Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1725.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to ensure that the percentage of land used for tillage farming is increased, and to ensure tillage farmers who rent land are not priced out of the market. [33501/24]

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. That is why I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000ha by 2030 in line with the targets set out in the Climate Action Plan.

The Group, which was made up of a wide range of stakeholders from across the industry, published its report in May and my Department is now working on setting out an implementation plan.

There are various pressures on land, and this is one of challenges facing the tillage sector in increasing the area of tillage crops. The exchange of organic manures between livestock farmers and tillage farmers was identified by the Tillage Group as a means of reducing the competition for land from livestock farmers seeking to comply with organic nitrogen limits, while also bringing environmental benefits.

My Department is currently developing the terms and conditions of the nutrient importation scheme under TAMS and hopes to finalise these shortly.

Applications to the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) after the closing date for amendments on 31^stMay showed that the overall area of tillage crops in 2024 (cereals, maize, OSR, protein crops and beet) is 334,450ha which is a reduction of approximately 1% from 2023.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1726.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of agricultural land used for tillage annually from 2018 to date, in tabular form. [33502/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The total tillage area from 2018 to 2024 is set out below. Tillage includes cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and the main fodder crops (beet and maize), along with potatoes.

Notwithstanding the current pressures in the tillage sector, particularly in the early part of this year, since 2018 there has been an increase in excess of 30,000 hectares.

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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1727.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider his proposed suspension of the straw incorporation measures for 2024; if he would consider including an opt-out choice for the tillage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33535/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The difficult weather in early 2024 has resulted in extremely low fodder supplies in the country, including straw. As a consequence of this I recently proposed a deferral of the 2024 Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and indicated that I would engage with the Farmers' Charter on the matter. I made this proposal balancing the need to ensure adequate supplies of straw are available for the coming winter with the environmental and soil health benefits of the scheme.

It has always been a feature of the scheme that farmers could opt out until harvest, however past indications are that the level of those opting out are very low.

I am anticipating that demand for straw will be strong this year due to the current shortage. This demand will ensure tillage farmers should have a ready market for their output. I again urge all farmers to ensure they have secured supplies of straw and fodder for the winter ahead and to engage promptly with tillage farmers on this matter.

I am at present engaging with farm bodies and with the European Commission on this matter, and will make a final decision shortly.