Potato stock levels and ‘draw down’ at record levels

FARMING POTATO stock levels reached a record 2.4 million tonnes in January – up 25 per cent on last year, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

The latest data survey also showed that the rate at which they were drawn from store was also at its highest level since 2010, when AHDB began measuring stock.

According to the new figures, GB stock levels held by growers rose by 492,000 tonnes compared to the 2017 end-january estimate.

From last November to January 2018 1.19 million tonnes were drawn from growers’ stores – 226,000 more than the same period last season and 14 per cent higher than the five-year average drawdown rate.

Peter Collier, analyst at AHDB said: “Retail sales of fresh potatoes were up 3.8% in the three-month period to the end of January, as measured by Kantar Worldpanel.

“While this is good news, it does not entirely explain the increase in drawdown rate.

“Another factor is a greater level of grade-outs in this year’s crop. With quality reported as reduced in 2017/18, there has been an increased tonnage requirement to meet specifications, as seen by reports of a higher ‘out-grade’ percentage than usual.”

AHDB Potatoes has released a new storage dashboard on Potato Data Centre, where users can examine data on the region or market sector pertinent to them.

There is a chance, that despite these record levels, the market could still “tighten” as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, in a week which saw the UK and EU find agreement on the key issue of the transition period, NFU Scotland attended meetings with Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) and

Scottish MPS to discuss its views on the latest Defra Command Paper “Health and Harmony: The Future for Food, Farming and Environment in a Green Brexit” and how these plans for England fit into the Union’s vision for a new agricultural policy in Scotland after Brexit.

It is the long-standing position of NFUS that whilst a Uk-wide regulatory framework will be important to retain the integrity of the UK internal market and common standards, thereafter all elements of future agricultural policy must remain within the hands of the devolved administrations.

At yesterday’s meetings, NFUS welcomed the fact that the UK Government’s consultation document commits to ensuring the right balance of commonality and flexibility to diverge in order to meet the practical needs for the four parts of the UK.

Next week, NFUS will publish a document outlining its latest thinking on the next steps to a new agricultural policy for Scotland.