British potato growers will lift 5.446 m tonnes of crop this year, according to the British Potato Council‘s provisional estimate released this week.

The report, based on 544 crops, reveals that while planted area rose 3% compared with 2006, average yields fell 4%. That produces an overall yield reduction of 1%, and a 9.5% shortfall compared with the five-year average of 46 t/ha.

Flooding, water-logging, greening, growth cracks and blight caused significant losses. The BPC adds that wastage occurring further down the supply chain, is not allowed for, and this figure will be higher than average.