Ireland: Many potato farms facing closure

The Irish Farmers' Association has warned that many potatoes farmers "will be forced out of business" unless packers and retailers increase returns to their farmer suppliers. IFA president Tim Cullinan said that commercial potato farming is "simply not viable" this year with land rental, fertilizer, fuel, and storage costs. He was speaking ahead of a national meeting of potato growers being held by the IFA at the Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport next Wednesday, March 15, at 7pm. "The mood among potato farmers is at an all-time low, and we are facing an exodus similar to the vegetable sector if action is not taken urgently," Mr Cullinan said. Hanging in the balance The chair of the national potato committee Sean Ryan said that the upcoming potato season is "hanging in the balance because of a broken food chain. "The IFA has marked this out for the past 18 months, but we are at breaking point. Growers simply cannot afford to put crops in the ground this year if changes are not ...