Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The year 2016 will probably go down as the most difficult year that farmers in this country ever experienced. From grain to pig men, beef and horticulture - you name it - every sector of our farming industry was not producing enough to meet the costs of production.

We are not here to lay blame for low world prices at the door of the Minister. A small group of farmers, through no fault of their own, had virtually no income in 2016. The grain industry has been under pressure for a number of years. Teagasc figures show that in 2016 the average tillage farmer lost €130 per hectare. This presents serious problems for the grain sector. A group of farmers lost virtually all their grain and straw last year. We ask the Minister to establish a fund for this small group. As Deputy McConalogue stated, there is a precedent for doing so. In the winter of 2010, when we had hard frosts, the then Fianna Fáil-led Government established a fund for horticultural farmers in north County Dublin. Sufficient funds are available to provide the funding required as the Department underspent its allocation for 2016 by €86 million.

No one who was farming 20 or 25 years envisaged that we would end up without a sugar beet industry. Unless we send out a signal that we are serious about grain farming, the same thing will happen to it. We do not want to have an agricultural industry in which only one sector prospers. In 2016, all sectors of agriculture came under tremendous price pressure. We must send out a signal to grain farmers that we are serious about maintaining the grain industry.

The Minister will no doubt argue that the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, is open to grain farmers and highlight the loan scheme that is being introduced. While these initiatives are welcome and will support the grain industry in future, the Government needs to demonstrate to the group of farmers affected that it cares about the grain industry by putting in place the fund we seek.

The Irish Farmers Association produced a survey clearly showing the losses incurred in each county. The problem is localised and specific as the figures will show the Department. As Deputy McConalogue stated, a sum of €4.5 million would cover the substantial losses incurred by the farmers in question. Providing this fund would show that we are serious about retaining the grain industry. It is imperative on us to try to protect all sectors in farming. Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 set a series of targets in agriculture. Unfortunately, there are many clouds on the horizon. The British decision to leave the European Union, for example, will cause serious problems for the agrifood industry. Question marks have arisen concerning the future of the single farm payment because Brexit will create a black hole in the Common Agriculture Policy. This payment makes up a substantial part of the income of all farmers, whether they are involved in grain, beef, dairy or another sector.

All our farmers face major challenges. The decision by grain farmers to come to Dublin to protest outside the gates of Leinster House was not taken lightly. This motion should be passed to acknowledge the position of grain farmers and demonstrate that the Government is serious about maintaining the grain industry. The €4.5 million fund we seek would show grain farmers that we are serious about keeping their sector in business.

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