while the potato area in the EU-5 is increasing everywhere, the preliminary figures from the United Kingdom show a different picture. The growers there acted differently from colleagues on the mainland. For example, the availability of the starting material in this country does have an effect.
The provisional estimate, published by the government service AHDB Potato, for the potato area for next season amounts to 118.000 hectares of ware potatoes. This figure is the same as last year, because AHDB has adjusted it slightly upwards. This is one of the smallest surfaces in the last 10 years.
Reason for stability
Usually the area increases after a year of high potato prices, but according to AHDB there are 2 factors that have ensured that this has not happened: the availability of starting material and the associated price. As a result, many growers have chosen not to expand their acreage. Even when planting is completed early, as was the case this spring, additional plots are normally planted. This is also not the case.
After a very difficult and late spring, the potatoes went into the ground smoothly this spring. Compared to elsewhere in Europe, the spring months were relatively warm. Since it was especially cold at night, growth is somewhat behind. Drought played a role until the end of June. Frequent irrigation was required to stimulate tuber formation and prevent scab. Many areas benefited from the heavy rainfall in June. Only in the county of Lincolnshire did rainfall cause flooding and crop damage.
Phytophthora
Due to the current temperatures, in combination with sufficient moisture, the phytophthora pressure is currently very high. The plots that experienced a lot of rain are hardly passable. This has made spraying a challenge.
Calculated with the average yield of the past 5 years, the harvest amounts to 5,4 million tons. That is an increase of 10% compared to last year; in a maximum scenario this is 5,8 million tons. If the yield is lower, the volume will be the same as in 2018. With just over 2 months to go, anything can still happen. The data regarding the area is also not yet complete. AHDB has covered 70% of the British potato area.