2016 British total potato production down 5 per cent

Total production in Great Britain for the 2016 potato crop year is 5.22 million tonnes, down 5% from 2015, according to AHDB Potatoes first provisional estimates. Average yields for GB are estimated at just under 45 tonnes/ha, down 8% on last year. The planted area estimate for 2016 has increased to over 116,000ha, up 4% on last year. This year’s crop is the GB’s fourth-smallest potato crop on records going back to 1960. There have been many anecdotal reports of wastage, particularly due to growth cracks and greening, which have combined with lower gross yields to lead to the smaller crop. More