EU: NEPG estimate a 6% reduction in the ware area
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Trial digs
The first official trial digs data published at the start of August by the UNPT in France and FIWAP in Belgium indicate large yield variation between main crop potatoes planted by the end of March and beginning of April, to those planted at the end of May and June.
With crops planted later and crop development behind schedule, ex farm prices are firm in both countries. The NEPG reports that, although initial signs indicate lower average yields this season, it is still too early to estimate the yields for the main crop harvest. However based on five year average yields, the 2012/13 NEPG crop is provisionally estimated at just under 24m tonnes (excluding seed and starch production), which is nearly 3m tonnes lower than last season. This figure will be updated by the NEPG at Potato Europe in September.
In Belgium, according to Filière Wallone de la Pomme de Terre (FIWAP) Bintje processing prices continued to rise from £67-75/t, to a range of £82-£93/t this week depending on size, quality and amount of wet rot. The market is firm, influenced by some movement to England, the publication of lower areas in Germany and Belgium and the variable yields reported.
PAMESEB and PCA /Inagro reported that the main potato producing areas experienced heavy rain in July, mainly in the first half of the month. There was on average 100-150mm of rain but West Flanders and some regions of East Flanders and Hainaut West regularly exceeded 150mm with up to 200mm in some areas. The heavy rains, combined with moderate temperatures, have maintained blight pressure and steady growth of plants (first leaf and tuber). Excess water could still slow down some fields with senescence taking place.
In the Netherlands, according to FIWAP most of the processors are back at full speed after factory shutdowns, with free-buy 35mm+ samples £87-£95/t depending on frying quality. Fresh samples were £71-£95/t depending on the variety and skin-set.
According to Phaff Export Marketing weather conditions and crop development have been variable with some crops continuing to bulk while others are starting to senesce.
In June, Dutch processors used 290,000 tonnes of potatoes, 6% more than last season. The twelve month rolling total was 3.5m tonnes, a 3% rise from last season.
In Germany, according to Phaff Export Marketing, demand has been strong for fresh samples with early ware growers almost finished. The main crop harvest is progressing well. Yields reported so far are average. There is demand for German ware from Dutch exporters shipping to Northern Africa. According to AMI the processing hectarage has reduced by 10%, the starch area by 7% and the fresh area by 8% this season compared to last year.
In France, according to the UNPT, blight pressure remains strong and there are signs of early senesce in some crops. The first harvest in the Picardy and Beauce regions showed yields down by 5-10 t/ha compared to last year. The harvest is showing strong differences in quality and yield between the different maturity groups. Last week the first Agata was £181-£229/t .
Trials conducted by the CNIPT and UNPT at the end of July on 202 plots showed average yields of 22.2 t/ha, down 36% compared to the 11 year average of 34.6 t/ha. The effect of ‘planting date’ is clear with the areas planted in March to April giving an average yield of 29.4 t/ha, while May planted crops averaged 12.6 t/ha.
According to the latest figures from GIPT, 1.09m tonnes of potatoes were processed in French factories from July 2011 to June 2012, against 1.12m tonnes from July 2010 to June 2011 and 1m tonnes from July 2009 to end June 2010. This is a 2% decrease (-23,000 tonnes) compared to last year but up 9.2% (+92,000 tonnes) compared to two years ago. Of the 1.09m tonnes processed this year, 13.5% was contracted and 19% imported.
In other countries:
In Canada, according to Statistics Canada, the planted area was 150,508 ha in 2012, up 3.0% from 2011. Prince Edward Island had the largest increase, up 4.1% to 36,221 ha. The area in Manitoba also increased, by 4.1% to 30,757 ha, as did Ontari, up 5.6% on 2011 to 6,107 ha. The expansion of potato area in Manitoba and Ontario was primarily because of increased contract volumes for processing potatoes.
In Fiji, principal agricultural officer west Sugrim Chand, reported that Fiji would never be self sufficient in potato production. A harvest of around 1,500 tonnes of potato was expected this year, from a total of 166 ha. Next year this is forecast to rise to 2,000 tonnes. "We have 600 farmers involved in potato production mainly in the Nadarivatu highlands and Nadroga-Navosa areas and this number is steadily growing. We don't have a problem promoting potato farming to growers because it is a three-month relatively low-maintenance crop. As the popularity of potato farming grows and more farmers get involved in production, we should see an increased yield," Mr Chand said. Potato growing is a government initiative that began with pilot programs in the west in 2010. Fiji imports up to 18,000 tonnes of potatoes annually at a total cost of approximately £12m.
In Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian News Agency, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food Supplies predicts a potato harvest of 23m tonnes for 2012. The planted area was 1.4m ha, the same as last year with the Northern and central provinces the main potato regions.
Source: Potato Council