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While we’ve often seen the potato harvest roll into November over the years, it’s rare that we have as much crop left to dig so late into the year.
Having spoken to and visited potato growers over the past few weeks and having listened to those involved in the industry, it is clear that 2019 will go down as one of the most challenging harvests in recent times due to high levels of rainfall and wet field conditions. Some areas have now surpassed their annual average rainfall.
Few growers have had big harvest days over the past few weeks, but rather they grabbed the opportunity to lift a few acres when they could. Progress has been made, albeit at a snail’s pace in places.
Many growers appear to have left the wettest fields until last in the hope that the weather would improve and this ground would dry out
However, the poor weather has intensified over the past two weeks, making ground conditions and machinery trafficability next to impossible.
As it stands, the maincrop potato harvest is around 70% complete. That puts the remaining area yet to be harvested at around 2,200ha. This is a substantial area to harvest.
Many growers appear to have left the wettest fields until last in the hope that the weather would improve and this ground would dry out.
The reality has been the opposite and the last few fields for most growers will be the most challenging.
Regional breakdown
Every potato-growing area is experiencing a challenging harvest. However, some areas have enjoyed longer breaks in the weather than others. As a result, the harvest is ranging from 100% to 30% complete depending on which region you visit.
For example, over half of the country’s potato crops are gown in counties Dublin, Meath and Louth. These counties have suffered worse from this autumn’s wet weather. Given their mainly heavy soils, it takes a lot of settled weather to get them dry enough to work once this type of ground gets wet. The harvest is around 65% complete here.
Growers there have had virtually no respite from rainfall over the past few weeks
The situation is similar in Cork and north Wexford, where growers are down to their last few fields but will require a settled spell to allow the remaining land to soak. Growers in south Wexford, however, are in a substantially worse situation.
Growers there have had virtually no respite from rainfall over the past few weeks. Progress here is as low as 30% in places.
Areas of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Carlow, Kildare and parts of the midlands are nearing completion, although there are still some growers with big areas to cover in each county. Ulster appears to have enjoyed the better of the weather over the past few weeks, but conditions were far from perfect. Progress in Northern Ireland ranges from 40% to 100% complete. Progress in Donegal ranges from 60% to 90%.
Initial reports from growers suggest yields are average, if not slightly below but quality is good.
Harvesting was held up for many growers this year due to difficulties reaching the required dry matter content
Tuber numbers on some of the later planted crops this year were low, due in part to challenging weather during tuber initiation. However, these crops matured earlier and are now largely harvested.
Earlier planted crops produced higher numbers of tubers, which have been difficult to bulk this year and took some time to mature.
Harvesting was held up for many growers this year due to difficulties reaching the required dry matter content.
Reports also suggest that tubers formed higher in the drills this year. As a result, losses due to cracking and sunburn are higher and these crops are now more susceptible to frost damage. Reports of pink moulds and rots due to the wet conditions are also higher this year.
We spoke to a number of potato growers around the country to see how their harvest was going.
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