However, many farmers have already taken the decision to reduce the amount of land they will devote to Britain’s favourite vegetable this year, while some have decided to abandon potatoes entirely. “It’s a combination of high costs and not high enough prices for the farmers themselves,” he said, explaining why farmers are abandoning the root vegetable. The main drivers of increased production costs, according to the NFU, are rising energy costs (up 165 per cent), fertiliser (up 40 per cent) and workforce costs (up 13 per cent). Prices will likely rise even higher from October if the potato harvest is smaller than last year’s, he added. Mr Browne said his farm will stop growing potatoes entirely in 2024 if prices don’t rise.
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