Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
149. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of meetings that have been held and the plans of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee in relation to threats to food security as a result of the current war specifically the plans to deal with costs and supplies of fertiliser; and the take-up of schemes to increase the planting of tillage crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26873/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I met with the main farm organisations and Teagasc on 8th March to discuss the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on Irish agriculture and supply chains.
At that meeting, I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee and tasked it with preparing an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.
Following the first meeting of this Committee, Teagasc issued advice to farmers on how to manage their farms during the current grass growing season with a view to securing sufficient fodder for next winter.
The advice includes applying sufficient fertiliser on grassland and crops, on the basis of a fodder budget for winter 2022, ensuring that sufficient fodder is conserved. In addition, Teagasc commenced a nationwide advertisement campaign giving advice to farmers along with extensive engagement with farmer clients.
Two further meetings of the Committee were held where results of farmer and fodder surveys were discussed along with updates on Teagasc’s engagement with farmer clients.
I announced a Targeted Intervention Package on 22nd March framed around three pillars to support Irish farming families arising both from events in Ukraine and wider global price volatility. The total package is projected to cost in the region of €12.2 million.
The package seeks to incentivise the planting of additional tillage crops this season through the Tillage Incentive Scheme and introduces supports to encourage farmers to grow protein crops in 2022. The number of applicants for the Tillage Incentive Scheme and the Protein/Cereal Mix Crop Scheme cannot be confirmed until formal applications open in June.
In addition, on 3rd May 2022, I brought a Memorandum for Information to Government on a proposed Fodder Support Scheme, with the objective of supporting farm families to conserve silage and hay this year to ensure that we have adequate stocks of fodder over next winter.
I expect to announce further details on the proposed scheme shortly. The financial supports previously announced, and those currently under discussion, will assist farmers in providing sufficient fodder for winter 2022.
