"Quality of lots that were cleared later is very doubtful."

The situation for potato growers is unusual this year: clearing of the last plots has still not been completed. In Northern Holland, a few hundred hectares will probably have to be written off, and in Great Britain some areas will probably even have to "winter" - the quality of the lots cleared late is very doubtful, according to a current market report of Wilhelm Weuthen GmbH & Co..

Supply and demand for potatoes for human consumption are currently balanced and so are prices. Also in the processing industry the situation seems to be calm for the time being: "At the turn of the year most processing lines are at a standstill. The industry is well covered with contract goods until the end of January". This will have a stabilizing effect on prices.

There are an above-average number of negative surprises with regard to seed potatoes for the coming 2020 season: "Post-harvest inspections to check for viruses and quarantine diseases are in full swing. Currently, about 80-90% of the results are available. There are many denials and gradations. Above all, reproductions in Germany and in mixed regions (planting material and consumer cultivation) are more severely affected and significant quantities are currently being lost." It is expected that this season will severely limit the supply of seed potatoes for some varieties.

"The current virus problem has a lasting negative impact on the production of seed potatoes in the coming years, as far too little high-grade material is available in certain varieties. The 2018/2019 weather conditions, in combination with the current political conditions, such as the elimination of insecticides and Reglone etc., will have a very strong influence on seed production and variety selection in the coming years."