Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that there will be supports for tillage farmers in next month's budget.

The details of these supports, he said, are not yet finalised, but will be announced closer to budget day on 7 October.

Speaking on day three of the Ploughing in Screggan, Co Offaly, the Taoiseach said that he is "very conscious" of the situation tillage farmers are in financially.

"Tillage is a vital sector to our society and to the economy and also to farming itself and the broader farming community. We will support tillage sector in the forthcoming budget," he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Crisis meeting

A tillage crisis meeting was held at the Killashee Hotel in Naas last Friday night where farmers came from every corner highlighting their concerns for the future of their enterprises.

“Where’s the money going to come from to plant crops for the coming year?” were the words of Wicklow woman Elizabeth Fahy at the meeting.