The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has released its latest potato market report, projecting a significant uptick in retail demand and home consumption in the coming weeks as schools across Ireland resume after the summer break. The report indicates that this increase in demand will coincide with an expanded supply of early season Rooster potatoes, which are now becoming more available on the market. Alongside the early Roosters, Queen potatoes are also making their presence felt, helping to alleviate the pressure on old season stocks.

In the United Kingdom, the situation remains cautiously optimistic, with crops showing favorable yields so far. However, concerns linger over the performance of later-planted crops, particularly late-maturing varieties such as Markies. The IFA notes that dry conditions in the South and East of the UK are exacerbating stress in fields that were not in optimal condition during planting, raising questions about the yields of these later crops.

The outlook across Europe presents a mixed picture. Later-planted potato crops still have considerable growth to catch up on, making the next five weeks crucial for their development. In the Netherlands, the IFA reports that some late plantings have yet to close the ridges and are currently “flowering profusely,” a sign that these crops may be behind schedule.

As the market adjusts to these variables, the IFA’s report underscores the importance of monitoring conditions closely in the coming weeks to gauge the full impact on supply and pricing as the season progresses.

Source: Irish Farmers Association (IFA). Original report here
Image: Credit IFA