Potato growers in far north Queensland struggling

Potato growers in far north Queensland say they've had their worst season in 40 years.

A huge oversupply nationally saw prices drop as low as AU$100 a tonne, when it costs about AU$350 to produce a tonne of spuds. Atherton tablelands grower David Nix says it's put many growers under financial pressure.

"You're talking to growers now and they simply cannot afford to buy seed and fertiliser to plant the next crop,"he said. "So they're really in the lap of the banks. The banks determine whether they grow this year or they don't."