Munster Express Online

The freezing weather conditions of the last fortnight have had a devastating impact on potato producers with initial estimates showing losses of over €15m on potato crops still in the ground.

IFA National Potato Committee Vice-Chairman, Thomas Carpenter, told The Munster Express 6,000 acres of potatoes across the country remain unharvested due to the disastrous wet weather in November and early December. Now the situation was made even worse by the frost of the last few weeks. Worried growers believe that at least 75% of those crops would be lost to frost damage, said Mr Carpenter.

Describing the situation as a ‘wipeout’ for growers who had already endured a very difficult season with low prices for their produce, Mr Carpenter called on the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, to address the situation and come forward with a support package for those farmers worst affected.

The IFA leader also pointed out that field vegetable crops such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots and celery were being monitored. Growers had been unable to harvest those crops in the last few weeks but were not in a position to quantify their losses at this time. In addition, some winter tillage crops, especially winter oats, were becoming vulnerable to severe frost damage following the extended cold spell.