Flood destroys Scottish potato crop

Storm Babet wreaked havoc in Scotland on October 20, a month after Storm Agnes already ravaged the island. Insiders estimate that a quarter to a third of Scotland's potato harvest was still in the ground before a bucket of water fell. More than 200 millimeters of rain has now fallen, which means the end for the potato crops. Storage areas have also been flooded.

Third flood in 8 years
This is the third time in eight years that Neil MacLeod's company has been flooded tells he told the BBC. That happened in 2015 and again in 2022. After a river burst its banks following excessive rainfall, the Angus district was flooded again last weekend. MacLeod still had some of his potatoes in the field. The winter grains already sown have also been written off.

The floods are not only a blow to seed potato growers, but also to consumption potatoes. The largest variety – Maris Piper – is now paid £300 per tonne, according to market agency Mintec. Converted to €34,37 per 100 kilos. In England the price is slightly higher, at €40,67 per 100 kilos.

15% to be harvested
The United Kingdom was already heading for a historically small potato harvest this year, as the acreage fell again to well over 101.000 hectares. The growing season was also difficult. A late spring was followed by a warm and dry summer. Due to the late planting time, the harvest also started later on average. The most recent figures from Aviko Potato show that 15% of the area is still in the ground.

All these factors are expected to ensure that the UK remains a clear demand market for potatoes this season. When it comes to onions, the British know where to find our country easily. This is slightly different for potatoes, but there have been years in which this has happened. It can help the Dutch and European potato markets to get further out of the doldrums.