Potato planted area in GB forecasted to increase by 4%
The figure was announced Monday, June 26 during a public webinar. This is up by 4% on the previous year, the same as 2014 and at a similar level to the area planted in 2012 and 2013.
The increase in area in Britain matches similar estimates from across the channel. The North-west European Potato Growers (NEPG), which covers Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK, estimated a combined increase of 3.6% for last month.
Despite area increase, final production figures will depend on the yield of potatoes per hectare. AHDB market analysts’ considered various yield scenarios, pointing to a likely rise in production.
Amber Cottingham said: “A five-year average yield of 44.7 tons per hectare (t/ha) would see a production increase of 4%. This average includes 2012, which was an extremely low yielding year due to adverse weather. If we exclude 2012 from the average it becomes 46.7t/ha, harvest at that rate would result in an 8% increase in potatoes on the market compared to the 2016/17 season.”
Read more at potatobusiness.com
