Potato shortage: Growers battle rain, cold for small annual harvest
As potato harvest festivals approach, farmers are finding reasons to celebrate. But for some, this year’s crop isn’t one to remember.
Potato growers are bracing for a potentially later, smaller harvest than usual, resulting from some big challenges at sowing time. But the industry is still hopeful the national crop will produce good yields, and ease the current frozen chip shortage.
Wet weather in November and December last year, including floods that wreaked havoc across Victoria, caused extreme delays to planting for some farmers, while others lost crops already in the ground.
Trentham grower Bernie White said inability to access paddocks, cold soil temperatures and rising input costs meant this year’s spud crop in central Victoria would be down on past years.
“The soil was far too wet to plant before Christmas, and it delayed planting by four to six weeks,” Mr White said.
“The high price of fertiliser and prospect of record high prices for diesel and irrigating time” had also prompted some local producers to decrease their area planted, he said.
Ballarat grower Katherine Myers said many farmers in her region had cut back their area planted, particular those who were stung by hail damage in January last year.
“They (hail storms) were a key factor in a number of growers reducing their area planted this year – if they couldn’t be confident of a top-yielding crop, the costs of growing were prohibitive,” she said.
“Since planting, it has been very dry, which is good conditions for potatoes, but costly conditions as they have needed plenty of irrigation, and we know what the price of fuel and electricity is like at the moment.”
Planting in Ballarat starts in November and December, with harvest kicking off in March.
“We won’t know more about yields until we start harvest,” Ms Myers said.
In Trentham, growers will find out how their small crop fared when local harvest starts in April-May.
In South Australia’s Mallee, grower and AusVeg deputy chair Renee Pye said heavy rain late last year “wiped out some crop we had planted”.
“But we have been lucky enough to catch up,” she said. “That crop that was wiped out would have come into harvest now.”
Ms Pye is general manager of Zerella Fresh, a family-owned broadacre horticulture and cropping operation that grows potatoes, onions and carrots, supplying retailers and processors.
She said they were still on track for expected yields, but other growers across the southeast had not been so lucky.
“I imagine some could have missed their (planting) window,” she said. “Quite a few growers were affected by the later, heavier rain. But also having to pull pumps out of the river and not be able to irrigate crops that they would traditionally have grown along the river.”
While Aussie growers have been struggling with too much rain and spiralling costs, drought has plagued potato farmers in Europe.
The challenges have led to a much-publicised global shortage for the processing sector, and a run on products such as frozen chips and potato cakes in supermarkets and the food-service sector.
At Zerella Fresh, processing spuds being planted now would be ready for harvest in several months, Ms Pye said, adding that the wet start had been followed by good summer growing conditions that “helped bring yields up”.
Seed Potatoes Victoria president Mark Peters said the processing crisis had led to increased demand for “over-size” seed potatoes.
“It is worldwide, the shortage,” Mr Peters said. “Look what’s happening in New Zealand; the full affects of those floods haven’t kicked in.
“The prices of overseas over-size (potatoes) have lifted. There will be a premium for over-size for sure.”
Mr Peters is one of seven seed producers in southwest Victoria, who traditionally plant in December and harvest in March-April.
Mr Peters said mounting prices of fertiliser and fuel were their main concerns.
“It is more the cost of production that is hurting people and not getting that return back,” he said.
HOT CHIPS STILL ON THE MENU
If the national potato shortage has you in a twist, Trentham is the place to be on May 6.
The Great Trentham Spudfest returns this autumn, bigger than in past years.
Spudfest organiser Kye Theobald said the whole town was excited to welcome visitors back to the harvest festival with a line-up of produce stalls, entertainment, food trucks and family-friendly activities.
And, of course, chips.
“There are going to be an abundance of chips, and every other potato treat you can think of,” Ms Theobald said. “Hot chips from the CFA, potato doughnuts, potato scones, twisty potatoes, potato and leek soup, baked potatoes, pommes, potato pizza, potato rosti and many more.”
Farmer Alison Walsh from Trentham Potatoes said Trentham growers were positive about this year’s upcoming harvest, despite the unseasonably wet weather causing problems for many producers across the state.
“We harvest in April and May, so there’s plenty of potatoes to go around,” she said. “On top of that, our spuds have so much flavour, so you really need to come to Spudfest to buy your spuds directly from our local farmers.”
Bernie White said he was looking forward to meeting the public, introducing them to varieties grown in the region, and of course, selling spuds.
Spudfest has expanded this year, with three precincts spread across the central Victoria town.
“The Railway station has the main stage, a range of kids activities, Devonshire tea serving potato scones, and food trucks heroing our humble spud,” Ms Theobald said.
“Market Street is transforming to Makers on Market, featuring talented makers and artisans from our region.
“High Street is a must; we are blessed with an incredible range of stores from homewares, clothing, an art gallery, bakeries and cafes.”
There will also be a farmers’ market, music and performers, and a hop-on-hop-off horse and cart.
“The spud growers are very excited by the event,” Ms Theobald said.
“Our region, from one end of the Hepburn Shire, to the other end of Macedon Ranges, is overflowing with food, wine, relaxation, history, culture and art to indulge in.”
The Great Trentham Spudfest runs Saturday May 6, 10am to 4pm.
Meanwhile, in Gippsland, growers will celebrate harvest at the Thorpdale Potato Festival on March 12.
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