FROZEN ASSETS

POTATO farmers in the area are facing financial disaster after extreme weather conditions have left thousands of tonnes of potatoes rotting in fields.

One local farmer, whose family have been supplying the Tayto factory in Tandragee for over 40 years, said he was facing the prospect of going out of business after the coldest spell of weather for around 30 years left him unable to harvest around 2,700 tonnes of potatoes at a loss of 340,000.

"I am literally staring disaster in the face because we still have 170 acres full of potatoes which now have to be written off," said Mr John Patterson, who farms 370 acres specifically for the crisp market.

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The Glasker Mill farmer is the largest supplier to Tayto, providing the company with 5,500 tonnes of Lady Rosetta and Lady Claire potatoes each year which are then used in the production of the famous crisp brand and sold in shops throughout the UK.

"We were inspecting the potatoes last week and following the thaw, they are just spongey and rotten and are especially bad for making crisps which is a very specialised business," explained Mr Patterson. "Just before Christmas, the potatoes were tested for sugar levels, which are an indication of cold ground conditions, and we discovered there were nine inches of frost in the drills which is unheard of. I have taken a few knocks over the years, but have never faced anything quite like this."

Mr Patterson said they had all worked "day and night" to try to harvest the potatoes, but a severe frost which lasted for three weeks had "finished off" the crop which had already faced late harvesting due to prolonged rain.

A number of politicians, including MEPs Jim Nicholson and Diane Dodds, visited Mr Patterson's farm recently, although the local man says he is disappointed generally with the response to the crisis from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

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"At the minute we are just sorting out the paperwork and trying to see if a compensation package is available," added Mr Patterson. "Without compensation, there is no doubt I will be out of business."

Another local potato farmer who supplies Tayto is also facing the loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds due to the adverse weather conditions.

Mr Roland Wilson from Ballyward, said he had lost in the region of 130,000 due to rotten potato crops which were unfit for harvesting.

"It is an extremely worrying time for potato farmers in the area and the situation has been caused entirely by factors outside our control," he said. "I have had entire fields wiped out, with no potatoes at all fit for harvesting. It is a total disaster."