Smallest Potato Harvest In 32 Years

Iceland’s potato harvest last year was the smallest since 1993, reports RÚV, citing new data from Statistics Iceland. Severe weather in the northern regions occurring in early June had a significant impact on root vegetable yields.

According to the published data, last year’s potato harvest was the smallest in over three decades, with a total yield of approximately 5.500 tonnes. In comparison, the 1993 harvest was just under 4.000 tonnes.

Farmers suffered losses of around half a billion ISK due to last summer’s harsh weather, which destroyed crops and disrupted farming operations across much of the country. At Lómatjörn farm in Grýtubakkahreppur, Eyjafjörður — where the usual yield is 300 tonnes — fewer than 100 tonnes of small potatoes were harvested from waterlogged and cold soil last summer. Expected losses are in the tens of millions of ISK.

Last year’s bad weather also impacted other vegetable harvests. The grain harvest was the smallest since 2018, with farmers threshing just over 5.100 tonnes compared to nearly 7.700 tonnes in 2023. The carrot harvest was the lowest in 11 years, producing only 481 tonnes — 53% less than in 2023. The turnip harvest also declined to 549 tonnes, a 14% decrease from the previous year.

Increase in greenhouse crops

Greenhouse farming, however, saw an increase in tomato and bell pepper yields compared to 2023. Last year, tomato production reached 1.362 tonnes, up from 1.247 tonnes the year before, while bell pepper production rose to 228 tonnes from 221 tonnes in 2023.

Cucumber production has been steadily growing over the past 20 years, with the 2024 yield remaining nearly the same as the previous year.

Total lettuce production, which is mostly grown in greenhouses, amounted to 553 tonnes — a 6% decrease from 2023. Despite this decline, it was still the third-largest lettuce harvest on record.

Dairy production reached its highest level since 1977, the earliest year for which data is available.