20


East Cork


ICSA tillage chairman


Gavin Carberry has wel- comed the announcement this afternoon from Minis- ter Michael Creed that an incentive scheme has been put in place to assist tillage farmers with the produc- tion of additional fodder. “ICSA has been adamant over


recent weeks that


support measures for till- age farmers were urgently needed. It is encouraging that the Minister has lis- tened to these calls, and is now putting some of those measures in place.”


Under the initiative till-


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Agriculture


FODDER PRODUCTION INCENTIVE FOR TILLAGE FARMERS WELCOMED BY ICSA


age farmers will receive €155/ha for


addition-


al ground sown to short term grasses and €100/ ha for catch crops such as fodder rape, turnips etc., in excess of what was al- ready committed to under GLAS. This will be pay- able on areas from 3-50 ha. In addition, it will be permissible to sow Italian Ryegrass. While there will be no grant aid specifically for Italian Ryegrass, farm- ers will be able to use it to bolster


their own fodder


supplies as well as selling it on as silage. It is vital that the incentive is in place im-


mediately with no red tape so that farmers can get the crops sown without delay.”


“It is right that the Min-


ister is encouraging maxi- mum production of home grown fodder. Tillage farmers can be part of the solution and it serves as a reminder that we should not put all our eggs in one basket when it comes to the agri-food strategy. In the longer term, we need to seriously examine how to reverse the decline in ce- real growing in Ireland be- cause we need more home grown feed not less.”


Thursday, 9th


August 2018


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Deadline Monday at noon


IFA WELCOMES SUPERVALU MOVES TO SUPPORT IRISH VEGETABLE GROWERS


IFA President Joe


Healy has recognised moves by some retail- ers to support Irish field vegetable growers who are facing a financial crisis as a result of the extended drought


this


summer. Joe Healy welcomed


the statement by Super- Valu confirming that they are putting finan- cial supports in place for their existing growers of field vegetable crops.


“IFA recently publi-


cised the challenges fac- ing the agriculture sec-


GOVERNMENT MUST HALT DECLINE OF IRELAND’S TILLAGE SECTOR - IFA


FA Grain Committee


Chairman Mark Browne has told Minister for Ag- riculture


that the Government must halt the continued decline of the Irish tillage sector. Since 2008, the area plant- ed to the main cereal crops has reduced by 67,500ha, which represents a drop of over 20%.


This stark reality con-


firms that tillage must be considered as a vulnerable sector in Irish agriculture. The Chairman emphasised how the current drought crisis has underlined the strategic importance


of


the arable sector within the broader agricultural indus- try and a reminder that it underpins Ireland’s €12.6 billion valued livestock, dairy, drinks and mush- room export sectors.


Mark Browne was speak-


ing at a meeting with the Minister, along with South Leinster Regional Chair- man Tom Short and a del- egation of members of the


In relation to the current


drought crisis, Tom Short said that tillage farmers are willing to help by planting catch crops to alleviate the fodder deficit. However, due to the high establish- ment costs of these crops, and welcomes the Minis- ters announcement


of a


Fodder Production Incen- tive Scheme to the value of €2.75 million. Tillage farmers who plant catch


Michael Creed


IFA National Grain Com- mittee.


Tom Short stressed to


the Minister that although there has been a reasona- ble start to the 2018 har- vest


of winter crops, the


situation with spring crops is totally different and he highlighted the


potential


crisis in waiting. “At best, yields are predicted to be only average due to the wet cold spring and subsequent drought conditions, while it would appear that grain and straw volume will be poor particularly along the east and south east coasts.”


crops under GLAS need a derogation in relation to the choice of crops and to be able to conserve by Oc- tober 1st


.


Browne impressed on the minister the


portance of an increased overall CAP


On CAP 2020, Mark critical im- budget


grant rate payments. This is particularly relevant in relation to the TAMS and GLAS schemes. Under the proposed new ANC scheme, tillage must be eligible


farmers for pay-


ments on land that qualifies for an ANC payment in the Review of areas.


as


campaigned for by IFA. On the tillage sector, he em- phasised that these farmers had been disproportionate- ly affected by the current CAP due to convergence and greening issues and any continuation of these types of measures would only contribute to the fur- ther decline of the arable area in this country.


Along with an increase


in the protein payment, the Chairman called for other targeted coupled supports to be considered for Pil- lar I in the proposed CAP regulations. Regarding Pillar II, he said greater flexibility was needed in farm schemes so that tillage farmers qualify for higher


Other issued raised with Minister Creed support


quality assurance


tor due to the prolonged drought, which has cre- ated unsustainable busi- ness conditions for many farmers. We contacted retailers to highlight that without their interven- tion, Irish field vegetable growers were at finan- cial breaking point. We acknowledge


the lead


taken by SuperValu in coming out publicly and stepping up to the mark to put financial supports in place to provide vital relief to their growers.”


IFA pointed out that


growers have gone to extraordinary lengths in


Growers have run up


massive extra costs and still are reporting reduc- tions in yield of 20% minimum right up to the loss of entire crops, which have either failed to germinate or perished in the harsh conditions.


order to maintain a sup- ply of quality Irish pro- duce to Irish consumers. However, even growers with the best


irrigation


equipment and full ac- cess to water have been unable to deal with the severe soil moisture defi- cits.


The IFA President re-


ported that some other retailers had moved to support growers and he called on all retailers to act without delay by in- creasing grower returns across the board on all Irish vegetable lines.


“Irish growers are


operating on very tight margins, which leave no scope to absorb a cri- sis like this,


and with-


out substantial support from retailers, 2018 will push many of our grow- ers over the edge,” Joe Healy warned.


ICSA WELCOMES COMMISSIONER HOGAN’S STATEMENT ON DROUGHT ASSISTANCE


ICSA president Patrick included


for renewables, testing


of imported grain, low cost loans, origin green and research on native grown feedstuffs.


The IFA Grain Chair- man concluding by ac- knowledging the work the minister undertook on the 3-crop rule derogation for this year but said that till- age farming has become a vulnerable urgent


sector and political action is


needed at local and EU lev- el to protect it.


Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


“The Commissioner has indicated that support to fix drought problems


Kent has welcomed con- firmation by EU Agricul- ture Commissioner


Phil


Hogan that state aid could be provided to deal with the damage caused by the drought and that flexibil- ities around GLAS rules should be


forthcoming.


“ICSA has already called for a hardship fund to help those most affected by the drought, particularly low income cattle and sheep farmers and cereal grow- ers. It is now time for the Minister to take immediate action.”


is possible which includes buying fodder. He has con- firmed that the purchase of fodder can qualify for aid as either material dam- age or income loss. How- ever, this now requires a commitment from the Irish government to put some funding in place. This will be a real test of whether


the government


cares about the incredible hardships faced by farmers this year. ICSA is not look- ing for an open cheque book; we want aid target- ed at the most vulnerable farmers in the less profita- ble sectors.”


the eastcorkjournal


“ICSA also welcomes positive response


for flexibilities around schemes and derogations from greening


require-


ments. For example, it has already been confirmed by the Commission that there will be derogations from the three crop rule and to allow land lying fallow under ecological focus ar- eas to be used for growing feed. ICSA also wants to see farmers to be allowed wrap bales on LIPP areas in GLAS and to have the deadline


for spreading


fertiliser extended beyond 15 September. We also need flexibility to allow tillage farmers to sow west- erwolds or other


ryegrasses under GLAS cover crops.”


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


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