Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
102. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to assist tillage farmers in Carlow who are facing unprecedented weather conditions. [18299/24]
View answerI am acutely aware of the challenges experienced by growers due to the prolonged and exceptional wet weather conditions. The past few months have been very challenging for tillage farmers. Thankfully the weather has improved, and tillage operations and the planting of spring crops are re-commencing as soil conditions continue to improve.
There is still a planting window for crops, but I appreciate the risks associated for tillage farmers. I want to give confidence to growers to plant crops this year and to give them confidence in the future of their industry. Recognising the current difficulties, I will work to deliver €100/ha in financial support for every farmer that puts seed in the soil for the harvest year 2024. My Department is working on next steps including the necessary State Aid and other approvals, and the identification of appropriate funding. I am absolutely committed to increasing our tillage area and despite the constraints of my existing budget, I will work to deliver this support for tillage farmers.
Significant additional support was provided to the tillage sector last year in light of the challenges that growers faced. Payments under the Protein Aid Scheme totalled over €10.1m. The Straw Incorporation Measure provided €16.5 million for tillage farmers, while the Tillage Incentive Scheme provided €8.3 million in support.
Furthermore, I secured €7.147m from the EU Agricultural Reserve to support the tillage sector last year and this was topped up with a further €7.147m in State funding. These funds were paid out in January 2024 to support growers with unharvested crops and as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereal crops.
Last month, I announced an exemption to the crop diversification element of GAEC 7, easing concerns for tillage farmers by allowing them to pick the crops that best suit their circumstances, taking account of time of sowing, market returns and seed availability.
The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop. That is why I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000ha by 2030. I recently received the final report from the group, and I am considering its recommendations.
