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As exclusively revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal on Friday, a tillage crisis scheme has been given the green light by the Department of Agriculture.
The scheme details have been sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for approval.
The move is the culmination of months of pressure from tillage farmers, the IFA and local representatives.
The 2016 grain harvest was a disaster for many grain growers who farm west of a line from Cork city to Donegal.
In January, the IFA protested outside the Dáil to highlight the losses suffered by farmers.
Farmers lost 25% to 50% of their total grain harvest and some fields were a complete write-off. The farmers also lost up to 50% of their straw. In all, some 245 farmers lost more than 21,000t of grain and the equivalent of 82,500 round bales of straw.
How much money did farmers lose?
According to an IFA survey of growers, tillage farmers lost more than €4.1m. Their total loss on grain amounted to €3.032m, while they also lost €1.073m on straw.
The farming organisation campaigned for an aid package to be put in place to help these growers pay bills that they are not able to clear.
These include debts owed to co-ops, agri-merchants, machinery dealers and fuel suppliers. Around 80% of tillage crops are grown on merchant credit.
Why was the harvest such a disaster?
Incessant rain, humidity and lingering sea mist caused massive problems at harvest time. Met Éireann recorded more than 25 rainy days and 20 high-humidity days in September.
This made it impossible to harvest many crops and those that could be harvested were cut at very high moisture content.
Which farmers were worst affected?
Growers were worst affected in counties Clare, Galway, Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon and Tipperary.
Compensation
Both the IFA and Fianna Fáil called for a fund to be put in place to compensate farmers who lost their crops and income.
The case was first brought to Europe, but EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan explicitly ruled out the possibility of an EU crisis fund.
Farmer representatives wanted a pot of money with farmers able to draw down as much as €15,000 to cover their losses and allow them to be ready for the 2017 season.
However, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed initially rejected calls for a dedicated tillage crisis fund.
In late January, members of Dáil Éireann voted in favour of establishing a crisis fund for farmers along the south coastline and western counties who suffered devastating crop losses.
Now a fund is being put in place, under which the Irish Farmers Journal understands farmers will be able to apply for a maximum payment of €15,000.
Dáil votes in favour of tillage crisis fund
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