Spuds losing ground to housing
Potato growers are losing prime land to urban sprawl, with over 3000ha lost since 2016.
The newly elected chair of Potatoes NZ has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.
Paul Olsen says assertions about a shortage of potatoes are wrong. He says there is no shortage and there is unlikely to be a shortage this year.
He admits it’s been a challenging year with supply – given the crop losses in one of the major potato growing areas, Pukekohe.
But Olsen says, on average, it’s been a great year for potato growers in Canterbury and the yields could well make up for any losses in the north.
“The one thing that has happened is the challenges faced by the distribution network, especially with the Cook Strait ferries being out of service for significant periods of time,” he told Rural News.
“Because of this and other factors, people may not get the exact choice of potato they like – but there is no shortage.”
Olsen concedes that potatoes are becoming more expensive. However, that simply reflects the additional costs of growing and distributing them.
He adds that everything - from labour, fuel, fertiliser and road user charges - has gone up and these costs are being reflected in the price to consumers.
Another issue has been that with roads blocked or damaged in many areas, trucks carrying potatoes have had to resort to using less direct and lengthy routes, which has added to the cost. Producers of other primary products have also been hit in this way.
However, according to Olsen – who grows potatoes in the Horowhenua – the good news is that the early spuds are now in the ground and new potatoes will be on the menu for Christmas dinner.
The real winner of this year’s FMG Young Farmer Region-off have been the regional communities.
As calving approaches, farmers need to get their teams ready for what lies ahead in the coming months.
Feeling sluggish this winter? Then try some seasonal fruit, renowned for lifting mood, energy and immunity levels just when we need it most.
The missing link in getting maximum weight gain in your calves may be as simple as keeping them warm, says the Christchurch manufacturer of a range of woollen covers for young livestock.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Massey University are joining forces to help raise awareness and funds to combat leptospirosis.
Auckland-based supplement and nutritional company New Image International is celebrating 40 years of business in their home country.
OPINION: In 2021 a group of prominent academics got ’cancelled’ for daring to oppose changes to the school curriculum that…
OPINION: On top of the rural banking inquiry, several as-yet-unnamed banks are facing a complaint to the Financial Markets Authority…