The river Slaney is being investigated as the possible source of the first outbreak of brown rot in Irish potatoes, which was discovered last September on two farms near Enniscorthy, the National Potato Conference was told yesterday.
The outbreak was uncovered in a water sample from the river near a potato merchant's premises. When the stocks there were tested and found positive, the source was traced back to two farms. Now, in an effort to ensure the disease does not spread and cause significant yield losses in the national crop, potato farmers along the river are being urged not to irrigate their crops from the river.
Michael Hennessy, tillage and potato specialist with Teagasc, said seed stock had been eliminated from the investigation as a possible cause, and that the local water was now being investigated as a potential source.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Trevor Sargent, urged growers, merchants and importers to inform the department of all imports of seed potatoes, as infected seed potato lots were the primary source of infection.