Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop. It is a major producer of high-quality grain for the animal feed industry and straw for feeding and bedding and makes a significant contribution to the food and drinks sectors through the provision of high-quality raw materials.

A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is central to increasing Ireland’s food and feed security while also contributing to climate change objectives; the Climate Action plan 2023 sets out a target to increase the area under tillage to 400,000ha by 2030 as part of Agriculture’s commitment to reduce emissions by 25%.

I introduced new and innovative measures in support of the tillage sector in recent years. The Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) has paid €10.9m to growers in 2022 and €7.3m in 2023. The Straw Incorporation Measure, which was first introduced as a pilot scheme in 2021, is now included in the CAP Strategic Plan with a budget of €10m. Additional funding was secured in 2023 resulting in €14.5m being paid out to farmers.

Additional funding of €3m was allocated to the Protein Aid Scheme last year bringing the budget for protein aid to €10m in 2023. In view of the challenges experienced by the tillage growers in 2023, €14.3m was paid to growers in January this year by way of an Unharvested Crop Support Scheme and a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereals.

In May last year, I established the Food Vision Tillage Group to set out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000ha by 2030. The Group has met on 11 occasions. I will consider their final recommendations to grow the sector which I am expecting in the near future.