Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with an organisation (details supplied) on the issues facing the tillage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55035/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I regularly engage with farmer representative bodies relating to tillage matters. I have met with the organisation referred to on several occasions since my appointment, including through attendance at its AGM, through pre-budget engagement and in the context of a meeting organised by the Irish Farmers Association on 12th September.

I fully recognise the pressures currently facing the tillage sector, not least the challenging market outlook and downward price pressures. I understand the concerns of the organisation referred to, and its ambition to grow and develop the sector. This Government shares that ambition and is providing targeted supports to help the sector realise its potential.

My Department will be supporting the tillage sector in 2026 with funding of at least €50m through the Protein Aid Scheme, the Straw Incorporation Measure and a Tillage Support Scheme. Having secured additional funding in Budget 2026 for a Tillage Support Scheme, I intend to consult with stakeholders on its design and operation in due course.

In addition to commitments made in Budget 2026, my Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers in recent years. This year, the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme was €10m, having increased from €7m to €10m annually from last year. Applications for approximately 66,000 hectares of cereals and oilseed rape straw were submitted for the Straw Incorporation Measure this year, and I made the decision to pay all applicants under the scheme.

In February this year, I announced €32.4 million of payments under the Tillage and Horticulture Support Scheme. The Farming for Water EIP has a budget of €60m to support targeted on-farm additional measures to improve water quality. This year, almost 1,400 tillage farmers have expressed an interest in establishing cover crops under the EIP. The tillage sector is also being supported under other schemes, including the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme, ACRES and the Organic Farming Scheme.

The Food Vision Tillage Group report identifies opportunities to grow the sector and to further improve its environmental footprint. My Department continues to engage with stakeholders to progress the actions in the report, and as it is an industry report, it will require collaboration and sustained effort from all stakeholders.

I will continue to work with the tillage sector and provide targeted support where possible given the strategic importance of the sector within the wider agricultural industry.