The price of quality-assured Irish grain cannot continue to be dictated by the price of imported GM feedstuffs, according to the IFA grain chair Mark Browne.

These imported GM feedstuff do not conform to the regulatory and environmental standards demanded by the European Commission and the Irish Government.

Mark Browne said: “Since 2012, the tillage acreage has dropped by almost 20%. This is of major concern considering that imports of grain for livestock feedstuffs have increased significantly, with maize in particular having trebled in tonnage during this same period.”

Browne continued: “Substituting imports for Irish native grains results not only in the loss of millions of euro to the rural economy but is undermining Ireland’s credentials in relation to Origin Green and our carbon footprint.”

Cereal area stable

Provisional area figures from DAFM regarding planted cereal area in Ireland indicate the area under cereals has stabilised. However, confidence in the sector is still low, and this year’s area is the second lowest on record.

The 2019 Teagasc Farm Survey has indicated an average rise in tillage farm incomes, but this comes after successive years of poor farm returns.

Listen: malting barley growers recognised after difficult year

Lack of use of native grains in feed rations

IFA wants level playing field for tillage farmers

Provisional area figures from DAFM regarding planted cereal area in Ireland indicate the area under cereals has stabilised.