Learn how to grow your business and meet other like minded farmers with FG26/46, Farmers Guardians business skills group. Water not the only factor in reducing size of potato crops
ANDREW Williams of root crop specialists Home Farm, Nacton, near Ipswich, reckons the business will be reducing its potato planted acreage this season by about 10 per cent.
He says the decision was made last September and the lack of water was a major factor.
“The shortage of water is a big worry,” says Mr Williams. “We also made the decision to reduce the acreage for continued sustainability in the rotation - managing pests and disease - as well as low prices.”
Committed
According to Mr Williams, the 1,000-hectare (2,471-acre) farm draws its irrigation water from a summer fill reservoir, and, due to the sensitive nature of the area, winter abstraction is not allowed. “Consequently, we are concerned as to what the level of the flows that feed the reservoir later in the year will be like,” he says.
“When you get to this stage in the season, it’s very hard to change direction with the amount of potatoes you plant, particularly like us if you grow earlies.”
“We’re already committed to contracts, which beg the question that if you don’t fulfil them, will they be available again next year? In addition, we’ve already bought the potato seed for this season.”
He says on the onion side, the business has already financed the cost of storage, which will be paid for whether it is used or not.
“As a root crop grower you are basically caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to a lack of water as everything else is in place for the season ahead,” he says.
North Norfolk potato grower Kit Papworth, of LF Papworth, says the current dry spell in the region is exceptional. He estimates there has been a 200mm (8in) shortfall in rainfall compared with a year ago.
Although the business does not have any storage reservoirs of its own, most in the area he is aware of are at just 25 per cent capacity.
Contract prices
“We have a reduced area of potatoes this year (drilling more oilseed rape instead), but I cannot say water availability was the sole reason. Poor contract prices and expensive land rents are more relevant,” he says.
Mr Papworth says growers will have to be aware of further restrictions on water use later this season and those renting land cannot expect similar amounts of water to be available as in previous years.
“We are already using boom irrigators and doing irrigation scheduling to minimise water use. We will be very careful what we irrigate, other than potatoes, but I am hoping we get a wet period soon,” he says.
