Oat crops hit by frost damage
But the horse industry may be hit even worse by damage to an estimated 12,000 hectares of the crop which was planted last autumn, using spring varieties which had performed well in winter conditions here for decades.
South Tipperary was hit hardest, with up to 90% of the oat crop destroyed, but losses were high in Kilkenny and Carlow also. Frost damage is estimated to have cost winter oats growers up to €80 an acre, even before they consider whether to replant a spring crop.
