Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
438. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to ensure an adequate supply of clover seed is available to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19013/22]
View answerAll clover seed used for planting forage crops in Ireland is imported. No clover is cultivated in Ireland for the production of seed. The clover seed is primarily imported from continental Europe, but additional imports can be sourced from third countries (e.g. New Zealand) that are members of the OECD seed certification scheme where seed is produced to equivalent standard to those that pertain in the EU. Italy, Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic are among the main producers of clover seed for cultivation in Europe.
The Multi Species Sward Scheme including support for the Red Clover Silage Measure is one of three schemes under the €12m Tillage Incentive Package that I announced recently to support farmers. Its purpose is to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming and thereby greatly reduce nitrogen fertiliser while maintaining forage yields. Both Multi Species Swards and Red Clover Silage Measure can save farmers money while maintaining production levels and reducing the farm carbon footprint. The Measures will support the establishment of approximately 12,000 hectares of Multi Species Swards and approximately 4,000 hectares of the Red Clover silage mix.
To ensure that there will be an adequate supply of clover seed, the Department has amended the Terms and Conditions of the Multi Species Swards Scheme and the Red Clover Silage Measure so that it is no longer a requirement for clover seed to be on the Department’s Recommended List thereby ensuring seed agents can gain access to a wider range of clover varieties.
The Department is confident that, with the incentive provided through these measures, the seed merchants can fulfil this shortfall through additional imports this coming year from producers in continental Europe and other third countries.
