Retail demand has increased as families return to normal routines following the summer break. Recent rainfall has been welcomed by potato growers across the country, following an exceptionally prolonged period of dry weather. However, there remains considerable uncertainty over how much benefit the rain will deliver to crops, particularly where potatoes have already suffered significant moisture stress. Many crops will be left to bulk up a little in September before being desiccated. How much they will bulk up at this stage will depend on a variety of factors, such as the vigour in the canopy, soil nitrogen to keep the canopy active, moisture etc.
In the U.K. Thunderstorms in the South and East have improved conditions for some growers but there are still some who have not had any rain and it remains impossible to lift without irrigation. Across Europe, yields are reported to be reduced significantly in most regions. Size is also an issue, in Holland it is reported that the percentage of 50mm+ is 50% and compares to 76% last year.
