Ireland: Potato harvest comes to a close with yields back ‘close to 10%’

The potato harvest is more or less complete for another year and yields are expected to be back close to 10%, according to IFA Potato Committee Chairman Eddie Doyle. The majority of potato farmers across the country will have the crop harvested by now, thanks to ideal harvest conditions over the last few weeks, Doyle said. Early estimates indicate that yields will be back close to 10% on last year, which Doyle said is due mainly to a drop in sunlight levels this year. “Conditions were as good as ever, there was no quality problems. There was no poaching and there was no expensive drying needed this year. Yields were lighter this year, they were back between 2-3t/ac at least. But remember last year was an above average year.” More