CARROT SHORTAGES are predicted by next spring as a result of the recent flooding, with some growers warning that further weather issues could lead to large amounts of the crop being wiped out.

With over 50% of all UK carrot growers affected, the worst hit regions in the North of England and the Midlands have been unable to lay down straw to protect their crop from frost, with only carrots in East Anglia and Scotland appearing to be unaffected.

With over 10 billion carrots consumed yearly UK-wide, Scottish carrot growers may need to pick up the shortfall to meet demand of the nation’s favourite vegetable.

NFU Scotland’s horticulture committee chairman James Porter said he had already seen a Scottish farm lifting carrots early, which could be linked to shortages south of the border: “A farm near us has already lifted carrots which had been targeted for the spring, leaving bales of straw sitting out in the field which clearly had been destined for bedding over the winter. If it is happening here, it is likely to be the case in other parts of the country. This is perhaps an indication that there could be a shortage in the spring.”

However, some Scottish farmers have warned that it is still early days to predict shortages, highlighting the drought of summer 2018 – where warning bells led to an increase in imports from the likes of France, despite an abundance of the crop in the UK. Willie Mitchell farms 350 acres of mostly organic carrots in Turriff with some late season conventional ones: “We haven’t been affected the same up here and have managed to get everything strawed down for the winter.

“Flooding has had an impact down south but there is still time to salvage the crop and retailers always make a point of preparing for such scenarios, so there is often 10% production over and above what is required.”

The harvesting of carrots is continuing across the UK, but flooded land has prevented growers from using the machinery and equipment necessary to spread straw.

“The flooding has caught a lot of growers out,” stressed Coral Russell of the British Carrot Growers Association. “It has stopped them spreading straw as they usually do at this time of year. If we have a frost now or more wet weather, then all the carrots that are not covered with straw will get damaged and be unsuited for the market. They’ll be rotten.”

Nottinghamshire farmer Mark Strawson is one of the UK’s biggest carrot growers and said that the continuous autumn rain had prevented farmers from reaping the rewards of a good growing season: “Unlike 2018, this year has generally proved to be an excellent growing season for carrots with both quality and yields above average. However, since mid-September unprecedented levels of rainfall have made field operation extremely difficult with very few entirely dry days recorded over an 8-week period.

“This protracted wet period has not allowed growers to cover crops with straw which is vital to protect them from frost over the winter. With such a small area protected to date and field conditions remaining poor there is a very high risk of crop loss should the weather now turn cold. Such a situation would severely disrupt supplies to retail customers,” he concluded.