In Ireland, sales have held up better than expected during last weeks’ heat wave. Sources report that stocks are moving steadily. Sales in the food service sector remain positive. Drought was a huge concern for growers last week; recent rainfall was welcome, but did not reach all areas. Some regions in the south west have yet to receive any precipitation, which will most likely impact maincrop Rooster yields.
In the UK growth rates have slowed even on irrigated crops and some ‘very average’ yields of maincrop are forecast. There is now an irrigation restriction in place and reservoirs are low, with available water often being held back to aid lifting. Many of the crops have reached a ‘stage of no return’ where rainfall could do more harm than good.
The drought in Northern Europe continues although there are low pressure systems lurking which may bring some rain next week and much cooler weather. Test digs on processing varieties show yields are currently around average for the time of year but there is very little growth taking place and senescence is advanced. The main growth period for the processing crop is during August and this year ‘it is just not happening’.
Source: ifa.ie