Irish retail demand and home consumption remains above average for this time of year due to the very mixed weather conditions experienced to date. New season varieties continue to slowly come onto the market, and this is helping supply and demand. Reports on yields are mixed, with earliest planted crop yields described as very average. According to DAFM BISS crop figures, the area of main crop potatoes has increased by 1000ha from last year. It is speculated that there has been a substantial increase in salad and chipping varieties within this figure. IFA will publish a report on the breakdown of acreage soon.
Across Europe, first estimates of planted acreage from CAP returns show that many countries have seen increases despite high costs and shortages of seed. The area in Belgium is expected to increase by 6% and in Holland by 4.3% The area in France is estimated to increase by 7.3%. The total area in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands could reach 550,000 ha's, an increase of 100,000 ha's over the last ten years.
Source: ifa.ie