A "lucky" Donegal farmer, who is one of the first in the country to manage to plant a few acres of potatoes this season, says farmers are under huge stress with the incessant rain.
Jamie Rankin was able to plant 10 acres of Roosters last Thursday and a further five acres last Monday on his farm in Carrigans.
The east Donegal farmer has managed to buck the trend nationally where rainfall has made it impossible for most growers to access their sodden land to sow crops.
Jamie farms 100 acres himself but also rents a further 500 acres, 280 of which normally provide yields of various varieties including Rooster, Whites, Piper and Salad potatoes.
"Myself and my neighbour were able to put in some potatoes in the last week," he said.
"I think we have been sort of lucky. The jet stream has moved to the southeast from us, which means that while we haven't been without rain, we haven't had as much as the rest of the country. Normally it's here that we get it the most.
"It was a case of going out whenever we could. We are on call in this weather all time, looking for a window of opportunity. We have some acres planted but we are a long way yet from getting them from the ground.
"I've light, free-draining soil so while it is not ideal, I'm happy enough with the conditions.
"We had hailstones and temperatures of six degrees on Tuesday so I'd prefer a warmer bed to plant. For the next 10 days, I'll be watching to see if growth starts. We need to get planting by the 15th April. That's the crucial date. Planting after mid-May and you are guaranteed to lose yield.
"I'm the fourth generation of my family to farm and have been at it for 25 years. This is definitely the worst few years I've come across.
"Farmers are under a lot of pressure. Costs are still ridiculously high, fuel is up again but the main thing is uncertainty. No-one knows what's coming in terms of weather.
"That's very hard on farmers looking out at their fields underwater. They've invested their livelihoods, time and family. Everything into them and it has to be taking a toll on mental health."
Meanwhile, Michael Hoey of Country Crest Foods in Lusk, Co Dublin, says it's the "unknown more than anything."
"There are no crops in the ground and six months of rain. We are living on reserves and the reality is coming home. I've never seen anything like this and I've been farming since I left school, over 40 years ago.
"We have had wet winters before but they were different. It didn't rain for so long. Winter came last year on October 12th and the rain hasn't lifted since."
Michael, who deals with growers all over the country says it is all farmers who are suffering and not just the potato growers.
"It is everyone in the industry, barley growers, everyone. It's very hard on the wellbeing of farmers watching it and not being able to do anything about it.
"We have a glimmer of hope in the forecast next week but we need three weeks of dry weather to salvage this year."
