With many tillage farmers across the region currently sowing winter crops, the industry as a whole was discussed in the Dáil last week.
In a lengthy debate, TDs highlighted the many struggles the sector has endured. Rising costs and falling prices have particularly been to the fore in recent harvests.
“The tillage sector is a vital and strategic part of Irish agriculture, the rural economy and our environmental ambitions,” said Laois Fine Gael TD Willie Aird in his contribution.
“It is a cornerstone of our agrifood system. Across Ireland, 344,000 hectares are devoted to tillage, supporting around 7,000 farm families and 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs in contracting, machinery, haulage, storage, and processing.
“Our tillage farmers produce high-quality grains that underpin everything from potatoes, porridge and cereals to brewing, distilling and the animal feed industry. Tillage is essential to food security, feed security and environmental sustainability.
“Although it covers only 8% of agricultural land, tillage generates €1.3 billion in annual output and sustains thousands of local businesses.
“Tillage is a low-emission and land-efficient sector central to our national sustainability goals. It produces very little methane and less than 2 tonnes of carbon per hectare, which is among the lowest in Irish farming. Climate Action Plan 2024 recognises this. It mentions tillage 43 times, highlighting its potential to balance emissions and strengthen national food security.
“In spite of that, the sector faces worrying trends. The tillage area has declined by 40% in 40 years. Some 3,000 hectares have been lost since the tillage incentive scheme ended and 1,398 farmers have left the sector since 2022.
“Tillage farmers face many pressures. Approximately 44% lost money in 2024. That figure comes from Teagasc, not me. Input costs are soaring, international markets are volatile and there is competition for land. Under convergence, CAP payments are declining.
“Despite the challenges, the sector has huge potential. Current supports, like the protein aid scheme and the straw incorporation measure, are not enough. A long-term plan is needed, with clear growth targets aligned with economic and environmental goals. There must be improved access to finance and capital grants.
“There must also be more research and innovation. Better integration with the livestock sector is needed to secure the use of Irish-grown feed. That is vital. I ensure that all the feed I buy has Irish grain in it – nothing else. The Minister could also consider new risk-management tools like income-stabilisation funds or weather-indexed insurance.
“Expanding the tillage area should be treated as a national strategic priority under Food Vision 2030 and the climate action plan.
“The tillage sector is a strategic pillar of Irish agriculture, a generator of rural employment, a driver of exports, a provider of food and feed security and a partner in achieving climate goals.
“I acknowledge the work the Minister for Agriculture is doing but this sector of our agriculture is in a crisis situation at the moment. Supporting Irish tillage means Ireland will continue to lead in high quality, climate conscious food and feed production.”
“The tillage sector needs an uplift,” added Deputy Brian Stanley, Laois Independent TD.
“There was a saying ‘One more cow, one more sow, one more acre under the plough’, which some Members will be familiar with.
“However, we did not get the one acre under the plough and we are not getting it. There is an issue of sustainability and not just environmental but also economic sustainability. The simple fact is input costs have gone through the roof for the tillage sector.
“The decline in numbers has been outlined. The number of full-time tillage farmers in the State is around 4,500. There has been a huge decline as the Minister knows. We need a seismic shift. This is not about doing something on the edges.
“This needs to be a national mission to get more land under tillage for economic, sustainability and environmental reasons, as well as to head off the huge fines that are coming at us from Europe in meeting our obligations.
“Unfortunately, tillage farmers are leaving in droves. The day of farmers having a few acres of beet and a few acres of grain side by side with cattle or dairy is gone and we need to address this.
“The viability of the sector is under pressure. I have met representatives of the tillage sector, as well as individual tillage farmers, in recent months who outlined this very strongly. There is no doubt that they are under pressure. Milk is going well for now and so is beef but the margins are just not there for tillage. That is an honest statement to make; the business of tillage farming has to be economically viable.
“I call for realistic supports for the sector, trade recognition for genuine Irish produce and a massive expansion for food and animal feed security. This will help us reduce our carbon footprint and our carbon output per acre, but also provide cash for farmers.
Farmers in Laois will step up to the plate. The ones I have met have stuck with the tillage sector. There are lean pickings from it. We must help those farmers to stay there. We must grow the numbers of farmers who are involved in tillage. I ask the Minister to look at some of these issues again and to give the sector due recognition.”
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