The first tillage forum, held on Wednesday of last week, has been described as “an important first step” by IFA grain chair Liam Dunne.

The forum, convened by Minister Michael Creed to address the deep crisis in the arable sector, was more an assessment of the current situation than anything else. The high turnout reflected an understanding on all sides of the gravity of the present position.

Practically every strand of the sector was represented: farmers, merchants, millers, seed assemblers, brewers, distillers, traders and advisory services.

“The tillage sector is a very important sector in the agricultural economy,” said Minister Creed. “It has been a challenging year both in terms of market returns and inclement weather conditions. I have called together the stakeholders to firstly listen to the challenges but importantly to discuss the opportunities that lie ahead for the industry.”

The presence of Michael Hoey on behalf of Beet Ireland meant the potato/vegetable sector, often the forgotten member of the arable family, had a voice at the table.

The potential of the forum was reflected in a number of bilateral exchanges that occured in the aftermath, but tensions inevitably remain, particularly between farmers and compounders.

Merchants occupy a middle ground, selling inputs and buying grain from farmers, and selling both rations back to farmers and grain on to the trade.

With significant levels of credit habitually extended to farmers, they are as exposed as their growers. In addition, the weakening sterling is making UK grain cheaper for traders to buy.

It is understood that the €150m cashflow support loan scheme had tillage farmers as one of its key targets, and the hope is that farmers will look to access the new source of low-interest (2.95%) funding.

It is expected that the second meeting of the forum will take place before the year end.