North Yorkshire potato grower and NFU Potato Policy Group Chair Tim Rooke has warned that the volatility experienced across the last two seasons underlines the need for British producers to align planting decisions closely with market demand. In a commentary published on 1 December, he said recent conditions had shown “just how unpredictable potato growing can be” and highlighted the financial pressures shaping the sector.

Rooke described two sharply contrasting seasons: a dry 2025 in which “the rain more or less stopped” after an early start, restricting irrigation on his farm, and a 2024 season that “was wet from start to finish.” Despite being “complete opposites,” he noted that the two years delivered similar yields — reinforcing the scale of weather-driven unpredictability and the diminishing relevance of an “average” season.

This variability has fed directly into national market conditions. Rooke pointed out that “in 2024, a tight supply pushed free-buy prices up to £600–£700 a tonne,” while this year “there’s hardly been any free-buy trade at all.” The shift, he argued, reflects “how quickly the balance between supply and demand can shift.”

Against this backdrop, Rooke urged growers to ensure that production is guided by confirmed outlets. “That’s really the point I want to make: grow for your market, not for one that isn’t there,” he said. Potatoes remain a capital-intensive crop, and Rooke emphasised that “production costs of fertiliser, fuel, power, storage and labour” routinely bring expenses to £2,500–£3,000 per acre “before you sell a single tonne.”

Around two-thirds of the national crop is now grown on contract, while the remainder is marketed on the open market. Rooke said both channels matter, but argued that the principle remains constant: “It pays to know your market.” He added that “clear planning and regular communication throughout the supply chain” are essential to maintaining sector confidence.

With more land returning to potatoes due to pressure on cereal margins and shrinking support payments, he cautioned that expansion “needs to be done for the right reasons,” noting that “taking on extra ground only makes sense if there’s a secure market for the crop.”

Rooke said the UK sector remains fundamentally strong, citing adaptability and technical resilience among growers, alongside ongoing investment from processors and packers. However, he highlighted two areas where policy outcomes could materially improve operating conditions. “Access to water is one of them,” he said, calling for “a more joined-up approach to irrigation and storage.” He also warned about the loss of long-standing plant protection products and stressed the need “for a balanced, science-based approach that recognises the risks we take and the standards we work to.”

Looking toward 2026, Rooke reiterated his central message: “Grow for your market.” He advised producers to “focus on producing the right crop for your customers, manage costs carefully and keep building those long-term relationships.”

Rooke farms in partnership with his brother and son in North Yorkshire, growing approximately 600 acres of processing potatoes for the chipping and crisping markets, including King Russet, Pentland Dell, Lady Rosetta, Brooke and Taurus.