Tillage Support Should Be Targeted

IFA Grain Committee Chair Kieran McEvoy has called on Minister Charlie McConalogue to provide targeted financial support to tillage farmers most in need. IFA held a recent meeting with the Minister and DAFM officials to discuss difficulties in the tillage sector at present.

“The rainfall has been relentless throughout 2023 and has made for a very challenging year on all tillage farms. However, an initial IFA survey through our National Grain Committee shows a number of growers, particularly in the south and south east of the country, still have unharvested spring cereals remaining in fields,” Kieran McEvoy said.

“A substantial area of spring barley and spring oats has also been effectively salvaged with very poor yields since the last week of September,” he said.

“IFA analysis shows the potential losses for per hectare for an unharvested spring cereal crop grown on rented land could exceed €2,200 per hectare, with a salvaged crop potentially losing up to €1,700 per hectare. The financial implications for growers caught in these unfortunate circumstances are extremely serious,” Kieran McEvoy said.

“The €8 million funding announced for the tillage sector in Budget 2024 is very modest. The only way it can make a difference, is to target it towards tillage farmers who have lost most or all of their crops in this very difficult year,” he concluded.