Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his engagement with Ireland’s European Union partners on measures to prevent potential shortages of fertiliser in spring 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60781/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the significant increase in fertiliser prices over the last year, particularly in recent months and its impact at farm level. I know this will be a challenge for many farmers in 2022.

The fertiliser market is largely driven by global supply and demand and, while there are a number of factors influencing fertiliser price, the major driving factors for the increase in prices are increased global demand due to strong growth in agricultural commodity prices, rising production costs due to increased raw material and energy costs, protectionism by global players and issues with supply for certain fertiliser products.

At the November Agriculture and Fisheries Council, I raised the increasing challenge faced by farmers due to the rising costs of inputs. I called on the EU Commission to consider all options to ease the pressure on farmers at this time, including the question of whether the imposition of anti-dumping duties on fertiliser imports continues to be appropriate and for this matter to be examined as a priority.

I subsequently wrote to the EU Commissioner for Agriculture requesting that the Commissions assessment of the ongoing appropriateness of anti-dumping duties on fertilisers is completed as a matter of priority. Just last week, I wrote to the EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski asking him to finalise the Commission’s examination of the tariffs.

I engage regularly with the farming organisations and have introduced a number of initiatives to support farmers reduce their dependence on fertiliser including a new initiative to support the planting of multi-species swards and a pilot Soil Sampling Programme. Additionally, I have tasked Teagasc with developing a roadmap for farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers on farms. I expect to be able to publish this report before the end of the year.

The impact of rising fertiliser prices on the competitiveness of the farming sector will continue to be closely monitored by officials in my Department.