Spain (Castile and León): Potato acreage in the region increases by 12%
The largest increase in hectares was recorded in Valladolid with a growth of 893 hectares, while the strongest percentage increase was seen in Zamora, which gained 27.4% of its surface area.
The recent campaigns were already predicting good prices and a continuation of this trend, in addition to the decline of sugar beet as a competitor. Potato acreage in Castile and León increased by 12.2% in 2025, reaching 19,398 hectares compared to 17,290 in 2024, meaning the tuber has gained 2,108 hectares.
An analysis of the figures provided by applications for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aid, which were released a few days ago, provides this data, which shows how farmers have opted for corn, reaching 124,012 hectares (7,240 more than in 2024); and potatoes, as a refuge from the abandonment of sugar beet, which has lost, this campaign alone, 12,082 hectares, falling to 19,398 hectares, a far cry from the 32,324 hectares in 2024.
Analysis of potato acreage in Castile and León
According to CAP data, farmers in Castilla y León have dedicated 19,398 hectares to potato cultivation this campaign, representing a 12.2% increase compared to the 2024 figure, when it was 17,290 hectares.
Valladolid and Salamanca are the two provinces leading this sector, at least in terms of surface area devoted to this tuber. The 2025 CAP states that, in the province of Valladolid, a total of 5,607 hectares of potatoes have been planted, an increase of 18.9% (893 hectares) compared to the previous data, which was 4,714. Meanwhile, for Salamanca farmers, this figure stands at 5,201 hectares for the current campaign, representing an increase of 10.5%, bringing the total to 494 hectares.
It should be noted that the largest percentage increase was recorded in the province of Zamora, with a 27.4% increase from one season to the next, going from 853 hectares to 1,087, representing a quantitative increase of 234 hectares devoted to this tuber. Ávila is close behind in this regard, with a 22.9% increase, adding 305 hectares year-on-year to reach 1,638 hectares.
It is worth noting that, despite the overall increase in surface area, two provinces in the region are reporting downward figures. This is significant in the case of Palencia, where the reduction is 124 hectares, a 17.1% decrease, falling to 602 from the previous 726. And, more marginally, in Soria, where the reduction is 12 hectares, a percentage decrease of 4.3%, due to the fact that only 269 hectares were dedicated to this crop in this province during 2025.
León saw a 13.1% increase to 1,334 hectares; Burgos saw a 6.4% increase, with 1,784 hectares dedicated to this crop; while Segovia gained 51 hectares, reaching a total volume of 1,876 hectares and becoming the third largest province in the region dedicated to this crop.
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