Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which cereal growing continues to be attractive in Ireland; if its viability is coming under pressure from other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe competitiveness of Irish cereal production compares very favourably to other EU countries. However, tillage farmers had a difficult year in 2023 due to high input prices, reduced output prices and adverse weather that affected yields. Wet weather has continued into this year which has impacted on the sowing of both winter and spring crops.
A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is central to increasing Ireland’s food and feed security while also contributing to climate change objectives.
I have introduced new and innovative measures to support the sector in recent years. The Tillage Incentive Scheme paid €10.9m to growers in 2022 and €8.3m in 2023. The Straw Incorporation Measure has an annual budget of €10m in the CAP Strategic Plan and €16.5m was paid out to farmers for 2023. I also allocated additional funding of €3.1m to the Protein Aid Scheme last year bringing the budget for protein aid to €10.1m in 2023.
In view of the challenges experienced by the tillage growers in 2023, €14.3m was paid to growers in January this year by way of an Unharvested Crop Support Scheme and a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereals.
I am acutely aware of the challenges being experienced by growers due to the prolonged and exceptional wet weather conditions. 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. 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.
The Climate Action Plan 2023 sets a target to increase the area under tillage to 400,000ha by 2030 as part of Agriculture’s commitment to reduce emissions by 25%. It was against this background that I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May of last year to set out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector. I have just received the Group’s final report and I am currently reviewing it and its recommendations.
