Growers discuss control of potato blight in Ireland
Irish growers fully recognise the need to secure effective blight control within their crops at all times.
But some firmly believe they are not operating on a level playing field.
The recent Teagasc farm walk hosted in Co. Meath provided those in attendance with an opportunity to air their views on this subject.
Some claimed that potatoes grown in gardens and allotments, where fungicides are not used, represent a potent blight threat to commercial farmers.
In tandem with this, the view was expressed that the non-commercial production of potato crops should be banned by the government.
Organically produced potato crops were also cited as potent blight threats for the commercial potato sector.
Blight control
These were lines of thought that prompted a debate on how best the Irish potato sector can best protect itself against the fast-evolving threat of blight.
Teagasc plant disease specialist, Dr. Steven Kildea, foresaw a future within which Integrated pest management (IPP) techniques would rise to the fore.
He said: 'But in the here and now, we have to ensure that the fungicide chemistries available to the potato sector are used to best effect.
'Such an approach should also ensure the optimal longevity of these products.'
Breeding new potato varieties with inherently higher resistance to fungal attack was flagged as part of the potato sector's response to blight.
According to Dr. Kildea: 'But this is not a long-term, silver bullet. There is no doubt that fungal strains will evolve to counter the blight resistant properties of new potato varieties that we can breed.
'What we are looking at is a continuing battle – the grower versus the various blight strains that impact on Ireland.'
Chatting at the Teagasc potato farm walk, (l-r): Daniel Williams and Rory Young, both from Lobinstown in Co. Meath
The Teagasc representative also confirmed the value of the blight warnings issued by Met Éireann.
'However, these should be considered with evidence on the ground secured by growers actively walking their crops on a regular basis.
'For example, heavy dews can create conditions that are conducive to blight even during periods of dry weather.'
But it wasn't all bad news emanating from the farm walk. The event was used as a platform to confirm the availability of a new blight fungicide, Privest from BASF, which has ametoctradin as a core active ingredient.
Launched in the UK last year, Privest is a fungicide for use on a preventative basis and in the early stages of foliar late blight.
It has been specified for use at the early season/rapid canopy stage within the 2025 Teagasc blight programme.
BASF has indicated that there is sufficient Privest in Ireland to meet farmer demand at the present time.
However, a number of growers at the Co. Meath farm walk indicated they could not source supplies of the product at all.
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