Tillage: Area of salad and chipping potatoes on the rise
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has confirmed a significant increase in the area of salad and chipping potatoes grown in Ireland.
IFA National Potato chair, Sean Ryan, said that "there is an estimated 1,000ha increase in the area of potatoes grown in Ireland this year.
“Most of this extended acreage has been dedicated to salad and chipping potato production.
"It’s a good news story - Irish growers are now meeting the demand for produce that was, until very recently, sourced by way of imports.
“It’s a development that has also entailed significant investment at farm level. For example, potatoes destined for chipping must be stored at 7 °C. Making this happen requires the development of bespoke stores.”
Ryan added that "sourcing seed to grow these specific potato crops is fast becoming a challenge.
“Up to now, growers were allowed to procure seed from Scotland. Plant health regulations no longer allow this to happen.
“However, we are meeting officials with the Department of Agriculture Food and th4r Marine on this matter over the coming weeks.
“Our aim is to secure a derogation until such times as the required seed can be produced here in Ireland.”
Meanwhile, the IFA representative has likened the outcome of Budget 2025 as ‘an insult to Irish potato growers’
The chair added that it's hard not to "characterise it as being anything other than that. Minister McConalogue is offering potato growers €40/ac as a support payment for 2024.
“In reality, it costs up to €5,000/ac to grow a crop of potatoes. This figure takes account of land rental, seed procurement, crop input and storage costs."
According to Ryan, main crop harvesting of potatoes is just getting underway.
“No produce is in store yet. Crops were planted late and growers are looking at the prospect of yields being well down on normal levels.
“Most crops have been burnt down at this stage with the exception of very late planted Rooster and Golden Wonder. The bulk of the maincrop potato harvest will not take place for at least another fortnight, weather permitting.
“We will be meeting both the retailers and packers over the coming weeks. It’s important that they are fully backing Irish potato growers over the coming months," The IFA potato representative added.
