With the week of wet weather just passed and no settled weather forecast, it is most likely that a lot of the crop that remains in the ground will not be lifted until next spring. Reports around the country indicate that a lot of growers still have 15% to 20% of crop left to harvest.

Farmgate prices should rise, as it is now likely that there will be a reduction in volumes available to the market. In the UK, price increases remain in place this week, particularly for good-quality contracted supply. Growers are reminded not to rule out supplying the peeling market at this time.

Lifting progress dominates much of the European press once again this week. In France and Belgium, only about 2% to 3% of the crop remains to be lifted. Most of this is on heavy land next to the Channel coastline.

In the Netherlands, around 6% remains to be lifted and reports suggest that half will be lifted and half will remain in the ground. The rain has eased in the UK. However, saturated soils mean that severe lifting conditions persist.

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