Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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933. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department will take to assist farmers with soaring costs in fuel, electricity and concentrates. [7489/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the impact rising input costs has on farmers, their families and businesses.

There are a number of factors at play in the market, including energy prices, which remain well above January 2021 levels. This rise in energy costs is impacting across electricity, fuel and other farm inputs. The significant increase in both feed (concentrates) and fertiliser prices is directly linked to energy prices.

There are also other factors impacting costs for our farmers, including increased transport costs, increased global demand particularly from the big grain-producing countries and EU-imposed tariffs and duties on certain Third Country imports.

I have been following the rising fertiliser price issue closely for the past number of months. In October 2021, I tasked Teagasc with laying out a credible roadmap to assist farmers in the short-term, as well as offering a long-term solution in the move to reduce dependency on chemical fertiliser. I launched the Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign at Teagasc Ballyhaise on the 26th January. This roadmap can be good for the environment and good for the farmer's pocket.

Teagasc has put together a comprehensive information pack for farmers and their advisers - through a compendium of 20 factsheets - to optimise the use of plant nutrients and to help farmers address the challenge of maintaining their farm outputs in the face of rising fertiliser costs and reduced availability. This is a strategy that can ease the price pressure on farmers. It is a strategy that will be good for the environment and good for the pocket.

I have raised this issue a number of times at European level too. 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 seriously 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.

In the meantime, Teagasc will continue to work with farmers through the Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser campaign to help farmers to adapt to the current fertiliser market and support them to make informed decisions on what is best for them and their farms.

In addition, a new €1 million initiative by my Department will support the planting of multi-species swards in order to reduce dependence on fertilisers. A pilot Soil Sampling Programme has also been introduced, which will provide farmers with comprehensive details of the soil health and soil condition of their farm.

I will continue to monitor the situation very closely and I am engaging with farmers and their representative bodies on an ongoing basis on this matter.