Much of Ireland’s farmland is ‘like soup’ after weeks of near record rainfall – with fears a potato shortage could be on the horizon.

Rainfall in March was over 200% above normal rainfall for the month in some areas like Finner, County Donegal, where rainfall was 219% above normal levels.

There was 45.3mm of rainfall recorded at Dublin Airport on March 1st, the most recorded there in 82 years, and Valentia Island saw 239.8mm of rainfall throughout the month - the most seen there in March since 1963.

Potatoes are usually planted around St Patrick’s Day in Ireland but just 50 acres of the crop have been planted nationwide so far, well off the typical 21,000 acres.

Potatoe planting

On Breakfast Briefing today, Irish Farmers Journal News Editor Amy Forde said the non-stop rain is making it difficult to plant potatoes.

“With the downpours we’ve had, farmers can’t get into their fields with tractors – it’s too wet and they can’t do anything," she said.

“Parts of the country are in soup or slop essentially.

“It has improved in parts over the last couple of days and lads have gotten out but the amount of potatoes that have gone in is a fraction of what should be in the ground for harvest later in the year.”

Rising costs

Ms Forde said this could lead to the cost of potatoes rising later in the year.

“It could mean we’re looking at a potato shortage of Irish potatoes anyway," she said.

“Supermarkets might then stock their shelves with imports from other countries, but that remains to be seen.

“If there is a lack of supply that would mean the price will go up in the shop shelf, but will supermarkets move to stock shelves with cheaper imports? Who knows.”

Irish potatoes. Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Dublin IFA Chair Paul Flynn told Newstalk Breakfast today that farmers are at their wits end because of excessive rainfall.

“If they don’t get the crops in the ground, mental stress will be a huge problem in keeping the farm gate open and keeping things going this year,” he said.

“There is a huge problem this year getting fruit and veg into the ground and it’s a nightmare for some growers.

“The workload on farms to try and get all this done, and it’s on top of the financial problems farmers are going through to try and keep the farm gate open.”

Climate change

Mr Flynn said climate change is “without a doubt” happening.

“It is definitely making things more difficult for farmers to grow,” he said.

“But food is going to have to come from somewhere and we don’t want to have a huge carbon footprint from bringing it from the far side of the world to Ireland.

“We need to support Irish farmers and not them fall away.”

Rainfall in March was up 145% on its long-term average according to Met Éireann.

Main image: A huge puddle of rainfall on a farm. Image: Panther Media GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo