Trade has been slightly subdued with the recent milder weather for this time of year, as colder conditions are now setting in this trend should change. Harvest is now complete in most regions with favorable conditions throughout harvest in general. Yields are reduced on later planted crops particularly early indications and observations from around the country indicate that yields will be lower than 2023, possibly somewhere between 10-15% across the main varieties.
Across Europe, lifting is now almost complete although there is still 10 to 15% in Normandy, 10% in central parts of Belgium, and a small area in southeastern Holland to finish. In the physical markets, a free buy trade is still very low volume, but buyers are now looking for well-conditioned dry samples ex-store rather than recently lifted crops which is proving hard to stabilize in-store.
In the U.K., for chipping varieties demand remains "static" with only limited movement to Ireland. More crops are now being sold out of store and demand is primarily for branded samples on repeat order.
For more information:
Irish Farmers Association
Tel: +353 1 450 0266
Email: [email protected]
www..ifa.ie