Tractor-mad kids wanted to become potato farmers for the day
Potato growing has been a difficult occupation this past year with both heavy rain and drought making the job of planting, growing, and harvesting spuds a challenge.
Nonetheless, grower and packer Meade Farm who marked International Day of the Potato on Thursday 30th May by inviting one lucky farming enthusiast and their friend to join them in this task by donning their overalls and wellies to become a potato farmer for the day.
For tractor-mad children and future farmers under the age of 12, the online competition will offer the winner, accompanied by a guardian, an opportunity to experience behind-the-scenes, hands-on potato growing at the Meade Farm in Lobinstown, county Meath. The company is also offering an annual membership to Emerald Park.
"Potatoes are such a hugely important crop to the health of the nation and to our economy that we want to support this campaign wholeheartedly. We thought that we might do something different that both emphasises the essential work that potato farmers do, but is also a fun day out for kids who would otherwise just experience farming through the computer game Farming Simulator," explains Commercial Director Philip Meade Jr.
This competition runs in conjunction with the campaign by the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation to highlight the significance of this crop to world populations. From small holders with no mechanisation to vast commercial farms, the potato contributes to food security and nutrition across the globe.
The importance of the crop to Ireland's agri-economy is underscored by the prodigious work of Teagasc, Ireland's agricultural research organisation, who are a leading breeder of new potato varieties worldwide. Teagasc is currently developing more sustainable varieties that are input-use efficient and water-stress resistant, a new priority with climate change.
Meade Farm's own efforts to improve the sustainability of their potato crops have led them to become Ireland and the UK's only producer and seller of food-grade potato starch, a staple in the manufacturing industry and with chefs.
The winner of the competition will be kitted out in personalised Meade Farm gear and shadow Meade Farm Manager Daniel Williams as he works in the field, riding in the tractor cab as the spuds are harvested, brought to the potato store and packhouse. For more information or to enter, parents can go to Meade Farm’s social media.
The potato, from its beginnings in Columbia to its colonisation of Europe and the rest of the world, has risen to the challenge as one of the most versatile crops ever grown, adapting to a wide range of climate and soils. The United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato, and since then climate change has become more of a factor.
Ireland recorded an annual average temperature of over 11ºC for the first time in 2023 and produced the wettest March and July months on record (Met Eireann). The decade from 2006-2015 has been the wettest in the period 1711-2016 (EPA). While potato production has risen globally by 14% from 2008 to 2022 (Statista), that same period in Ireland has seen a decrease of 3,510 ha or 29% of acreage harvested (Potato Pro).
As Ireland faces new climate pressures, both our current and future potato farmers must be prepared to adapt to a changing environment. With this competition, Meade Farm hopes to educate at least one lucky youngster about how this might be done.
The competition runs from 27th of May to the 8th of June, with the day out at the farm scheduled for the autumn when the potato harvest starts. See Meade Farm socials for entry details.