Falling yields of new and main crop potatoes because of late planting and lack of rainfall in the main growing areas could mean higher prices this autumn. However, the price of new potatoes should fall this month, as the main crop will be coming on the market from the middle to the end of August, according to industry sources.
The second early-crop British Queens yield is down by nearly 20 per cent on last season, according to Mr Malachy Mitchell of the Irish Farmers' Association, who said yields were much lower from early and main crop.
Mr Mitchell said this was caused by later planting and near drought conditions in the main early growing regions in Louth and Wexford.
Last week he told a meeting of early growers in Dublin that up to 60 per cent of the second early-crop was already harves ted, significantly ahead of last year. The growers were told they needed to adjust current supply levels to market demand as August was a time of low demand.