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Vegetable farmers are facing increased costs in order to keep crops growing, with many farmers resorting to water irrigation and hand-weeding, according to a Teagasc report.
It’s estimated that up to a quarter of this year’s broccoli crop has been lost, with one grower losing a 16-acre field of fleeced broccoli with an estimated value of up to €100,000.
Teagasc has outlined that where crops have been irrigated they are doing well. However, the cost of irrigation can be high, with an irrigation rig costing up to €50,000 and variable contractor costs of around €100/ac per 25mm application.
The worst drought to have hit the vegetable industry in living memory
In many instances the uptake of traditional herbicides has been hampered by the dry weather and some crops had to be hand-weeded.
One grower reportedly spent almost €6,500 on getting a team of 27 staff to hand-weed a 21-acre field of parsnips.
The situation is dire in some cases, with reports of complete crop failures in some cases and confirmation from Teagasc that almost all crops have been affected by the drought.
"This is the worst drought to have hit the vegetable industry in living memory," the report states.
It concludes that Teagasc believes that some growers will not be in operation next year as a result of the financial pressure caused by drought-related crop failures.
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