Field conditions

Soil moisture deficits are over 60mm across the east, south and a good deal of the midlands. In the north and northwest, deficits are around 30mm, stated Met Éireann in its latest farming forecast. Grass growth is practical non-existent and the potato crop can only survive with the intervention of artificial watering.

The expected rainfall at the weekend may bring some relief.

Rainfall

Rainfall amounts across the bulk of the country have been less than 2mm in the last seven days, but northwestern areas have been slightly wetter due to heavy rainfall overnight on Monday and into Tuesday 19 June.

For the coming week, rainfall will be mainly due to thundery showers coming northwards from the Bay of Biscay over this weekend and early next week. This type of event can lead to wide variations in rainfall, Met Éireann has said, but current indications suggest amounts averaging around 15mm to 20mm for the next seven days.

“Grass growth is practically non-existent, and the potato crop can only survive with the intervention of artificial watering.”

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‘Potato crop can only survive with artificial watering’ – Met Éireann

Met Éireann has said that the potato crop needs artificial watering to survive and commented that grass growth is practically non-existent.