UK potato plantings progressing well as prices ease back
© GNP Dry weather this spring has allowed growers to push on with field work, plant earlier than usual and get potatoes in the ground.
However, drought conditions in some areas are starting to raise concerns over crop conditions and potential yields.
Potatoes accounted for 118,000ha of land in 2024, according to Defra, with the industry forecasting total UK production at close to 4.5m tonnes last year.
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The planted area for 2025 is likely to be similar, however potatoes are becoming a more specialised crop with fewer growers across the UK.
Free buy potato markets started off the year fairly high, but have eased back in recent months.
The Expana Benchmark Price put English white potatoes at £270/t in April, down by almost 20% on the previous month.
Meanwhile, Maris Piper was trading at £290/t, 12% lower than month earlier levels.
Potato merchants reported demand as subdued this spring, with volumes trading down over Easter due to the warmer conditions.
Harry Campbell, market reporter at Expana, said fewer free-buy volumes were being traded with buyers purchasing greater volumes through contracts for the 2024-25 crop year, after two years where supplies had been tighter.
Prices have also come under pressure in Europe, with plantings progressing well in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Mr Campbell said: “The successful and early start to planting has added downward pressure to prices, with the market anticipating an earlier harvest.
“However, stakeholders note that conditions can change quickly, and a drought could still significantly impact final yields.
“Market players remain bearish on the price outlook for the remainder of the 2024-25 marketing year, citing high availability and large contracted volumes held by processors.
“Nonetheless, weather conditions will be a critical factor to monitor going forward.”
Support for growers
Earlier this year, McCain, which purchases roughly 15% of the annual UK crop, announced it would invest £30m during the next three years to support its 250 growers.
As part of its support package, it will pay a varying price a tonne depending on the risk of yield variation of potatoes, offer capital support for on-farm investments, and offer a 20% advance payment of a contract value to help ease cashflow.