Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister very much for his detailed response. I raised the matter of supporting farmers with the rising cost of fertiliser in recent months and he came to the House on that occasion to respond to it. We discussed the matter before Christmas. We have one party in government with us that will be in up in arms with this suggestion. Is there a way to support tillage farmers with the cost of fertiliser? If we are trying to increase the production of crops, being honest, the quickest way to do that is to add more fertiliser. Many farmers are reducing the volume of fertiliser they are using. I know that is what we want to do in the long run and I do not have a problem with that, but they are reducing the volume of they use because of cost.

If we are changing land from grass to growing crops, there is a potential risk that we will not have enough grassland for cows in future. What are we doing? Are we prepared for that in terms of having a plan in place? Farmers take risks. I am aware of a farmer in Tipperary at the moment who sees an opportunity to grow more grass as opposed to growing more crops, because there will be a shortage of silage in the future. Do we have a plan in place because that could be our next problem?