A SENIOR IFA official in Donegal has said this year’s potato harvest is the worst he has seen since 1985.
Describing this year’s potato season as being a “complete shocker”, Donegal’s Potato Chairman, Donald Logue said 1985 was the only other year he remembers being a complete “wash out”.
“Ground is more or less nearly at its capacity regards to the water it can hold.
“That leaves it very hard then for man, woman and machine trying to dig in those conditions.
“Down the country, there are places where fields of potatoes are just completely flooded and I would say if there is anything left in the drills it will be a salvage situation,” he said.
With the soil completely “sodden”, Donald said farmers are considering taking the gamble of not digging their potatoes until the spring.
However, if there is a hard and deep frost during that time the potatoes will begin to rot.
Also having a massive issue with blight this year, Donald said farmers had to spray their crop as much as every four days adding to this year’s expenses.
“We had massive issues throughout the season with blight.
“Normally you go every seven days with a blight spray but in some places they were going as tight as four days apart.
“With the wet and humid conditions, it was perfect for blight.
“It has just been awful,” he said.
Taking into account the high inputs at the beginning of the year, the price of fertiliser, diesel and the price of land if you are renting, Donald said if farmers break even this year they will be doing “very, very well”.
“Some farmers who have potatoes on their own ground and has them out could fair well enough.
“But, if they are renting ground and hit the dear ground, dear fertiliser, dear diesel and the lateness of the crop going in, all those factors create the perfect storm.
“There are a lot of hidden factors when it comes to potato farming and potato
storage.
“They talk about the humble potato, but it is very dear to put on your plate,” he said.
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