The farm gate price of Queens has come under a little pressure over the past week however, this is only a result of buyers trying to force price lower. At current prices most growers are struggling to break even on crops with very poor saleable yields.
As documented in earlier reports, crops which have received no irrigation are a write off in areas. The results of the crop variety planting survey has shown that the Queen acreage is back 15% on last year. When this is combined with poor yields it will result in a reduction in production of up to 50% on last year. The fact that saleable yield will be poor for Kerr Pinks and Golden Wonder, also due to growth defects etc., will result in an extended market demand for the Queen crop. It is likely that the first of the new season Rooster will appear in retail outlets next week. Initial reports indicate that merchants are offering a minimum of €650/t as dug from the field for the first of this new season material.
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