News Potatoes
Does the French government see ghost potatoes?
The French agricultural statistics service Agreste surprises the potato sector with a slightly more favorable forecast for the potato harvest this year. Although the figures are well below the average, there is no question of a disastrously poor yield. Earlier, UNPT spoke of a potato crisis in the country.
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Choose the subscription that suits youIn their latest forecast, Agreste thinks that the hectare yield will be 39,42 tons per hectare for consumption potatoes. The five-year average is 38,2 tons per hectare. In 2021, the yield was even 44,6 tons per hectare. That's lower, but not as bad as the 36,1 tons UNPT previously reached notification made of.
500.000 tons fewer potatoes
In total, Agreste expects a French potato yield of 8,2 million tons, including 6,1 million tons of consumption potatoes. A year ago the yield was 8,9 million tons, of which 6,6 million tons were consumption potatoes. The yield is therefore slightly better than in 2018. Here too it should be noted that the area four years ago was 145.000 hectares. That is now 155.000 hectares.
Potato growers in the Champagne region and Nord-pas-de-Calais, among others, can partially irrigate their crops. These returns are clearly at a higher level, but that is not the case everywhere. In the Champagne region mainly table potatoes are grown and in the north, towards the coast, more and more chip potatoes. Industry insiders also report that returns are poor to very poor. For the chip potato segment in particular, the exact figures may show a different picture than Agreste's forecast suggests.
Figures for starch potatoes are not realistic
The statistics service goes even further with the figures for starch potatoes. He estimates the yield at 924.000 tons at 43,8 tons per hectare. This is very exceptional, since these crops are not irrigated at all. Here too, the crisis among growers is great with very low yields.
It rained last week, especially on the coast in the northwest, with about 50 to 60 millimeters. Little significant rain is forecast for the second half of September at a somewhat moderate temperature. This precipitation has largely come too late for the potato crops because it lacks potential. However, it can cause quality problems with washing through. The amount of precipitation is favorable for harvesting - something that has not been possible for several weeks - but more precipitation is required on the very dry soil to really improve the situation.
