Potatoes

142,000 hectares were grown in 2016. Average yield is around 42 tonnes per hectare. Price is currently about £200 per tonne. Potatoes were first domesticated in Peru and Chile and introduced to the British Isles around 1600 AD, possibly from the wrecks of the Spanish Armada. On arable farms, potatoes are a good break helping to reduce the weed and disease burden in the following arable crop. However, potatoes themselves are quite susceptible to pest and disease infection and are normally grown on a five year rotation. Potato blight caused the Irish famine in the 1840s.