Dear editor,

On reading Siobhán Walsh’s article (p37 of Irish Farmers Journal of 1 August) ‘Reminder: trailer numbers mandatory for 2026 harvest’, I would like to make the following points.

For yet another year, farmers are facing low prices and yields, along with increased costs.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS) has nothing to offer but a requirement to number trailers. On trailers costing €20,000-€30,000, Siobhán Walsh is suggesting painting on numbers or stickers.

Considering farmers bring their grain trailers to a depot and deposit the contents in a yard containing all their neighbours’ grain to mix in with theirs, one would wonder the reasoning behind this daft regulation. Tillage area is decreasing every year as cheap imports, grown in countries with no restrictions on chemical uses, is used by certain feed mills in place of Irish products.

Rations

Should IGAS not at least be highlighting this practice? It is no wonder good agricultural land is being covered with solar panels. The IFA committee has at least urged farmers to use Irish-based rations as much as possible (Siobhán Walsh’s article in the Irish Farmers Journal of 1 August, p6).

Considering the farmer pays a yearly membership, it is very hard to see what benefit there is to the farmer.