Some farmers who have grain in stores find themselves in a situation where they are practically begging merchants and millers to take some of their grain in order to alleviate cashflow situations with banks and creditors, according to the Irish Grain Growers Group.

The farm organisation, led by Bobby Miller, said that the Department of Agriculture and farm lobby groups need to explain why imports continue when stocks of Irish grain exist.

“To compound the situation the Department of Agriculture has been subsidising the transport of imported feed,” a spokesperson for the group said.

“Recently merchants have offered harvest-2019 prices that are hard to stomach. The cost of growing spring crops are up on 2018 figures by approximately €30/acre. After three fodder crises in the space of two years tillage farmers find it incredulous that imported grain is preferred by millers and merchants to Irish grain.”

They simply cannot keep opening the floodgates every time there is a fodder crisis

The Department of Agriculture’s current policy is not working, IGGG said.

“The fire brigade policy that seems to be operating as regards imports must be curtailed. The department must insist on change to other farming sectors, they cannot be seen as a safety net that can be called upon on a regular basis. They simply cannot keep opening the floodgates every time there is a fodder crisis.”

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