British potato grower leaves 800 euros per hectare

The British Potato Organization AHDB Potato has analyzed cultivation data from the top 25 percent of growers in the country. The government service concludes from this that a grower is losing an average of 700 pounds – converted more than 800 euros – in profit. There is mainly money to be made from seed potatoes, fertilizer use and product storage.

AHDB Potato researcher Rob Clayton spoke about the analysis at an arable farming conference in Scotland. This surveyed the best performing 25 percent of all British potato growers. What do they do better, which makes them excel in the hectare yield.

According to Clayton, the two factors that weigh the most are adjustments to the amount of seed per hectare and the efficiency of fertilizer. This yields an average benefit of 43.000 euros per company. The advantage per hectare is 820 euros per hectare.

'By making simple adjustments to the planting distance, nitrogen dosing and potato storage, a lot can be gained at the bottom,' says Clayton. 'It is necessary to help growers to increase their productivity and improve the kilo and hectare yield.'

In 2015, British potato growers harvested an average of 48,8 tons of potatoes from one hectare. In Germany, France and Belgium 50 tons/ha is achieved. In particular, the average Belgian yield of 56,2 tons/ha is an illustrious target for the British.

Clayton agrees that there are of course more factors at play. Soil quality, the weather and the selected varieties. Nevertheless, according to AHDB, there is sufficient room to make a profit. Profit can also be made for the processors, the Englishman thinks. Consumers are not looking for ingredients, they are looking for ready-made solutions. That is why the chilled potato segment is growing and the share of table potatoes is decreasing. 'Premium' potato products are also in demand because prosperity in the middle class is increasing.

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