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 including William Monagle from Co. Donegal.
“Usually, we would be out of the fields at some stage during November; we normally start harvesting at the beginning of October,” Monagle told Richard Halleron of AgriLand. “An extended harvest adds to growers’ costs. Adding to the challenges faced by producers is the fact that average yields were down by around 20% last year.
According to Monagle, growers are currently receiving an average of €300/t for ware potatoes at present. But that price will have to go up over the coming weeks. Growers’ costs have increased significantly over recent months and packers will have to recognise this fact.
Source: AgriLand. Full report here
Photo: AgriLand
