The Irish potato area has suffered a massive 20% drop this year, following a number of years of low prices.
ADVERTISEMENT
The area planted to potatoes in 2015 has seen a massive 25% drop compared with last year. This is unquestionably related to poor prices and negative margins for the past two years in particular.
Department figures indicate this planted area of 8,000ha to be the lowest on record.
Commenting on these statistics, IFA Potato Committee chair Eddie Doyle said: “The terrible farmgate prices endured by potato farmers over the past two seasons have decimated the area of potatoes in this country and any further drop would leave the industry unsustainable.”
ADVERTISEMENT
With potato crops running three weeks behind normal for this time of year, industry sources estimate that potato yields may be down about 20% compared with last season – mainly due to a combination of wet, cold conditions at planting and one of the driest Junes on record in the eastern part of the country.
With planted area and production also expected to be lower in the UK and the EU, Doyle warned that the IFA will not tolerate any attempts by merchants or retailers to undermine the potato market.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
The area planted to potatoes in 2015 has seen a massive 25% drop compared with last year. This is unquestionably related to poor prices and negative margins for the past two years in particular.
Department figures indicate this planted area of 8,000ha to be the lowest on record.
Commenting on these statistics, IFA Potato Committee chair Eddie Doyle said: “The terrible farmgate prices endured by potato farmers over the past two seasons have decimated the area of potatoes in this country and any further drop would leave the industry unsustainable.”
With potato crops running three weeks behind normal for this time of year, industry sources estimate that potato yields may be down about 20% compared with last season – mainly due to a combination of wet, cold conditions at planting and one of the driest Junes on record in the eastern part of the country.
With planted area and production also expected to be lower in the UK and the EU, Doyle warned that the IFA will not tolerate any attempts by merchants or retailers to undermine the potato market.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS