UK: East Anglia drought risk forces farmers to switch crops

Published 2023년 3월 20일

Tridge summary

Farmers in East Anglia are making the strategic decision to reduce the cultivation of high-risk irrigated crops such as potatoes, onions, and carrots due to the looming threat of a second summer drought. This region, which is experiencing its sixth month of drought, is facing significant challenges in crop growth following last summer's severe heatwave. As a result, farmers are pivoting towards less risky crops like sugar beet, which has seen an increase in prices. Leaders like Tony Bambridge from the National Farmers’ Union and Andrew Blenkiron from the Euston Estate are leading the effort, with Blenkiron reporting a 20% reduction in the planting of irrigated potatoes and other root crops. This trend among growers has raised concerns about potential potato shortages in the future.

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Original content

East Anglian farmers are cutting back on “high-risk” irrigated crops like potatoes, onions and carrots this year in response to the growing threat of a second summer drought, as Chris Hill reports in a news story for Eastern Daily Press. The region is one of only two in the country still officially in drought – six months after last summer’s heatwave left farmers struggling to grow crops in parched fields. North Norfolk grower Tony Bambridge, who chairs the National Farmers’ Union’s regional board for East Anglia, is reducing his potato area by about 10pc, and replacing it with less risky sugar beet, for which prices have risen in recent years. Andrew Blenkiron is director of the Euston Estate near Thetford, where the area planted with irrigated potatoes, onions, carrots and parsnips has been reduced by 20pc – also replaced with sugar beet. With ...

Source: Potatonewstoday