Potato prices on the rise

Experts said the price of the common spud could hit a peak price after five years of unpredictable weather.

But competition from imported varieties may prove enough to keep local prices to a minimum.

Local farmers had been left disheartened by poor yields and had been attempting to cut costs by reducing their crops.

In the entire Lurgan area over 12,000 hectares of potatoes in 1968 had decreased to just over 9,000 in 1989.

The hottest July on record for the past 10 years had not added to the problems.