Seed potato rally sets arable index to record high

Since 2016 is over, the Countus Arable Farm Index has undergone a strong revaluation. And all this because of the ever-increasing seed potato price.

From around 140 index points in the last week of 2016, the number of points rose in January to 196.5 points in week 4. This brings the index to its highest level since it started in 2004. Other times when the return in arable farming has touched such a level was in 2011 and in 2006, but then the number of points did not exceed 164. Which indicates that the record is really a record this time.

When broken down into the components on which the index is based, the seed potato price is the most striking. The price of seed potatoes took off in November 2016 and it is still not over. In fact; the increase was even faster in January than in the weeks before and seed potatoes are now trading above 100 euros per 100 kg.

French fries are also still at a stable high level of around 25 euros per 100 kg. Little movement in the price of EU feed wheat. The price in January is between 176 and 180 euros per tonne. A level comparable to the previous months, but slightly higher than summer 2016.

Prices for onions look less rosy. From November, the onion price has been on a downward trend. At the beginning of 2017, this trend will continue until the price falls below 6 euros per 100 kg in the last week of January.

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