Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Supports

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1206.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[33793/24]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of a difficult harvest in 2023 and a prolonged housing period, very little straw was carried over from 2023 into 2024. The early part of the summer saw continued difficult weather, and also with fodder supplies already low, fears of an impending fodder shortage in the coming winter were very real.

Against this backdrop of depleted fodder reserves and poor growth rates I wanted to ensure the maximum amount of fodder was available. Therefore, following extensive engagement with representatives of the tillage sector, I have launched the Baling Assistance Payment (BAP) scheme to provide flexibility to Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) applicants in support of baling the straw from their SIM cereal crop instead of chopping and incorporation.

The Government is fully aware of the difficulties that tillage farmers have experienced in recent years, both due to low prices and difficult weather. Increased supports have been put in place to assist farmers. For example, increased funding in the new CAP for Protein crops along with the introduction of the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS), Unharvested Crop Loss and the Tillage Top- Up schemes.

Tillage is an integral part of Irish farming and the Government will explore all possible means of supporting the sector and will closely look at the recommendations of the Food Vision Group, including the request for a new scheme to support tillage farmers in the medium to long term.

Both the introduction of the SIM and now the BAP shows that the Government is actively engaged with the tillage sector and will continue to work with farmers and their representatives to ensure the viability of the sector.

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