The Irish Farmers Journal understands that agreement has finally been reached on the headline issues of the crisis fund for the tillage sector.

Following marathon talks that lasted almost as long as the six-day sit-in that triggered the review of the original Department of Agriculture proposals, the upper limit of compensation will more than double to €10,500. The maximum that had been available was €5,000 per farmer.

Now, farmers who lost over 50% of their crop will be eligible for compensation of €300/ha up to 35ha – a total of €10,500.

Farmers who lost between 30% and 50% of their crop will receive €200/ha up to 35/ha, or €7,000.

The scheme criteria will allow up to 20% of crop to have been utilised on-farm.

The details need final approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on one side, and the IFA grain committee on the other.

Listen to "Tillage crisis fund finally agreed" on Spreaker.

Two days of talks last week failed to produce an agreeable outcome, so further engagement took place on Monday and Tuesday.

The few hundred farmers involved have been agitating for a rescue package since last autumn, with particularly active groups of tillage farmers relentlessly pursuing the issue in Cork and Galway.

In December, the IFA addressed the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee on the subject. Fianna Fáil inflicted a Dáil defeat on the Government on the subject back in January.

Following that, discussions commenced between farmers and the Department within the framework of the tillage forum.

IFA sit-in

When news emerged that the package would be limited to €5,000 per farmer, rather than the expected €15,000 limit, the IFA staged a sit-in of the Department’s headquarters, Agriculture House.

IFA president Joe Healy acknowledged the role of the IFA grain committee, particularly those members who had spent six nights in the Department.

“None of the farmers in question stood to gain from the scheme,” he said. “Many, including the chair Liam Dunne, were from unaffected counties. They did what they did out of solidarity for their fellow farmers and they deserve great credit for the commitment they showed.”

Read more

Full coveerage of the tillage crisis fund