Potato stocks

Growers had approximately 1.3 million tonnes of tatties in storage at the end of March, according to figures from AHDB Potatoes.

The levy body said the amount of potatoes held by growers at the end of the first quarter was similar to that of March 2015 and approximately 300,000 tonnes more than at the end of March last year. Scottish stocks at the end of March were 273,000 tonnes, or 21% of the GB total, which is down by just over 50% in two months from 576,000 tonnes at the end of January.

AHDB analyst, Amber Cottingham, said the high level of production this season resulted in stock levels at the end of November 2017, and January and March this year being higher than the last couple of years. This higher level of production has been apparent in the pricing, with weekly average free-buy prices significantly down on last season,” she added.

She said to date, around 4.7 million tonnes had been either sold off the field or moved out of grower held stores since harvest - the highest level of movement recorded since the 2011/12 season.

“Reports this season suggest that due to the low prices, growers with lesser quality stocks have been more inclined to dispose of them rather than holding on,” added Ms Cottingham. The 2017 harvest conditions caused quality concerns for many crops and so a higher percentage of lower quality stocks, compared to previous years, is probable.”

Looking ahead to the 2018 season, Ms Cottingham said planting had been consistently hindered by wet and cold weather for much of the UK. She said in a typical year around 60% of the crop would already be in the ground by this point in the season, however many early growers are still planting.