The majority of the 2024 main season potato crops in Ireland has been sown, as reported by Teagasc. Despite this, some areas, notably parts of North Cork and Wexford, are still completing the planting process. The cultivation includes a diversity of potato varieties, with Rooster and salad potatoes among them. The anticipated area for potato cultivation in 2024 could exceed the previous year's acreage, although definitive figures will be available after the Department of Agriculture releases official statistics at June's end. This adjustment in planting area may be a response to the previous year's low potato supplies.
Concerning the harvesting timeline, due to the delayed planting this year, the harvest is expected to extend until the end of October, with potential early harvests in late September if favorable weather conditions prevail. However, the emergence of new potato blight strains, such as the EU43 variant of Phytophthora infestans detected in Ireland, poses significant challenges.
Effective control of this and other strains will necessitate a meticulously planned fungicide application strategy, emphasizing the mixing of chemistries and avoiding sequential use of products with identical modes of action. Teagasc recommends adjusting spraying intervals to seven days and maintaining strict adherence once a blight prevention program is initiated. The EU43 strain, previously impacting potato crops in Denmark and the Netherlands, underscores the importance of utilizing a broad spectrum of fungicide chemistries.
Source: agriland.ie