According to website potatocrop.com more than 85 per cent of growers and advisers are reporting their yields will be down on last year. The on-line ballot asked whether they thought yields would be up or down when compared to last year and only 14 per cent said they would be up on the previous year.
"Last year was a bumper year in terms of yield with a national average yield of over 48 tonnes per hectare," said Jo Palmer of potatocrop.com. "With the dry conditions that we have experienced through this season, it is not surprising that most growers are predicting such a decline. It is most likely to be those growers who have full irrigation facilities who are optimistic about their yields. Anticipated average yields this year are estimated to be around the 45t/ha mark which is similar to the five-year average yields for planted crops. The key issue here is the impact on overall UK production. The market was nervous a few weeks ago when the national production figure was still being questioned, but there seems to be more bullishness as harvesting progresses."
Growers and agronomists can log onto the site to see survey results and take part in future polls.
No comments yet