News on Potato Stats, Trade, Prices from Ireland

Home consumption and retail sales continue to prosper with the current weather conditions increasing demand.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, announced the commencement of the issuing of grant approvals under the 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato Sector and Chipping Potato Sector.

It is anticipated that consumption and retail sales should pick up from this week onwards with the return of schools after the summer break. With the hot weather and lack of rainfall, there are numerous reports that maincrop Rooster.

Brexit could lead to a significant shortage of potatoes for Irish consumers by 2023, experts have warned. It makes sense for potato growers to contact seed producers now to organise fresh seed for the 2023 season.

The Irish Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, officially opened the 11th World Potato Congress at the RDS in Dublin.

Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, following a meeting of cabinet, announced his intention to launch EUR 3 million (about USD 3,2) scheme of investment aid for the seed potato sector in Ireland.

Potato growers in Northern Ireland face a severe shortage of seed potatoes in 2022, according to Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) political party leader, Jim Allister.

The call for abstract submission for WPC 2022 is now open and authors are encouraged to submit their abstract online for consideration. Deadline for Oral Submissions: 30th November 2021. Deadline for Poster Submission: 15th February 2022.

Ireland’s seed potato sector looks set to get a Brexit shot in the arm. This was one of the key messages delivered courtesy of the second Spring Tillage Webinar, hosted by Teagasc this week.

Not getting the maincrop harvest completed until the days directly before Christmas has added considerably to the production costs incurred during 2020 by some potato growers.

Consumption and retail demand remains strong as we approach week 4 of lockdown measures although processing trade remains minimal.

The potato trade has been warned to have all seed potatoes for next year’s crop imported from Britain by December 31. A trade notice issued by the Irish Department of Agriculture said imports of 'certified seed and ware potatoes' from Britain will be prohibited from the end of 2020 when the UK leaves the EU.

A surge in consumer demand for healthy home-cooked foods has seen a 'phenomenal' uplift in fresh potato sales – with increases as high as 70% with certain customers, according to Tom Keogh, managing director of well-known potato and crisp company Keogh’s.

An Irish farm has found an innovative way to keep Ireland fed during the coronavirus pandemic: a contactless drive-through potato service.

With the COVID-19 situation developing over the past week demand across all sectors has been mixed. Demand from retailers this week has soared and is reportedly as high as the Christmas period when trade normally peaks.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) estimates that 5% of the potato crop across the country remains in the ground. That said some farmers have a lot more acres remaining than others, depending on the weather they were greeted with in the past few months.

In Ireland, dryer weather is welcomed this week by areas where harvesting conditions are problematic, particularly Donegal. This dry period will hopefully aid the digging of the main Rooster crop. National Potato Day takes place on October 4th this year.

In Ireland, digging of new season Rooster continues and increased prepack volumes are available on supermarket shelves this week. Excellent quality is reported to date of the main season crop.