12 May 2022
|
Weather conditions prompt alert
THE Irish National Meteorological Service recently issued a potato blight warning.
A Status Yellow warning for potato blight for Co. Clare was issued last Wednesday (May 4th) by national forecaster Met Éireann which warned that weather conditions were likely to be conducive to the spread of potato blight in early-sown crops in parts of the banner county over the weekend.
The blight warning expired on Saturday around lunchtime, with weather conditions improving over the weekend.
Markets remain largely unchanged across the country, according to a recent report in Fresh Plaza. Stock is moving, albeit at lesser quantities than experienced during the pandemic. Many growers are now complete or nearing planting completion following a good spell of dry weather with excellent ground conditions. The margins of growers with potatoes in storage have been hugely eroded as a result of energy costs.
This, coupled with recent rapid rate of inflation has seen a reduction in planted acreage. A market response will be required immediately to safeguard the industry.
Source: agriland.ie / Fresh Plaza
