Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2020 41 PLANTING Bagging Sector Needing to pre-chit potatoes, the bagging sector couldn’t delay planting decisions. “Despite George Eustice reassuring chip shops they could remain open, many shut their doors. Demand has dropped as a result and oversupply has driven down prices,” said Archie. It’s a U-turn on 2019 when wet weather hindered harvest, preventing many from lifting their full acreage. With a signi cant proportion of the crop in the ground, prices rose. James Woodro e, a ware grower near Peterborough, is relieved he sold nearly a quarter of his crop from the eld. “Prices have plummeted; from nearly £300/tonne to £120/ tonne,” he said. “I’ve 1200 tonnes of potato in store, where normally I’d have closer to 3,000 tonnes. Yes, we left approximately 400 tonnes in the ground last year but selling a signi cant proportion in the autumn lowered our storage volumes. Selling was a good decision.” With the majority of his crop destined for the chip shop market he graded only 100 tonnes in April. Yet despite the fall in demand, James has recently planted 330 acres as planned. “I’m certainly concerned. Even when restrictions are lifted, it’ll be two to three months before the market improves. is year I think everyone was committed to growing the potatoes, going forward if the markets aren’t there, we will grow less.” James’s crop is o to a good – though expensive – start. With the majority ploughed in autumn, the wet weather has increased establishment costs. “It’s taken a lot of work to get elds ready for planting,” he says. “We’ve had to do ve passes on some elds that usually take one. But all our potatoes are now in and most are emerging, though where it is drier they are struggling.” Seed production It’s a concern shared by seed grower Patrick Sleigh in Aberdeenshire. “We’re actually needing rain now,” he said. “ ough we had rain all winter – November, December and a fair bit of January – when spring came, it dried up. We got the crop in and were planting in ideal conditions. e crop has got o to a good start which is half the battle.” Patrick’s experience is re ective of the national picture. “ e wet, cold weather and a late Easter have contributed to a late season. Most growers weren’t able to plant early varieties and it’s highly likely that early crops won’t be ready until July,” notes Archie. “ ose potatoes in stores will have to bridge the gap,” he adds. Over half of Patrick’s crop goes to growers for the crisping market and a little for ➜ “This year I think everyone was committed to growing the potatoes, going forward if the markets aren’t there, we will grow less.” James Woodro e, ware grower Bagging and chipping markets have both su ered with the closures of shops and Quick Service Restaurants(QSR). Sales Manager at Agrico, Alex Moore, said the industry had done very well to get seed potatoes out to farms.