Ex-farm potato prices reported to the IFA

Comment: The farmgate price for Queens is continuing to suffer from increased pressure from merchants trying to lower the price over the past week. Growers are struggling to make any margin on current prices being offered by buyers, which is adding to the tough year being experienced by growers. It is likely that the first of the new-season Rooster will appear in retail outlets in the coming days. As documented in previous reports, the acreage of Queens is down by about 15% on last year’s plantings. The overall area planted in potatoes this year is the lowest on record with less than 8000ha planted, roughly 1,000ha lower than the area planted in 2017. With the total area planted 12% less than last year, this will equate to a loss in production of approximately 40%. With the late planting season and drought conditions also being experienced by much of Europe and the UK, the situation is similar in these areas.