Perusing the census of mushroom production in the Republic of Ireland 2010 Stalker was fascinated to learn that the number of farms in the south had contracted again slightly.
In 2010 there were 85 mushroom farms. In 2011 that figure had gone down to 78 not a massive drop considering the economic rout that the country has been facing. But an 8.25% drop none the less. The farm gate value figure at 1.804/ kg for 2009 98.8m and for 2010 it was 98.5m a very slight percentage drop.
In 2009 tonnage of compost used was 185,078; for 2010 the figure was 182,598.
Thats a 1.3% drop in tonnage used.
What can we deduce from these figures?
Well it would suggest basically steady as she goes, even if in choppy economic waters.
