Farmer outcry as potato wars erupt

October 1, 2025

By Rachel Williams

North East farmers will join counterparts from across the State to rally in Deloraine this Thursday as they fight against a Simplot deal they say will devastate the industry.

Simplot has been under fire for its 2025 grower offer which is about $28/tonne lower than last season.

Combined with increased input costs of around $25/tonne, farmers are fuming about the situation which has led to a TasFarmers petition calling out the American-owned entity for its behaviour.

North Scottsdale farmer Trevor Hall said he was “pretty bloody shitty”.

“The new management group for Simplot in America want to source fries from around the world for the same price as they pay growers in India and China,” Mr Hall said.

“A monthly wage in India is $350 Aussie dollars so how are we meant to compete with that?

“If this is the price point they are willing to pay into the future, the local industry will die.

“Throw in the unknown quantity of Mop Top Virus and who knows what the impact will be?”

Mr Hall said a lack of communication had compounded the problem, with the Simplot offer “coming out of the blue”.

“It is past the eleventh hour now so this year most people will still have to plant because they don’t have a choice but next year will be a different story no doubt. Some people might be able to cut back for this season but it is very late. No one saw this coming.

“Simplot need to come back to the negotiating table because they are destroying the goodwill between the company and the growers for the long term.”

It is understood rival McCains has offered growers $20 a tonne less than last year.

“But they have got variables such as a levee for fertiliser which is costing $300/tonne more than last year,” Scottsdale farmer Peter Lette said.

“Simplot doesn’t have any of that.”

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the mood has shifted from concern to outright anger.

TasFarmers has hundreds of signatures on a petition via Change.org which outlines how under threat potato growers are.

The peak farming body says after years of working with a fair pricing model that allowed farmers to invest in farms, hire locally, and support communities, global giant Simplot and the supermarket duopoly were driving unfair cuts. 

“Farmers face a 36% drop in returns, dragging prices back to pre-COVID levels despite soaring input costs, while supermarkets keep pushing your checkout prices higher,” the petiton reads.

“Growers can’t walk away; they carry debt for land and equipment, and their family livelihoods on their shoulders. This isn’t fair to farmers, their workers, or Tasmanian families. Fair food means fair prices. Stand with farmers to protect our food security.”

You can sign the petition via TasFarmers on Facebook.

Mr Hall said it was a sad situation, especially for young farmers entering the industry.

“We go on about food security and getting to Net Zero then you have a company prepared to ship French fries half way around the world when we have the ability to grow here. Where is the common sense?

“It is one of the worst situations I have seen the industry in.”

The Federal Government and Simplot were contacted for comment.

They will be the target of Thursday’s rally where some farmers will drive their tractors into Deloraine to show
the public the financial pressures they face.

“If we want a safe, secure, and sustainable food supply in Australia, we cannot allow the viability of our agriculture to be threatened by cheap imports brought in simply to boost corporate profits,” Mr Calman said.

“I would urge consumers to choose local when purchasing frozen potato products, and show their support for our farmers.”

Mr Calman said in 2024, more than 218,000 tonnes of frozen cooked potatoes were imported into Australia, a 25 per cent increase on 2023 levels, but with only a 3 per cent increase in total value. 

“The result is a flood of cheap, overseas products of unknown quality entering the market, with no apparent reduction in shelf prices for consumers,” Mr Calman said.

“The frustration among farmers and consumers alike is growing as more imported potatoes arrive by stealth. 

“While the retail price of fries continues to climb, with a large serve at McDonald’s now $5, Tasmanian farmers receive just 11 cents for the potatoes that go into them. Farmers are pressured to grow less and sell for less, while consumers pay more.”