Consumers could be paying higher prices for their potatoes over the next 10 weeks as supplies of last year's crop are running out.
The Irish Farmers Association predicted that demand for the remaining 45,000 tonnes of Irish-produced eating potatoes will outstrip supply in the coming weeks.
The prediction came as there was more bad news for both farmers and consumers with reports that this year's new crop had been badly hit by frost damage in the midlands.
Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, said that frost damage had been reported to it from many crops in the midlands but coastal areas seem to have escaped.
It also reported that the early potato crop of Home Guard looked to be on target for harvesting by the end of this month but said it would be into June before any supply of note came on stream.
Teagasc said the planting of the main crop was proceeding and if the weather held good for another week, the great bulk of the crop should be in.
The IFA's national potato committee chairman, John Sheridan, had signalled the price increase for consumers in his report of mid-May stocks.
He reported that potato stocks had significantly declined in recent months, with the result that growers could expect price increases for the remainder of the season. He said the survey showed there were approximately 28,000 tonnes of Rooster and 6,500 tonnes of Kerr Pinks in growers' stores.
"The figures show that supply has tightened up considerably in recent months. IFA estimates that there are approximately 45,000 tonnes of ware potatoes in the country between what merchants and growers have in store. With 10 weeks left in the current season, demand for this product will outstrip supply," he said.
"It is also apparent that good quality washing product is in short supply and IFA is urging growers with quality product in their stores to demand higher returns in the market," he concluded.