Thursday, 2nd
August 2018
East Cork
Teagasc update on
Potato Crops Potatoes are the most important na- tive vegetable crop, with Irish consumers purchasing on average over 85kgs per person in 2017. Like all other crops in the field they have been badly af- fected by the current drought conditions. A severe lack of rain has stopped crops from growing during the crucial bulking up phase of growth. While some growers have access to irrigation, approximately 75% of the national crop has not received irri-
info@eastcorkjournal.ie Agriculture
gation this year. The relatively late start to the season, combined with a reduction of ap- proximately 14% in the overall area planted, means that supplies of potatoes to customers are likely to be very tight this year.
“The situation in the
north east is critical,” according to Shane Kennedy Teagasc po- tato advisor based in Drogheda, “Crops that have been irrigated are growing well, howev- er those that have not received water are not growing at all, tubers are small and many have been infected by
common scab”. Ken- nedy goes on to say that “it is very difficult to predict overall yield at this stage, but crops could easily be back by 20% on average”. It’s a similar sto-
ry in the south east where some early and main crops have suf- fered badly. “Skin fin- ish has been affected in crops that are not irrigated,” said John Pettit Teagasc Potato advisor based in John- stown Castle, County Wexford. “Tuber bulk- ing has been signifi- cantly affected where crops have received no irrigation. Foliage
23
info@eastcorkjournal.ie Deadline Monday at noon
Teagasc update on Potato Crops
on these crops is also starting to die back leaving very poor yield potential in such crops. Irrigated crops how- ever are looking very well with good yield potential and excel- lent skin finish. With some growers having applied as much as eight applications of water with an irrigator the additional costs in- curred are very signif- icant.”
“While crops in Don-
egal have not suffered as much from drought conditions as further south some crops have required irrigation”, according to Martin
McCullough Teagasc Letterkenny. “It has been dull and overcast for the last couple of weeks with rainfall of 10-20mm on a couple of occasions which has definitely helped the situation. Overall crops look well and provided there is some rain over the next cou- ple of weeks we should be over the worst of it”.
Shay Phelan, Tea- gasc Potato Specialist recommends growers assess each crop to see if there are actions that can be taken to preserve yields and quality in crops and
should also consult with their customers sooner rather than lat- er. He said: “there is not a lot that growers can do to crops that haven’t been irrigated to date to improve skin finish or yield there- fore it may well be better to concentrate on existing irrigated crops”. Growers should talk to their customers to discuss quality param- eters such as skin fin- ish and final saleable size.
Skin blemishes,
mainly caused by com- mon scab, are purely cosmetic and have no impact on cooking or
eating quality. Farmers should also consult with financial institutions to see if they can get access to additional credit, if needed. “It is better to be pro-active with the stakeholders and try to deal with the prob- lem now rather than waiting and trying to deal with it next win- ter”, added Shay. Teagasc
are available to dis- cuss these issues with farmers at local offices around the country.
advisors
• Cork IFA met with David Stanton TD, to discuss the importance of a fully funded CAP Budget. Pictured (L-R) are Sean Clarke, John Coughlan, Anne Baker, David Stanton TD, Maurice Smiddy and Harold Kingston.
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