Potatoes Council Report July 2023

Potato Market Report: 12.07.2023 

	Low	High	Average
Rooster box	€480	€530	€500
Rooster 10 kg	€5	€5.50	€5.25

Consumption is holding well for this time of the year especially with the colder, wet weather recently experienced. Old season stocks continue to tighten significantly, with strong demand for any packing material remaining. Rainfall has certainly helped this seasons Rooster crops, but they are still at least three weeks behind last year’s crops. The demand and price for Queens remain buoyant. 

Rainfall has been experienced throughout Europe, with totals of 20mm skirted through Northern France, and into Belgium, Holland and Denmark last week, where totals increased to 35 and 50mm. Old crop movement is now coming to a close and markets are currently being supported by imports from Israel and Egypt, both in the fresh and crisp sector. Parts of the U.K. recorded the first ‘measurable’ rainfall in two months last weeks.  

Met Eireann Blight Website 

With recent blight pressure, the Met Eireann Blight website is a good indicator for the risk of blight in different parts of the country and is well worth consulting on a weekly basis. https://www.met.ie/forecasts/blight-forecast  

Preliminary Planted Acreage figures 2023  

The Preliminary planted acreage figures according to DAFM are outlined in the table below. 

Crop	2022	2023	Change 2022vs2023
Potatoes – early	674.8	853.4	178.6
Potatoes – main crop	7,575.4	7,163.4	-412
Potatoes – seed	208.2	264.9	56.7

Activity since last Council 

• IFA met with all leading retailers to discuss how the season is unfolding, the spiralling input prices and adjustment to prices to aid growers during this critical period.  
• The 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato Sector and the Chipping Potato Sector closed on April 21st.  It is understood that all funding will be drawn down under the scheme. IFA held an online information session with DAFM for growers within the potato sector, providing guidance regarding the new seed and fresh chip scheme.  
• IFA put forward a submission to the Minister of Agriculture regarding the derogation of Diquat (Reglone) on a temporary basis.  

• IFA continues to engage with all retailers and packers to convey growers increased input costs and issues around excessive tare levels. 
• IFA in conjunction with DAFM held a Producer Organisation Information Event in the City North Hotel on June 6^th.  
• IFA horticulture delegation met with Senator Regina Doherty in Kinsealy, Co Dublin on the 9^th of June. Issues including retail price compression and the availability of plant protection products were addressed.  
• IFA met with the designate Food Regulator Niamh Lenehan last month. It was a constructive meeting in which members detailed their concerns for respective sectors.  
• IFA issued a press statement looking for farm workers to be included in the critical skills Occupations list. IFA will put forward a submission to the public consultation on this topic.  https://www.ifa.ie/campaigns/ifa-looking-for-farm-workers-to-be-included-in-critical-skills-occupation-list/  

• IFA addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on June 28^th on the topic of ‘consolidation of horticulture numbers in Ireland’. More details can be found https://www.ifa.ie/farm-sectors/radical-changes-needed-to-save-horticultural-sector/  

Upcoming Activity/Events 

• A National Potato Committee meeting will take place Thursday the 25^th of July in the Irish Farm Centre.  
• IFA will continue to monitor the origin of produce with the use of Isotope testing this summer.  

• IFA continues to engage with retailers on spiralling input costs and setting up meetings with retailer buyers and packers at this critical period.  
• IFA will continue to demand that packers and retailers pay sustainable potato farm gate prices.  
• IFA will continue to contact growers to ensure they are aware of the costs of production and engage in both stocks/acreage surveys.