‘A lifeline’ for later Roosters as farmers plant round the clock

"I'm watching the weather forecast like a hawk but it's such a relief to get out planting," said a farmer who has been sowing around the clock since the rain stopped.

Ivan Curran has planted about 40 of his 700 acres with potatoes since Friday evening and is also trying to get grain into the ground before any change to the weather.

Mr Curran whose farm is in Stamullen, Co. Meath said he, like most farmers, are going “hand to mouth” at the minute and planting as they go.

"We are planting away in our pet fields as we call them, the ones that are dry, at the minute. There are still fields too wet to get into," he said.

"There is some relief but once you can get out and work, you don't have as much time to stress about the situation.

"We went out sowing at 6pm last Friday and we've been working around the clock since. We are all tired but we are out there from 6am to 10pm most nights, literally making hay, or potatoes, while the sun shines.

"I've about 40 of the 700 acres for potatoes planted, mostly with Rosetta, for crisping, and Rooster varieties.

"We don't want to plough too much so we are ploughing as we are sowing. If we plough ahead of ourselves and we get a slap of rain, the ground would be a big mess and take ages to dry up again. We'd find ourselves on the back foot once more.

"So effectively, we are going hand to mouth at the moment and I'm watching the weather like a hawk because it gives more rain at the weekend.

"We are also trying to sow as much grain as possible. I've some barley, beans and maize planted from the autumn and I never normally plant grain this late but we have no choice. The calendar is against us.

"Once you have seed in the ground, there is hope. We can obviously lose some yield if the rain comes back, but at least we have some reprieve with this dry spell.

"Roosters may be still in short supply in June but we have a lifeline for later in the year now."

Mr Curran (above) yields 11,000 tonnes of potatoes in a good year but last year was the worst year for rain he has seen in his 40 years in agriculture.

About 40pc of his crop are Roosters which go to supermarkets for sale and 60pc is destined for the Tayto factory in nearby Curragha for crisps.