The trade in free seed potatoes stopped very early this season. At least if we assume the seed potato listing on the stock exchange in Middenmeer. Since week 12 there is no trade on the board at Bintje, Spunta and Agria.
The fact that hardly any free seed potatoes are traded at the start of the planting season is remarkable, according to insiders. This is precisely the time when the final adjustments are made to the construction plan and there is often a gap that is filled with free potatoes and therefore free seed potatoes. Opinions differ as to how the calm mood should be interpreted.
According to some, the shift from free varieties that are grown completely freely to licensed varieties - often in combination with another agreement between grower and buyer - has been going on for some time. This season, that movement seems to be gaining momentum. The cultivation costs and therefore the financial risk have increased considerably as far as can be estimated at this point in the season, and in return some growers are looking for some certainty.
Little interest
Others think that the relatively limited demand for free varieties has more to do with the development of the consumer market in recent years. First two years with dramatically low prices due to corona and now this year the price seemed to be heading in the right direction. But the war in Ukraine threw a spanner in the works. According to insiders, three moderate to downright bad years may be a reason for some growers to cut back on potato cultivation.
Some (seed) traders are now in a difficult position. Last winter they bought relatively expensive seed potatoes, assuming that demand would pick up as spring approaches. Now that growers appear to be less interested, some traders are left with their fingers in the door with overpriced seed potatoes for which there is hardly any interest.