Anyone grow spuds?

Qprmeath

Complete disaster this year. I grow about 6ish acres (British Queens and Roosters) but finding it impossible to shift them at the moment. Bumper crops, late start to the season, reduced consumption and foreign imports the main problem. Cant see any future in it at my level at the moment. No washing facilities is also counting against me this year.

Timmaay

I can't say spudmen are popular at all around me ha, they usually come in and try snipe land off everyone, offer crazy rents up to 400e/acre, landlords then start upping the existing tenants rent as a result, not realising the spuds will suck the p and k out of the land.

As a possible alternative however, the neighbour was suggesting growing potatoes as a forage crop, with the very high yeilds making it viable if you are limited on land. Anyone do this?

MickeyShtyles

Who do you supply to or do you just sell them from home? Where in Meath are ya?

Qprmeath

Supply a few shops and van men and sell them at home too. Don't rent any land for spuds. Couldn't really afford to. I'm in East Meath. The other reason for the bad year is the increased acreage planted on the back of there being a small few quid for spuds last year. The wet year made spuds scarce but bizarrely fellas took that as a sign of things to come rather than putting it down as an exceptional year. My family is growing spuds for the last 40 years or so.

MickeyShtyles

Ahright. Ya I'm up yer neck of the woods as well. Work for a crowd that do Roosters & Queens.

Farmer Pudsey

6 acre's of spuds are a lot to shift That might be close to 100 ton of spuds. To put in context that is equivalent to 10K 10kgs bags. Queens have a limited window as pink's usually come on stream around early/mid August. Roosters nowadays are nearly all sold washed as it seems to be a market requirement.

Did you always grow potato's. Most small growers that sell locally tend to grow Queens, Pinks and maybe a few Records. Most tend to have the spuds sold before mid November gets too messy after that. Biggest issue seems to be in early with Queens, as these get your customers for the year. Lot of lads using plastic now on part of the early crop to get in first

Best thing is to reduce crop back next year and carry on. Costs are crazy especially as bag size has droped right down you not have to buy 100bags/ton minimum compared to 40-50 10-15 years ago. Target your market and try to get in early customers can be very loyal if you have a good product.

Qprmeath

Probably had about 50ish saleable tonnes this year. Had no queens this year til mid July probably a month later than normal due to the cold spring early summer. The early market is tiny anyway compared to what it used to be as cold stores keep maincrop spuds perfect well in to the new season. I have a good product and would be well known locally for decent spuds. A lot of the people who used to be customers have passed away as it seems to me its the older generation who appreciate decent potatoes. Also up to about 5 years ago there was a lot of fellas buying spuds for vegtable rounds and delivering to shops. Nowadays these fellas can compete with the big supermarkets especially Lidl and Aldi.

lakill Farm

Qprmeath wrote: »

Probably had about 50ish saleable tonnes this year. Had no queens this year til mid July probably a month later than normal due to the cold spring early summer. The early market is tiny anyway compared to what it used to be as cold stores keep maincrop spuds perfect well in to the new season. I have a good product and would be well known locally for decent spuds. A lot of the people who used to be customers have passed away as it seems to me its the older generation who appreciate decent potatoes. Also up to about 5 years ago there was a lot of fellas buying spuds for vegtable rounds and delivering to shops. Nowadays these fellas can compete with the big supermarkets especially Lidl and Aldi.

try local small supermarkets? or street traders in Dublin? or maybe the large veg lads like Sam dennigan?

Qprmeath

Wont be as many growers next year after this weeks supermarket antics.

dzer2

Qprmeath wrote: »

Wont be as many growers next year after this weeks supermarket antics.

Yeah makes growing your own look stupid now. The only thing is I still aint paying 5c for spuds carrots sprouts of Turnips.

cute geoge

Same old stoy supply and demand dictates the value best bet to shift some bags might be busy local boot sale and get the best location

bob charles

Qprmeath wrote: »

Wont be as many growers next year after this weeks supermarket antics.

the spud market is different, whatever logic suggest, the opposite happens

O.A.P

bob charles wrote: »

the spud market is different, whatever logic suggest, the opposite happens

True that I always saw them as a gamble. I have yet to win on them though but have always got at least my money back.