The tillage scheme announced on Monday worth more than €12m for tillage farmers to increase the volume of crops grown is a small step towards encouraging more grain output in 2022, Irish Farmer's Association (IFA) president Tim Cullinan has said.
Following the announcement from Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, Cullinan said the target of an extra 25,000ha is "very modest".
With full take-up, it would be an increase of less than 10% on what was grown last year, which was approximately 300,000ha.
“This scheme, along with the establishment of the National Food Security and Fodder Committee, is not going to address the real issue, which is the cost and availability of inputs,” he said.
Stretched
IFA tillage chair Kieran McEvoy said tillage farmers will be stretched to produce what they normally do, never mind increase the land planted.
Agricultural diesel prices have skyrocketed since the conflict in Ukraine began. At current prices, it will cost an extra €100/ha in diesel alone to produce grain.
“Farmers need more cuts in excise duty and in the carbon tax.
"It’s critical that sufficient agri-diesel supplies are available during the key spring and summer months when planting and harvesting of crops takes place,” he said.
Production
“The tillage sector is in a position to supply more grain and feedstuffs for the livestock sector this year and into the future to help offset some of shortages anticipated in supply chains following the war in Ukraine,” he stated.
As it stands, Cullinan said that only 7.5% of the Irish agricultural area is devoted to crop production.
He concluded by saying how critically important it is that any further decline is halted and future policy decisions must aim to restore the cropped area to at least 11% of the agricultural land area.
