The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has reported that potato planting is complete in the south-east of the country.
The delay due to changeable weather has made this year’s planting season one of the latest on record.
In its latest report – published on Wednesday – the IFA noted that planting in the south-east had only concluded ‘over the past few days’.
The report noted, ‘It is speculated that numbers under plants will be lower as crops are so late being planted.
‘There is a lot of demand and enquiries for any new season crop coming onto the market as stocks become increasingly tight.’
Reports of a delayed season gained traction when unseasonably wet weather prevented farmers from planting.
While some dry days appeared, there was insufficient time between rainfalls for the ground to dry out and enable planting.
Stocks
Diminishing stocks following last year’s late planting season and delayed harvesting – also due to the weather – further exacerbated the crisis.
Cold and wet weather in recent weeks has driven up demand for the starch, causing prices to rise.
The issue gained media attention in April, as farmers called out for greater supports, as their businesses were in danger of suffering beyond recovery.
The chair of the IFA’s potato committee and potato farmer Sean Ryan told the Financial Times in April, “I’ve never seen anything like this year before.”
When asked directly on Newstalk, the Dublin county chair of the IFA, Paul Flynn, said that the extreme weather was “definitely climate change happening”.
Flynn urged the public and the government to support farmers through the planting difficulties, noting that importing the food would create higher emissions and raise the cost of items.
“We need food,” he said. “The food has to come from somewhere.”
Read More: Potato Planting Improves As Warmer Weather ‘Turns The Stone’
