Ireland’s potato acreage down 12% in 2015

Ireland’s potato acreage is down 12% year-on-year, according to Teagasc’s John Pettit. “We also know that yields to date for 2015 are down by 15-20% on expected levels,” he said. “In a normal year, either of these developments would bring about a significant increase in market prices post-harvest. But the fact that both factors are coming into play at the same time should result in a more than significant strengthening of main crop returns later in the year. “And it’s a prospect that will be genuinely welcomed by all potato growers, many of whom are under tremendous financial pressures after two successive years of very low prices. More