Farmers who buy compound feed rations must insist on the use of Irish grains. The call came from IFA Grain Committee Chairman Mark Browne after recent revelations that some feed merchants are now producing rations which contain little or no Irish grain and have replaced it with maize grain from non-EU sources.
Browne stated that Irish tillage farmers are angry at the reduction in the use of Irish grains, considering Irish wheat and in particular barley is still readily available in store.
“We are forecast to import in excess of 1.3mt of maize for the current marketing year with the majority of this originating in Canada, Brazil and the Ukraine,” he continued.
Level playing field
Low maize prices continue to undermine much of the demand for native wheat and barley.
Low maize prices continue to undermine much of the demand for native wheat and barley.
Through the acceptance of grain imports without demanding an equivalence in environmental or production standards, it has created an unlevel playing field for Irish tillage farmers.
Browne stated how Irish growers are forced to compete with non-EU feedstuffs which have regulatory and competitive advantages in relation to GM technology, fertiliser costs and use of plant protection products.
This has resulted in a reduction of 67,500 ha in the area planted with main cereal crops, which represents a drop of over 20% in the past 10 years, he says.
EU Commission hypocrisy
Browne pointed towards the hypocrisy of the EU Commission who have increased the regulatory burden on local cereal producers while allowing increased access to non-EU feedstuffs produced to different standards.
He said that the acceptance of different standards at an Irish and EU level for native and imported grains cannot be tolerated.
Furthermore, Irish tillage farmers have been disproportionately affected by the current CAP due to convergence and greening measures, and he reiterated that any further reduction in supports under CAP 2020 cannot be tolerated.
Political action
Tillage farming has become a vulnerable sector and in order to prevent further decline in the area, urgent political action is needed at local and EU level, Browne concluded.
Read more
Farmers need to be adequately compensated for growing malting barley – IFA
Grain prices: a spring of discontent for farmers over imports
Farmers who buy compound feed rations must insist on the use of Irish grains. The call came from IFA Grain Committee Chairman Mark Browne after recent revelations that some feed merchants are now producing rations which contain little or no Irish grain and have replaced it with maize grain from non-EU sources.
Browne stated that Irish tillage farmers are angry at the reduction in the use of Irish grains, considering Irish wheat and in particular barley is still readily available in store.
“We are forecast to import in excess of 1.3mt of maize for the current marketing year with the majority of this originating in Canada, Brazil and the Ukraine,” he continued.
Level playing field
Low maize prices continue to undermine much of the demand for native wheat and barley.
Low maize prices continue to undermine much of the demand for native wheat and barley.
Through the acceptance of grain imports without demanding an equivalence in environmental or production standards, it has created an unlevel playing field for Irish tillage farmers.
Browne stated how Irish growers are forced to compete with non-EU feedstuffs which have regulatory and competitive advantages in relation to GM technology, fertiliser costs and use of plant protection products.
This has resulted in a reduction of 67,500 ha in the area planted with main cereal crops, which represents a drop of over 20% in the past 10 years, he says.
EU Commission hypocrisy
Browne pointed towards the hypocrisy of the EU Commission who have increased the regulatory burden on local cereal producers while allowing increased access to non-EU feedstuffs produced to different standards.
He said that the acceptance of different standards at an Irish and EU level for native and imported grains cannot be tolerated.
Furthermore, Irish tillage farmers have been disproportionately affected by the current CAP due to convergence and greening measures, and he reiterated that any further reduction in supports under CAP 2020 cannot be tolerated.
Political action
Tillage farming has become a vulnerable sector and in order to prevent further decline in the area, urgent political action is needed at local and EU level, Browne concluded.
Read more
Farmers need to be adequately compensated for growing malting barley – IFA
Grain prices: a spring of discontent for farmers over imports
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