Government support is needed to ensure the viability of the tillage sector, according to the IFA.

IFA grain chair Kieran McEvoy has expressed his concerns with the current sentiments and trends in global grain markets.

The IFA has campaigned for a €250/ha or €65m tillage survival plan to be introduced by the Government. The IFA has said it made this a key priority in its pre-budget campaign.

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McEvoy says at current indicative grain prices, farmers are facing a scenario where they are at a loss and the losses could be made more substantial for growers renting or leasing land.

Cheap imports

“Native, Irish grain prices are being undermined by cheap imports of feedstuffs from outside the EU. These imports are subject to much lower production standards and regulations around the use of plant protection products and genetically modified seeds. The playing pitch has never been so unlevel," he said.

McEvoy added that tillage farmers accept Ireland is unable to produce enough grain to meet the annual requirements.

“Increasingly, it appears that some large feed mills have no interest in sourcing any native grain for their products," McEvoy said.