Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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409. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the needs of tillage farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23730/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the difficulties being faced by tillage farmers this year with high production costs and lower grain prices. While early estimates from industry suggest that there may be a reduction in the tillage area this season, I will await analysis of the the BISS data later in the Summer to give an accurate picture of overall crop areas.

Notwithstanding the above, maintaining the current tillage area with an ambition for further growth is an important strategic objective of my Department. This is highlighted in the Food Vision 2030 Strategy and more recently in the Climate Action Plan where a target has been set to grow the area under tillage crops to 400,000ha by 2030.

To achieve this objective, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group, and I addressed its first meeting on Thursday, 11 May 2023. This group will bring together all relevant stakeholders to set out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 2030. I have tasked the group with providing a detailed plan and recommendations by the end of July with a final plan to be submitted during the final quarter of 2023.

Last year, through the Tillage Incentive Scheme which I set up, we saw the area under tillage grow by between 6% and 7%. I have also created the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) which sees farmers earn up to €10,000 for incorporating straw into the soil. I have also more than doubled the budget for the Protein Aid to €7 million to support the growing of protein crops. I have backed tillage farmers and I will continue to back them.

The issues you have raised will be discussed in detail by this group and I will consider the group‘s recommendations when they are forwarded to me in due course.