Serious concerns have been expressed by Boortmalt growers in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, regarding the closure of the local intake point.

Boortmalt has proposed that growers store barley on farm and that it would be hauled by lorry to Athy at Boortmalt’s expense.

Farmers are reluctant to agree to what they see as an about-turn in policy (tipping-up barley on farm was once regarded as a no-no).

While on-farm storage facilities have improved on many tillage farms, particularly for short-term storage, farmers’ concerns are understandable. The burden of maintaining barley to ensure it passes stringent quality standards, particularly in a difficult harvest, is one many farmers would rather not face.

Appropriate intake point

Boortmalt is understood to have taken these concerns on board, and is willing to work towards finding an appropriate intake point in the area. There had been rumours that the remaining Boortmalt-owned intake point at Enniscorthy would not open this harvest, but they have now been dispelled. It is currently closed, with Boortmalt operating from a rented premises in the locality at present.

When Boortmalt took over the Greencore grain business, the intake points were aging. Rationalisation took place in Greencore’s last year of operation, with Castlebridge and Tintern (both in Co Wexford), Stradbally and Emo all threatened with closure. Under Boortmalt, the plant in Stradbally and the rented premises in Rosenallis were closed. Five years earlier, the Banagher maltings and the Tullamore and Borrisokane intake points had closed. Previous intake points existed in locations such as Monasterevin and Portlaoise.

At meetings in Athy and Bagenalstown, Boortmalt’s price proposals for 2017 and 2018 – as revealed in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal – were outlined to growers. The proposals were criticised, as was the absence of any vote to be taken on whether to accept the deals.

The negotiations are concluded, the contract offers are on their way, and the negotiation committee have plenty of issues to work through with Boortmalt, not least the harvest intake for mid-Carlow.