Similar to the beet thread what is everybody doing potato wise? We are increasing by 40 acres which on contract should bring in an extra £40,000 profit to our bottom line as long as we maintain yield which we should due to irrigation. No extra equipment or staff needed just a longer planting and harvesting period.
2019 Potato area
- Thread starter D14
- Start date
- Location
- West Midlands
Same as last year.
- Location
- South Shropshire
Same
wellingtonfarmer
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
- Location
- South Shropshire
He’s probably got one of those special farmer calculators.
wellingtonfarmer
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
i use the same calculator when working out how much the cattle make.
ridger
Member
- Location
- Tyrone, Northern Ireland
- Location
- South Shropshire
I also expect you have special soil, whereby an extra 40 acres won’t subject your equipment to any wear or extra breakdowns.
Do your costings properly man.
Do your costings properly man.
Last edited:
ridger
Member
- Location
- Tyrone, Northern Ireland
40 acres nearly broke me when I lost it in the frost one year
Guys I was generalising in round figures not being specific, but all things considered its owned land with our own irrigation so no rent to pay on that side of things which puts us £350/acre better off to begin with. All of our equipment is over 20 years old so theres no finance on any of the stuff pulled by the tractors. Some of the tractors have a bit of finance on them but not much so our machinery cost side of things is quite trim. Yield wise 18 tonnes/acre is where my figure came from.
essex man
Member
- Location
- colchester
So you have just acquired extra land? or have been not bothering to make a reliable 40k for last x number of years?
Pretty much not been bothering really. We reduced the acreage of potatoes 10 years ago to give the ground a longer break.
- Location
- West Suffolk
I suggest you stay the same D14
I suggest you stay the same D14
1 in 7 years is fine.
ridger
Member
- Location
- Tyrone, Northern Ireland
- Location
- West Suffolk
We haven’t done free buy for 20 years and wouldn’t return to it as it’s to risky. Historically we did well 1 year out of 5, we lost 1 year out of 5 and the remain 3 years paid the bills. Contracts make it a consistent return but only if you can water properly which we fortunately can.
- Location
- West Suffolk
Hard to know what to say on this really. I’m a freebuy grower so probably have a different take on the job.
Obviously I want to hear people are cutting back and not growing more. There’s supposed to be a shortage but all I’m hearing is lack of demand and the job is quiet from my merchants.
Prices are holding but if this was a normal year I think prices would be similar to last. And there certainly wasn’t any profit to be had for the majority of the trading season.
Then again on my small acreage I can’t see how making £20-£30 a ton profit year in year out with a contracts is worth the hassle. Free buy price Years like this can go along way with re investment.
I upped our acreage by 25% last year and yes the gamble paid off well. This year going in with someone else too so that will add another 50 acres. But that’s on a farm where they’ve always had that many spuds. So not really adding extra to the market place.
Obviously I want to hear people are cutting back and not growing more. There’s supposed to be a shortage but all I’m hearing is lack of demand and the job is quiet from my merchants.
Prices are holding but if this was a normal year I think prices would be similar to last. And there certainly wasn’t any profit to be had for the majority of the trading season.
Then again on my small acreage I can’t see how making £20-£30 a ton profit year in year out with a contracts is worth the hassle. Free buy price Years like this can go along way with re investment.
I upped our acreage by 25% last year and yes the gamble paid off well. This year going in with someone else too so that will add another 50 acres. But that’s on a farm where they’ve always had that many spuds. So not really adding extra to the market place.
- Location
- South Shropshire
Consumption in many sectors is shrinking fast.
My customers want me to grow more on contract, but I am wary of another dry year. My customers are very important to me, but I don’t want to be in a position where I do not have the volume to honour my commitment. Keeping to 12 tons per acre.
My customers want me to grow more on contract, but I am wary of another dry year. My customers are very important to me, but I don’t want to be in a position where I do not have the volume to honour my commitment. Keeping to 12 tons per acre.