While most potato plantings are now finished around Europe, certain locations in Belgium and Southern Netherlands have seen more than 25mm of rain in the last ten days.

“Early plantings generally look well but agronomists continue to report problems associated with the extended planting season and the use of ‘exhausted’ as well as cut seed. Variable emergence and seed rot is evident,” according to the latest IFA press release.

In Ireland, potato consumption remains buoyant with more demand coming from the peeling market as the holiday season begins.

“Plantings are now complete following a challenging period of unsettled weather conditions. New season material continues to creep onto the market; however, volumes are low. There are some reports that crops are developing unevenly to date due to seed quality and weather conditions,” the IFA potato experts added.