Irish Farming Association (IFA) National Potato Chairman Thomas McKeown has warned that there is a severe risk that much of the potato crop will not be harvested if the wet weather continues.
According to the IFA, only 30% of the potato crop has been harvested, whereas normally, it’s closer to 60% at this time of year.
Due to wet conditions, harvesting losses will be higher which will result in lower saleable yields, the group highlighted in a statement.
The Irish farming representative organisation highlighted that in the north east region where half of the national crop is sown, growers have experienced almost double the normal average rainfall in August and September.
This means that harvesting of the main crop in this region is three weeks behind last year.
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