Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Strengthening farm income for our 130,000 family farms is a priority for the Government. There is a recommendation in the programme for government to invest significantly in the tillage sector in order to maintain and grow the sector, so there is a specific measure in that. Fresh funding will be required. We acknowledge that and can talk about it shortly.

Also, we absolutely need to see continued and expanded supports for our tillage farmers. It is important to acknowledge that over recent years a few schemes have come out, including the protein scheme, the hay scheme, the straw incorporation measure and the tillage incentive scheme. Therefore, measures have been put in place to help but I understand more needs to be done.

My first question is very much in relation to the area under tillage. It has fallen by 40% in 40 years. Can anybody give me a reason?