Potato organization North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) is concerned about the sprouting inhibition of ware potatoes. According to the organization, it no longer pays to treat free potatoes.
Scarcity
All European countries have to deal with the lack of CIPC this year. For many potato growers, this also means their first acquaintance with the substitutes. Due to the enormously increased demand, these other resources are scarce. This also applies to the administration equipment. This scarcity also results in higher prices. Growers are faced with high costs, especially for long storage until the summer of 2021.
There are also lots in the EU-5 that have problems with germination. In Germany, the use of 1,4Sight and Argos oil has been completely stopped since December 4 forbidden. According to insiders, a new admission for 1,4Sight is expected before Christmas. The requirement is that the drug may only be administered with an Electrofog. Previously, obsolete equipment was used, causing 2 storage sheds to burn down.
Storing does not pay off
The NEPG concludes that it is impossible to treat free potatoes with these new agents. Their prices are simply too high for that. This is also the reason many free potatoes have already been delivered. Not for the chips industry, but for processing into starch, biogas and animal feed. A part has also been exported. Stock figures from France and Belgium show that factories have purchased few free potatoes. Dutch stock figures show a relatively large amount of free product in storage. According to the NEPG, these free potatoes are sold early.
Meanwhile, potato growers are considering the new season. Once the new year has started, processors will start contracting potatoes for the 2021 harvest year. The NEPG estimates that fewer contracts will be concluded. In doing so, it adheres to their advice to reduce the potato area by 15% to 20%.
More consumed
According to the organization, factories will run at 80% to 90% of their normal capacity during this period. This will remain so until the catering industry can reopen in Europe and consumption increases. However, more table potatoes are consumed in the NEPG countries. Exports are also doing relatively well, especially to Africa.