Giga challenge for Polish potato harvest

Poland is experiencing an extreme season this year. A few years ago the summers were dry and there was sufficient time in spring and autumn for planting and harvesting. For arable farmers it is crystal clear that the weather is changing. Short hot periods alternate with heavy showers.

The 2017 season started late, with frost and snow in May. Then it remained cold for a long time and there were few hours of sunshine. That costs kilos. A little late summer made up for something, but not enough to significantly increase the yield. This largely cancels out an area expansion.

Harvest comparable to 2016
Wojciech Nowacki from the Institute for Plant Breeding and Acclimatization (Ihar) estimates that yields average around 30 tons per hectare. Official government figures speak of 28,5 tonnes per hectare for all species. That is the same as last year.

An initial estimate puts the area at 317.000 hectares, an increase of 1,8% compared to 2016. Less than the 5% that insiders took into account. The third growth in a row. There was another great harvest at the beginning of August expected. However, at the beginning of October the cards were shuffled very differently.

Harvest further delayed
According to Nowacki, 60% of Polish potatoes still need to be harvested. This is consistent with the findings of Boerenbusiness. During the week, 50 to 70 millimeters of rainfall fell, further complicating and delaying the harvest. It is extremely wet, especially in the north. The last wheat could not be harvested there until the end of September. Even now you can still find grain on the land. The situation is slightly better in the south-west and central areas. It is also wet in the east, along the Ukrainian border.

More local supply
According to the IHAR, the market price for table potatoes is currently between 20 and 80 groszy per kilo, equivalent to €50 to €190 per tonne. For French fries potatoes, 300 zloty per ton is paid, equivalent to €69,50.

The underwater weights are on average low, due to the unfavorable weather and a lot of precipitation. “The biggest problem is storing the potatoes. The lots with rot need sufficient ventilation and that is not always available,” says Nowacki. "A lack of good storage facilities and quality problems mean that there is more off-land supply. Currently, due to the rain, harvesting cannot take place at all. A long dry period is needed on the heavy soil."

Number of harvest days decreases
The large potato growers have part of their harvest indoors, but it is not always free from rot. It remains to be seen how these parties will develop. Most companies still have to dig up half to three quarters of their potatoes. In addition, not all onions have arrived. Frost is a real problem, especially in the north. The weather forecast does not show this yet, but the low temperatures at night ensure that long days cannot be worked. Late summer weather is only forecast after this week. If circumstances permit, harvesting takes place 24 hours a day.

Market hardly reacts
The question now is: will the market respond to the current situation? There is little evidence of this in Poland. The sentiment is too negative to change quickly. Perhaps a shift in the flow of raw materials will take place again this season. Only this year it is not going to the west, but to the east.

All major potato processors in the country have expanded their production capacity and are seeing sales increase. Frito Lay, in eastern Poland, is actively looking for potatoes and growers. The export of chips to Ukraine no longer takes place from Russia, but via Poland. French fries exports have also increased.

Export figures show that Poland exported 12 tonnes of ware and starch potatoes in the 2017 months to July 34.387. 100% more than in the previous 12 months. After the Netherlands, Poland is the largest supplier of fries to Russia. This concerns 40.000 tons of fries, compared to 47.500 tons from our country. In the EU28, Poland comes in 5th place, after Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany.A nice batch of Russet Burbank (not free from rot). Here, 450 of the 700 hectares have been cleared.Poland was treated to a lot of rain. Wet rot is a problem in many places.