“In tillage farming, we’re going through a rough year and we’re expecting something” from budget announcements, grain grower James Hegarty told the Irish Farmers Journal.
His priority would be to see measures introduced to provide tillage farmers with access to low-interest finance. “We are paying 5% at the moment for working capital,” said the Whitechurch, Co Cork-based farmer – a significant cost to his business.
While he acknowleged calls for improved income tax averaging to help farmers deal with price volatility, he said this was not his priority: “If you’re a tillage farmer, tax is not an issue. Why bother when not making an income?”
As James makes his planting decisions, he says he has left some poorer and leased land aside for the coming year. But he adds that he and other tillage farmers who are considering scaling back are stopped by entitlement rules that are set separately from the budget: “The 50% clawback is preventing tillage farmers from getting out,” he said, as most are reluctant to sell or stop using their entitlements under current rules.
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