Could crisps be hit by drought?
Andrew Marsh is a farm manager in Atcham, Shropshire, where they sow 1,200 acres of potatoes to turn into crisps.
The farm also sows 2,000 acres of other crops, however it is the potato yields that have been most affected by low rainfall in the past two years.
Mr Marsh said: "Potatoes are very water intensive as a crop. A potato consists of between 75%-80% water so it is very dependent on water."
His strategies include switching crop variety to a more drought-resistant potato and planting crops closer to water sources, such as reservoirs and boreholes.
In the next five years he aims to reduce his water consumption by 50% to make the potato crops less sensitive to water shortages and restrictions.
13 Mar 2012
- From the section Shropshire