Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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890. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures implemented to alleviate the financial burden placed on farmers due to rising fertiliser costs. [16390/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The current situation in relation to the cost and availability of fertilisers is a significant concern to me. It seems unlikely that fertiliser prices will ease in the short term. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in energy prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption for all sectors but agriculture is particularly impacted.

I launched the 2022 Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign at Teagasc’s Ballyhaise College in January in response to the unprecedented fertiliser price levels. This is a credible roadmap that will help reduce their dependency on chemical fertiliser in the longer-term. Teagasc has also recently issued revised advice to farmers on the recommended application amounts of fertilisers for silage fields to reflect the increase in fertiliser price.

I raised concerns in relation to the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on agri-food supply chains, and especially on input costs at the extraordinary informal meeting of European Union Agriculture Ministers held on 2nd March. I underlined the need for market support and the need to maintain supply chains and to ensure an effective and functioning Single Market.

At the AgriFish Council of 21 March, I asked the EU Commission, as part of its work on monitoring markets, to keep a very close eye on the issue of fertiliser availability across the EU and to be ready to consider any measures that may help to alleviate the difficulties caused. The EU Commission is considering bringing in an exceptional aid measure at Member State level to respond to market disturbances.

At a meeting of farm organisations on 8th March, I established a National Fodder and Food Security Committee to explore all options to minimise the impact on farms and plan in the short to medium term. This Group continues to meet and it is expected that its outcomes will be presented shortly.

I announced a package of targeted interventions for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. The package supports the growing of additional tillage and protein crops and the establishment of multi-species swards lowering demand for chemical fertiliser.

I continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and with the relevant committees in place, we stand ready to protect our farm families and their businesses.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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891. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a 2021 beef data and genomics programme payment will issue to a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16405/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was extended for a rollover period of one year in 2021 and further extended again in November 2021 for a further one year in 2022. The 2021 extension was only open to those BDGP participants who had already met all the requirements for the full six-year duration of BDGP 2015-2020, of which the person named had.

In December 2020, a letter issued to the person named informing them that they were eligible to apply for the 2021 BDGP transitional scheme if they wished. The letter set out the ways in which to apply, either online or by SMS text. The person named did notsubmit an application for the BDGP 2021 transitional scheme, therefore payment cannot issue under the BDGP 2021 transitional scheme.

A request for a review of this decision was recently received from the person named. This review is being considered and the outcome of that review will be communicated in writing to the person named shortly.