IFA national grain chair Liam Dunne has warned that without political intervention on a number of fronts, the tillage sector is in imminent danger of collapse, with major implications for the entire livestock sector and our world-renowned drinks industry.

He called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to immediately convene a meeting of all stakeholders to secure a commitment from them to use native grains and support the industry.

Dunne identified the following measures as crucial to the survival of a central element of our farming system:

  • Abolition of tariffs and anti-dumping duties on fertiliser imports as fertilisers now account for 40% of variable production costs.
  • Review by the EU Competition Authority of the cost of plant protection products, which are priced significantly lower to growers based in other regions across the world.
  • Priority access to low-cost working capital similar to their EU counterparts.
  • Increased GLAS payments.
  • Extension of protein crop area to allow coupled payment.
  • TAMS investment programme.
  • A reduction in the burden of compliance for greening.

    • Dunne said: “The European Commission and the Government cannot continue to ignore the gravity of the deepening income crisis on many tillage farms after four consecutive years of low grain prices below the cost of production, increasing costs and reducing direct/greening payments.”

    The grain chair said that the IFA will be keeping a vigilant watch on the quality of ration on offer to farmers this coming season.