Irish mushroom farmers are being forced to import straw, which is the main component of mushroom compost, from Britain because of a shortage of the material here.
Aidan Ryan, a spokesman for the Dewfresh Mushroom Producers' Organisation, said this has led to a 20 per cent increase in compost costs, generating a further threat to the industry. Mr Ryan, who said the number of mushroom growers in Ireland had dropped from 570 just 10 years ago to fewer than 100 today, said the additional costs could drive more growers out of business.
"A reduced acreage of wheat last year and a reduced harvest has been a key factor in the shortfall in straw," he said.
"But farmers are now finding new uses for straw, such as mixing it with feed and spreading it as fertilizer, as well as the traditional use for bedding," he said.
"I never thought I would see the day when straw would have to be imported to Ireland because when the industry really took off here in 1980, farmers could not give straw away," he said.
Mr Ryan, who is one of the longest-serving mushroom farmers in the country, said the straw issue was just the latest setback to hit the industry.
"From being the major suppliers to the UK market, we are now being forced out of there because we are receiving the same price from the supermarkets as we were getting 10 years ago," he said.
"In the meantime, there have been huge increases in oil and transport costs and there has been major consolidation in the sector," he said.
"Producers remaining in the business have massively increased productivity and have become highly sophisticated and efficient food producers. They have a combined output of over €100 million a year and directly employ over 3,000 people in rural areas," he said.
"Mushrooms have been the real success story in Irish horticulture during the past 20 years. Consumers have been provided with a consistently high quality product. However, the future of this top-quality product is under threat unless growers get an increased price."