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Concern that Irish potato crop could be lost due to frost
Ireland
Thursday 15 January 2009
Concern is growing among potato farmers that up to 2,000 acres of their crop could be lost after last week's frost. Some 6,000 acres of potatoes are still in the ground after disastrous autumn weather prevented growers from harvesting. This is equivalent to one-third of the national acreage of main crop potatoes.
IFA potato chairman Jim Griffin warned that the frost could have destroyed as much as 30pc of the potatoes still to be harvested. Farmers in Meath, Dublin and Donegal have been hardest hit as they have a higher proportion of their crops to be recovered.
Donegal grower Matt Monagle said morale was extremely low as prices remain around (euro)300/t for the top-quality washing market and (euro)220/t for the 10kg market. However, there are reports of some potatoes being sold into the 10kg market at less than (euro)200/t.
It appears that some growers badly affected by the devastating grain harvest are selling potatoes at low prices to boost their cash flow.
