Comment: Ground conditions are very much improved for parts of the country that were affected by flooding conditions that subsequently halted fieldwork.

Another dry warm week has alleviated this and irrigation is on the agenda again. Irrigation is now full-on in many parts of the UK, as soils are drying very quickly.

Lifting of Queens continues and more volumes should become available this week. Retail demand is high for the new-season crop. Old-season crop will be required until September. However, growers are advised to not rule out supplying the peeling market.

Growers are reminded of the increased risk of blight, as very humid conditions conducive to its spread prevail for most of Munster, Connaught and Ulster. Met Eireann predicts that fresher conditions are expected for the weekend. In the UK, levels of virus are high in some crops and Blackleg is much more apparent than last year.

As continental Europe has switched to new-crop supplies, closer to home the export trade is very limited. The North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) group has predicted an annual area expansion of 3% for continental Europe.