There is a risk of potato prices rising in Germany. Poor weather conditions and crop failures are posing challenges for many farmers. Consumers may see the consequences in supermarkets and even small local stores.
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The issue is that potatoes are left in the fields. Due to continuous rains in recent weeks, farmers in many areas have been unable to harvest their crops.
Potato prices in Germany will increase due to shortages
The Agricultural Chamber of Schleswig-Holstein state states that many farmers have already abandoned their crops. This particularly affects the harvest of seed potatoes prepared for the upcoming season. Similar difficulties have arisen with harvesting sugar beets and onions.
This is not just a problem in Germany but also in neighboring countries like:
- The Netherlands;
- Belgium;
- France.
Dutch farmer Laurens Gerts reports to 1Limburg:
"I can't gather a lot of potatoes with agricultural machinery due to the mud. The tubers sink and rot in the ground."
The Dutch farmer is likely unable to preserve around 10 percent of the harvest. The potatoes that are still being harvested also contain much more water, making them more susceptible to subsequent rot.
According to agrarheute.de, prices for processed potatoes, such as french fries, croquettes, or potato pancakes, are already rising. Price increases in supermarkets are also possible in the near future.
Dauerregen und Überflutungen haben in West- und Nordeuropa seit Mitte Oktober die Aussaat verzögert oder verhindert. Nun kommt ein massiver Wintereinbruch dazu. https://t.co/5VL6bHEyPu #aussaat #wintergetreide
— agrarheute (@agrarheute_com) November 29, 2023
Fortunately, there is currently no anticipation of problems with the availability of potatoes for Christmas. In the coming years, the federal government aims to make significant changes to agriculture, which will also impact food products in supermarkets.
This year's harvest is likely mostly gathered. However, it's worth noting that before winter, winter cereals like wheat need to be sown. Unfortunately, due to heavy rain, the work has been delayed, as many fields are inaccessible for large machinery.
According to the Agricultural Chamber of North Rhine-Westphalia, farmers not only risk getting stuck but also causing long-term damage to the soil due to soil compaction. If it remains dry for several days in the coming weeks, the final sowing will take place.
Related topics:
The shortages of potatoes in Germany are not limited to the country, as similar difficulties are being experienced in nearby nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Due to heavy rain and continuous rains, many farmers have had to abandon their crops of seed potatoes, leading to potential shortages in the upcoming season, and affecting not only potatoes but also sugar beets and onions.
The Dutch farmer Laurens Gerts, who reported to 1Limburg, is unable to harvest a significant portion of his potatoes due to the mud and water in the fields, which causes the tubers to rot. As a result, the processed potato prices, including those for french fries, croquettes, and potato pancakes, are already rising, and supermarket price increases may be imminent.
