IFA grain chair Mark Browne has called for a level playing field for tillage farmers.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.”
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
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.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS