The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is to seek immediate compensation from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) for flood-impacted potato growers, who were unable to harvest significant proportions of their 2023 crops.
According to an IFA survey, 650ac of crop planted out last year remains in the ground. This equates to 3.6% of the area sown out in potatoes last year.
The organisation’s Potato Committee chair, Sean Ryan, commented: “Frost in January would have destroyed a large proportion of the crops.
“What’s more, potato growers will want to get spring cereal crops established on this land as a matter of priority.
“So the Department of Agriculture must act quickly in making available compensation measures to those potato growers now facing major losses through no fault of their own.”
The matter was discussed in detail at an IFA National Potato Committee meeting, held earlier this week.
IFA president, Francie Gorman, was in attendance. He said that a precedent for compensation was established by government last autumn when the decision was taken to support cereal growers who were so badly affected by the atrocious weather last harvest.
Compensation for potato growers
The IFA decision has been taken against the backdrop of DAFM refusing to recognise the need for a potato compensation scheme at this time.
According to the IFA, the department is citing the current strength of potato prices and the fact that growers can still technically harvest potato crops planted last year.
Moreover, potato stocks remain very low across Europe with markets very much supply driven.
DAFM is also confirming that no fund currently exists to facilitate the creation of a potato compensation measure.
The IFA is to formally request a meeting with DAFM officials to discuss the issue of a potato compensation scheme over the coming days.
Prior to this taking place, it is envisaged that Teagasc will carry out a survey of those potato crops that have yet to be harvested.
A get-together of all affected farmers will also be hosted by IFA, prior to a meeting with DAFM officials taking place.
By following this approach, it is hoped that an accurate assessment of the losses now facing specific potato growers can be presented on their behalf.
“At the end of the day, we will be looking for a political decision to be taken, one which reflects the plight of those growers, who have been affected so badly,” Francie Gorman concluded.