Wet summer could ruin €150m in crops

More than €150m worth of crops could be ruined by dismal weather over the summer, it was revealed today.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said growers are facing massive financial losses after harvesting less than two-thirds of their crops.

IFA national grain chairman Colum McDonnell said a combination of a poor summer harvest, rising costs and falling prices could spell disaster for many farmers.

“At a time when the harvest should be coming to a close, growers are hoping for a week of sunshine to finish,” he said.

“But it’s not looking too good. If the weather doesn’t take up, crops worth €150m are at risk. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed for a dry period.”

But Met Éireann warned another week of adverse weather is on the way.

“Tomorrow will see more heavy rain and could result in further flooding,” said meteorologist Vincent O’Shea.

“While Sunday will be mainly dry, there is very little hope of any decent dry periods next week.

“There could be more torrential rain in the Midlands and East with rain or showers expected every day.

“There’ll be very little joy for farmers with the possibility of fields being water-logged again.”

The worst-affected areas are parts of Leinster, including north Kildare, Meath, Dublin and Louth, where just half the winter wheat harvest has been brought in due to heavy rain and high grain moisture.

Much of the straw crop has also been lost due to poor weather.

“We are looking at a salvage situation in some areas and serious financial implications for growers,” Mr McDonnell said.

“At this stage, farmers will be going out to salvage crops even though there’s still moisture there.

“But the crops are deteriorating day by day. They’re overripe and also the fields are so badly waterlogged that some of the machines won’t be able to travel through them. An advance on the single farm payment would help to alleviate cashflow difficulties.”

He said grain farmers are experiencing their worst summer since the mid 1980’s.

“The last really bad harvest was 1985 but it wasn’t as bad as this because we got it in eventually,” he said.

“And the losses sustained by farmers were nowhere near this scale.”

Mr McDonnell said the long-term effects of a bad harvest may put farmers out of business.

“Between the weather and grain imports from abroad, many farmers will go to the wall. There’s a very depressing feeling because many people thought things would turn around this year. There’s a sense of desperation.

MEP Mairead McGuinness called for an immediate assessment of agriculture and an advance of the single farm payment to help farmers.

“The problems in Leinster are serious, although throughout the country there are very serious extra costs on farmers.

“The immediate issue is to salvage the grain harvest but given this morning’s inclement weather it is looking increasing difficult because of soils that are exceptionally wet.”