France is heading for a catastrophic potato crop this year. The potato organization UNPT is therefore sounding the alarm and knocking on the door of the agriculture ministry for a support package. Trial harvesting figures show that the potato harvest is lower than in 2018.
It has not been this dry in France since 1958. In July, an average of only 9,7 millimeters of rain fell. Summer 2022 is an accumulation of records in the country, which has actually been dealing with drought since this spring. Even satellite images show how large parts of France turn brown where green grass used to grow.
€250 million damage
The impact on arable farming is also major. The grain harvest was smaller, but the 'autumn crops' such as grain maize, sugar beets and potatoes in particular took the biggest hit. Reason for growers' organization UNPT to sound the alarm and contact the minister for a support package. The potato sector says it has suffered a loss of more than €250 million this season.
According to UNPT's own test harvesting figures - for weeks 33 and 34 - the average potato yield is 36,1 tons per hectare. This is the lowest measurement in 20 years and therefore less than was sampled in 2018. Then the yield was 12% higher. Compared to the ten-year average, the current yield is 10% lower. With starch potatoes, the yield does not even exceed 26 tons per hectare. UNPT writes that the country will be short of 1,5 million tons of potatoes this year.
UNPT has submitted a plan to Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie that is based on three pillars. First of all, a loan system for potato growers to maintain their cash flow. The second pillar is financial support at national or European level and finally a capital injection for the starch sector, which is hit hardest.
Market steady and quiet
Just like in other Western European countries, the potato market feels calm and price-containing. French processors pay €25 for Innovator, Shepody and Daisy, among others, although hardly any free potatoes are offered and purchased. The price of table potatoes is slightly higher at €30 to €35. Grubbing is problematic for growers who cannot irrigate. Due to irrigation bans, this is no longer possible in most places. In the Picardy department and the Champagne region, this is still possible to some extent and potatoes are being harvested on a piecemeal basis. In Nord-pas-de-Calais - where many chip potatoes are grown - this is no longer possible and the harvest is at a low level. When harvesting takes place, the potatoes must be processed within a few hours.
What also hinders harvesting progress is quality. In addition to harvest damage and bruising, there are problems with washing through and discoloration due to an extremely high underwater weight. Potato growers are therefore wondering how they can harvest potatoes for storage under these conditions.
Drought continues
Precipitation is also forecast for the north of France this week. This concerns a few millimeters that do little to change the current situation. The European JRC warns that the drought could last until November, especially in the south of France. Meteo France wonders whether there will be enough precipitation this winter to replenish the much-needed moisture reserves. In addition, a flood warning has been issued. When it rains, the soil cannot immediately handle large amounts of precipitation.