THE NEXT AGRICULTURAL SEASON IS ENDING, THAT BECAME QUITE DIFFICULT FOR DOMESTIC FARMERS. POTATO GROWERS FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY TOLD ABOUT ITS PRELIMINARY RESULTS DURING OUR TRADITIONAL SURVEY.
Danil Gusev, KFH Gusev D.S., Tambov region
90 ha under potatoes
- By mid-October, about 10 percent of potatoes were harvested on the farm under the most difficult conditions. Heavy rains come every other day, so it is impossible to start a full-fledged cleaning. No technical means save, tractors and cars simply sink in the field. First of all, we dig in areas that are on hills.
In summer, on the contrary, severe drought and heat were noted in the region. Although the air temperature did not rise as high as in 2021, the weather negatively affected the growth and development of the crop. However, I can say in advance that the yield will be higher compared to the previous season. This can be seen both in size and quality, even in places where we used to get fewer tubers.
I know about the prices of ware potatoes mainly from the farmers I know. The lower limit for today is 16 rubles, the upper limit is 21 rubles per kilogram. But keep in mind that Tambov potatoes have always been more expensive than products from other regions.
I don’t think it’s worth waiting for the price to rise, and you need to sell potatoes right now. unknownwhat will happen in the market in the near future, and 21 RUBLE - normal price at cost price kilograms of products within 12-13 rubles. Taking into account inflation and the need to bookmark funds for the development of the economy is acceptable. |
Every year, our potatoes are delivered in bulk from the field to the warehouse, where they are mechanically sorted, packed in bags and sold in bulk.
It is not possible to establish cooperation with retail chains, since there is no own transport for the delivery of tubers. Difficulties arise with the fulfillment of the conditions of retailers, for example, the supply of washed potatoes, so you have to resort to the services of intermediaries. There are not enough funds to solve these issues, but we set ourselves such goals.
The production of the economy for the most part goes to the markets in the southern regions of Russia, the North Caucasus, the Central Black Earth Region, Moscow and St. Petersburg. We have been growing potatoes for a long time and have learned how to produce the highest quality tubers that are in demand by the most picky consumers.
There are plans to increase the area under potatoes to 110 hectares. Having vast agricultural lands, we can afford it, but so far there is not enough material and technical base. Without harvesting this year's harvest, it is difficult to predict how the next season will start. In any case, we are not going to reduce production volumes.
Until recently, we bought imported seeds of the elite and propagated them in our fields. Selected varieties include Red Lady, Lilly, Gala, Colomba, Madeira and Bernina. If difficulties begin with the delivery of seed material from Europe, we will hold out for a year or two at the expense of our resources. During this time, I hope the situation in the world will stabilize.
Victor Chudanov, LLC "Russian Vegetable" Altaic edge
600 ha under potatoes
“According to the results of harvesting work on our farm, this year showed a better yield than 2021. And we are pleased with the results.
Throughout the season, the weather seemed to test our strength. Early spring, of course, pleased the Altai farmers. But in the summer, such features of our climate as sharp fluctuations in temperature, abnormal heat up to 42 degrees, hail, and squally wind appeared. And already in the course of harvesting, at the end of September, frosts hit.
In all cases, this is a serious stress for the culture. But, despite the weather anomalies, the competent actions of the agronomic service made it possible to get a good harvest.
For a kilogram of ware potatoes of network quality today in the region they give an average of 15-16 rubles. How the price will behave in the future, it will be clear after the end of the harvesting work. But, as a rule, at this time there is its seasonal increase.
Our products from the fields are immediately sent to storage and undergo primary processing. Equipment for sorting, washing, packing and packaging of potatoes gives us the opportunity to work directly with Russian retailers and processors.
Over the past few years, the farm, in addition to food, grows potatoes for processing. The contract for its supply is concluded with a large company producing chips. I consider the conditions on which we cooperate this year to be quite acceptable.
Every year we plant potatoes on an area of about 600 hectares, and next season will be no exception. We buy elite seed material of varieties Gala, Red Scarlett, Memphis, Riviera and others in seed farms in Siberia and central Russia. We get the first reproduction from the elite and grow ware potatoes from it.
Tatyana Kayukova, Oven LLC, Perm Territory
900 ha under potatoes
- The harvesting of potatoes on the farm has already been completed. Frankly, we are disappointed with the results of this season. The crop yield did not exceed 180 centners per hectare. The potatoes turned out to be small, and the level of marketability is from 20 to 30 percent. The invested funds and the efforts of the employees were not justified, the weather conditions nullified all our efforts.
May and June turned out to be rainy and cold, favorable for the formation of tubers. Their number reached 30 per bush, which allowed us to hope for an excellent harvest. However, July and August, the most critical months for the culture, passed without any precipitation at all. The drought had a depressing effect on potatoes, the development of tubers stopped.
During the harvest, it was also dry, so we did all the work very quickly, within two weeks. But the quality of the received products is not happy.
In the Perm Territory, the purchase price for small ware potatoes is 6-7 rubles per kilogram, for large potatoes - 16-17 rubles. Unfortunately, demand remains low at the moment. Potatoes of medium and large calibers are more in demand, and potential buyers of small tubers are trying to bring down the already low price.
Usually the farm sells the harvest directly from the field in late July or early August. But this year, the first early potatoes ripened only by August 26, and only 200 tons were sold by the end of the month. And to date, 1,6 thousand tons have been sold.
In the new season, we will plant table potatoes on the same area, retaining the main variety - Gala. But the management of the farm will decide on the purchase of seed material later, based on offers on the market and our capabilities.
Vladimir Kravtsun, Stanitsa LLC, Stavropol Territory
150 ha under potatoes
- By mid-October, the harvesting of the crop is in full swing, about 40 percent of the total volume has already been dug out. The figures are higher than last year, and if the weather permits, there is a real chance to get a good harvest.
Rainfall this year was unusually high. It rained all summer, and with the advent of autumn did not stop. For this reason, cleaning in the household is delayed. We dig potatoes for three days, then we are idle for a week, then we return to the field for several days and stop work again.
Purchase prices in the region vary from 20 to 24 rubles per kilogram, it all depends on the potato fraction. There are no sales problems, our products leave quickly. Dealers take it directly from the warehouse, and the potatoes are transported throughout the Stavropol Territory, sent to Kabardino-Balkaria and the Krasnodar Territory.
We usually try to sell the harvest immediately, provided that the price suits us, as at the moment. I don’t see any reason to wait for a more profitable one, because we don’t know what the market situation will be like in December or March. In addition, we have nowhere to store large volumes, and we want to avoid losses associated with this process. But if we do not have time to sell the harvest, while prices are holding, we will leave part of the production for the winter.
In the next season, we plan to allocate an area from 150 to 200 hectares for potatoes, as in previous years. The farm prefers varieties of foreign selection. First of all, these are Bellarosa, Desiree, Vega, Picasso, Arizona, Colomba and others that are in demand among consumers.
We will most likely be engaged in the purchase of seed material in January-February 2023. I hope that there will be no problems with its supplies from Europe.