Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

I concur and agree with the Deputy that we want to see growth in the tillage sector. After two really hard years, I am very heartened to see a slight increase on last year in the area under arable and tillage crops. In the face of two horrendous years, it has stabilised. This year is difficult. Futures prices for the sector are still very challenging. It is the one sector of agriculture that has not seen a big uplift in commodity prices. At the same time, the crops are looking good. We have had a good year as regards weather. The winter crops in particular are looking very clean and full. We are very hopeful for a good harvest. Spring crops are obviously always somewhat more variable but a lot more winter crops were sowed in the back end of last year because of the weather. We will keep a very close eye on it from that perspective.

The tillage sector is supported under other schemes, including the tillage capital investment scheme, the organic farming scheme and ACRES. There are many farmers who are glad to be in ACRES this time. The water quality European Innovation Partnership, EIP, is also open to them. There is, therefore, a range of measures to support our tillage sector.

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