Potato crop losses in 2023/2024 not eligible for EU aid – minister
Potato crop losses in 2023/2024 did not meet criteria for support under the EU Agricultural Reserve, according to Minister Niall Collins.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), made the comments in response to a question from Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice.
Deputy Fitzmaurice also asked whether DAFM had sought advice from, or made any formal or informal representations to the European Commission regarding the availability of Agricultural Reserve support for Irish potato growers affected by the adverse weather conditions of late 2023 and early 2024.
Emergency fund
In reply, Minister Collins said: “The Agriculture Crisis Reserve is an emergency fund within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) designed to provide rapid financial support when farmers face severe, unexpected crises that disrupt agricultural markets such as extreme weather events, disease outbreaks or impacts from geopolitical events.
“It is not intended to cover automatic compensation for every loss. Instead, it is used selectively for exceptional situations where coordinated EU action is considered necessary.”
The minister used an example of spring 2024, when the European Commission endorsed applications relating to damage to orchards and heavy losses in fruit production in vineyards arising from a sequence of events which saw an exceptionally warm March, below freezing temperatures in late April and then additional hail in some regions.
According to Minister Collins, the commission described these as “adverse climate events of unprecedented magnitude” because the affected area was extensive and the losses threatened the economic viability of a significant number of farms.
The minister added: “My department continuously monitored the situation with respect to the 2023 potato crop harvest across the sector in late 2023 and early 2024 given the challenges posed by the weather conditions in that period.
“The adverse weather impacted growers to differing extents around the country.
“However, the vast majority of the 2023 planted crop was harvested, with a 97% harvested rate achieved based on industry estimates.
"Overall, the potato sector remained relatively strong throughout 2023 and in 2024 despite the challenges posed by the weather events of 2023.”
The minister said that in this instance, given the high level of crop harvesting nationally and robustness of the sector during the period, the criteria for making an application to the reserve were not considered to have been met.
