The season’s dire weather has taken its toll on Scotland's potato farmers, who are predicting one of the worst harvests in recent years. Heavy rains and below average temperatures for the majority of late spring and early summer may have cut yields bu up for 50 per cent in some parts of the country.

Farmers gathering at the Potatoes in Practice field-potato event at Balruddery Farm, Dundee heard how the challenging weather conditions experienced this year are expected to impact on yields. Weather issues have provided challenging growing conditions and have triggered high levels of disease and pest activity.

A wide range of crops, from cereals to soft fruits have also been affected by adverse weather across the EU, in what has been an extremely challenging year. Drought and late frost in the early months of the year gave way flooding during some of the wettest spring and summer months on record.

However, those gathered at the Dundee conference did get the opportunity to witness the latest developments in research led by the James Hutton Institute, which uses the farm.

Although conditions have been far from ideal, industry spokespeople said the sector is functioning well and reduced yields may not translate into retail shortages of potatoes this season. Mike Storey, spokesperson for the UK Potato Council elaborated, "Around the country, you've got a range of conditions and the supply chain groups are working together with the growers to make sure the supermarkets and the processors get the crops they need.

"It's too early to say what the conditions are going to be like right across the country at the end of the harvest, but the growers are working together with their supply chains to ensure the consumers get what they need."

Tweet