The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) will lead to a loss of jobs in the Irish mushroom sector, according to Irish Farmers Association (IFA) horticulture chair Mark Walsh.

In total, 66,482ha of land was accepted into SIM this year which Walsh says could see over 250,000t of straw taken out of the market.

Straw is a major component of mushroom compost, which represents 30.6% of total input costs for producers.

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Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Walsh said mushroom producers have resorted to importing straw from the UK or Spain for three of the last six seasons.

“There’s negligible engagement with the mushroom and horticulture industries when [the Department] are making these decisions.

“How can SIM be talked so much about for sustainability and carbon capture when it forces one of the biggest straw-using sectors in the country to import straw from England.

“Some of that compost is turning around and being sold back into England. It’s absolutely crazy.”

With wheat straw being vital to mushroom compost, Walsh called on the Department to revise the SIM to exclude wheat straw.

“Can the Government not come up with another way to support the cereal sector that doesn’t nail the mushroom sector.

“It’s making mushroom compost more expensive, the growers less competitive into the UK and basically contributing to the closures that are happening routinely.”