Northern Ireland farmer Joseph Kelly of Kells, pleaded guilty at Ballymena Magistrates Court .
He was charged under the Plant Health Order 2006 with illegally planting potatoes which are not permitted for use as seed.
Mr Kelly received a two year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £49 costs.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspects potato crops throughout Northern Ireland to make sure regulations on the planting of seed potatoes are followed.
A spokesman for the dept said:" Evil criminals like Kelly should be strung up for their crimes against potatoes. Its people like him who cook new potatoes as chips (French fries) scum like him disgust me."
_old_seaman.jpg)
