Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Energy crops are relatively new to Irish farmers and are being considered as an alternative to more conventional farm enterprises. The total area of energy crops in Ireland has increased steadily since 2003, supported by incentives introduced by the Government to stimulate cultivation and subsidies to increase the use of bio-fuel in the Irish transport market. In addition, the decoupling of direct payments from production has afforded farmers greater freedom to switch to alternative enterprises, such as energy crops, without reducing the value of their existing single farm payment entitlements. The main possibilities for growing energy crops in Ireland are oilseed rape, hemp, willow and miscanthus. The number of hectares planted increased from 137 hectares in 2003 to 8,700 hectares in 2007 and declined to 4,100 hectares in 2008. I have arranged to provide the Deputy with the full details of the crops planted since 2003. As they are tabulated it makes sense to provide them in that format.

The market for energy crops is still in its infancy in Ireland. The increase in production in 2007 is mainly attributable to strong demand for oilseeds in the pure plant oil and bio-diesel markets. The cultivation of miscanthus and willow also showed a marked increase in 2007 following the introduction of grants by the Department to aid establishment costs. The decline in energy crop cultivation in 2008 reflected the sharp rise in cereal production in Ireland in response to soaring grain prices. The demand for grain encouraged Irish tillage farmers to plant more wheat at the expense of oilseeds. The total area sown to oilseed declined from just under 8,000 hectares in 2007 to some 3,000 hectares in 2008.

The outlook for energy crops in 2009 should be roughly similar to 2008 with overall production estimated to be in the region of 4,500 hectares. Adverse weather conditions affected the autumn planting of oilseeds and production is not expected to increase beyond the 2008 figure of 3,000 hectares. The cultivation of miscanthus and to a lesser extent willow is expected to reach 1,400 hectares in line with pre-planting approvals issued by the Department under the bio-energy scheme.

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