Laois farm leaders demand €67 million tillage bail out from Simon Harris

Laois men leading the IFA nationally have demanded that the new Taoiseach Simon Harris back up his words of promise to support tillage farmers in 'crisis and facing disaster' with action.

Ballinakill man and IFA President Francie Gorman said the delivery of the Tillage Survival Scheme put forward by IFA is a litmus test for Mr Harris.

The package put forward calls on the Government to allocate €67 million to save growers in Laois and around Ireland in 2024 and expand the sector over the next five years.

“Tillage farmers have faced a perfect storm since summer 2023, with falling grain prices; input costs remaining high; loss of rented land; and near incessant rainfall in the period since.

“The new Taoiseach has pledged to support the sector, but we need to see his words backed by action. There is no question that our tillage sector is fighting for its very future. The Government says it wants to have more tillage production and this will only happen if they step up and support growers,” he said.

Our Grain chair Kieran McEvoy was on @RTENewsAtOne earlier discussing the weather conditions and our proposal to secure the future of tillage farming. Listen back https://t.co/jjpIaiixiw

— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) April 10, 2024

The IFA says it has presented its Tillage Survival Scheme to the Department of Agriculture and Mr Gorman added that he would be seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach and the tillage sector would be one of the priorities.

IFA National Grain Chairman and Laios farmer Kieran McEvoy said in light of the difficulties being experienced in the tillage sector, IFA has proposed a €250/ha, five-year payment for tillage farmers.

He said it is essential this funding is secured in 2024 to prevent a decimation of the national tillage area. In an interview with RTÉ he said Laois was hit as badly as any other county.

"No part of the country has got a break," he said.

He said the problems in the tillage sector predate the bad weather but the conditions have highlighted the "crisis on tillage farms". He outlined what was needed.

"We are looking for a package of €67 million to support tillage farms," he said.

Mr McEvoy said this would ensure 'survival' for 20024 and support a five-year to keep tillage farmers in business and support the sector. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Laois IFA protest at County Hall in Portlaoise led by IFA President Francie Gorman.

Mr McEvoy said crops could still be sowed but the viability of doing so is in question. He said it was too late to grow in the southern half of the country.

"There are going to be huge tillage losses incurred on tillage farms this year after a bad harvest of 2023. The financial impacts are going to be a disaster for tillage farmers," he said.

While he acknowledged the figure of €67 million was large, he said it is the minimum amount of support needed if the Government is serious about having a tillage sector in Ireland.

If not delivered, he said the Government would not be able to reach its climate action targets in agriculture via tillage farming.