Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
354. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be taken at EU and national level to help offset the additional farm input costs due to the increase in fertiliser costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15933/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the impact rising input costs has on farmers, their families and businesses. This is a period of challenge and uncertainty for our farm families and I have been working to support them through this period.
The rise in fertiliser prices over the past eighteen months has been significant. There are a number of factors at play in the market including energy prices, increased global demand particularly from the big grain-producing countries, controls on fertiliser exports from large fertiliser producing countries, increased transport costs, EU-imposed tariffs and duties on certain Third Country imports and the impact of the sanctions regime arising from the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia are all impacting on fertiliser prices for our farmers.
To support farmers in terms of appropriate advice, I set up a National Fodder and Feed Security Committee to bring all stakeholders together and ensure appropriate guidance to farmers. Teagasc have also been active in providing advice to farmers.
Over the course of the past year, I announced a series of targeted interventions for farmers to off-set the rise in fertiliser price including support to increase the production of native grain from the tillage sector as well as a multi-species sward and red clover initiative which thrive with little or no fertiliser application and which combined, had a total budget allocation of over €12 million to support Irish farmers.
In addition, I launched a €56 million Fodder Support Scheme in June 2022 to which over 70,000 farmers applied and which generated payments in the order of €54 million. In addition, an advance payment under the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme issued last December to the order of €30 million.
We continue to actively engage with the sector and monitor the situation over the period ahead.
