Tillage in need of cash injection, says IFA

Ireland’s tillage sector is in dire need of a cash injection, according to IFA grain chair, Kieran McEvoy.

“To be fair to tillage farmers, they need to be heard and Minister Heydon needs to hear tillage farmers speak plainly about the extent of the financial crisis in the sector.”

For that reason, the IFA will hold a major meeting for tillage farmers on Friday 12 September, in Killashee House, with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon set to attend.

McEvoy will be outlining how perilous many tillage farmers financial situations are, as a third challenging harvest in a row draws to a close.

“While 2023 and 2024’s woes were mostly weather-related, this year has been a good year for getting work done,” said McEvoy. “Crops have yielded fair-to well, and quality has been good to excellent.

“The problem is simple, it’s price. Grain prices are on the floor, with little sign there will be much change before prices are fixed next month. It doesn’t matter how many tonnes of barley, wheat or oats you have when you’re losing money on every tonne.”

McEvoy bristled at the idea that the sector’s issues are in any way self-inflicted.

“Irish tillage farmers are probably some of the best tillage farmers in the world, that gets lost a little bit,” he said.

“We have some of the best tillage land, climate and yields globally. And yet, what is wrong with the system when we’re barely breaking even on our own land, never mind rented land?”

Last year, as Fine Gael’s agriculture spokesperson, Martin Heydon made big financial commitments to the tillage sector.

Fine Gael pledged €60m a year to the tillage sector, on top of existing schemes. That amounts to €175/ha for each of the next five years.

McEvoy added that now is the time to honour those commitments.

“There is a dire need for a cash injection right now, as farmers face a third year of losses, so we are calling for a €250/ha payment for all cereals.”

Current price indications put feed barley prices well below €200/t. McEvoy doesn’t see much cause for optimism.

“The harvest has mostly been put to bed all across Europe and I don’t see much sign or hope of a market improvement.

“The disconnect between grain prices and meat prices is a massive worry for tillage farmers. Our prices are not being pulled up by the record prices that are being got for milk and meat, and that is unprecedented.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted cattle, sheep and dairy farming is flying, we have livestock ourselves. But if that doesn’t pull grain prices up off the floor, what will?

“So without immediate Government support, support Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil promised, we are facing wipe-out.”