Farm sectors voice their concerns to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue at AGM of Laois IFA

All the farming sectors voiced their issues and concerns to Minister Charlie McConalogue in a question and answer session at the Laois IFA AGM.

Peter Luttrell, Chairman of the Sheep committee in Laois said that sheep farmers are not rewarded for what they do.

“Nothing has been done for sheep this year. On €7 a ewe we need some assistance. Funding is needed for store finishers also.”

He also raised the issue of dog control.

Minister McConalogue acknowledged that margins had been negligible in the sheep sector. “It’s the biggest pinch point at the moment. The market situation needs to be looked at. A meeting of the Food Vision sheep committee will examine it.”

On dog control the Minister said a lot of work was needed and particularly in enforcement.

Rory Doyle, Grain chairman Laois drew attention to the pressure on land and land prices. He said that young tillage farmers were very worried. “Last year was very good but this year is not as promising. We cannot get ground. Dairy farmers are giving huge prices for land owing to the nitrates derogation.”

Minister McConalogue said that the grain sector needs to grow. Over time it has decreased, though there was an increase last year. He acknowledged the strong competition there is for land. “We do not want to see the area under tillage shrink.”

Declan Hanrahan, Livestock Chairman said that the new sucker scheme has to be more farmer friendly. He said that farmers need income sustainability. “We are not able to carry out any measures if the money is not there.” He said that farmers are the only people who can change biodiversity.

He said that exchequer returns were never as high. On the ACRES scheme he noted the 14,000 applicants that had been accepted and asked the Minister to ensure that all who applied got in and that the money was there for them.

The Minister noted that farm profits and margins are critical. On ACRES he said he wanted to bring the 46,000 applicants in, but had to ensure the capacity was there to run it.

Environmental Chairman Liam Delaney noted the projected 56 per cent on food production that is being flagged for 2050. He queried how output could be increased given the cutting of herds, banding and reductionin fertilister.

Minister McConalogue said a balance had to be navigated between producing more food and reducting emissions.

Pat Hennessy, Farm Business said that farmers should be exempt from the residential zoned land tax.

The Minister said that farmers had the potential to have land dezoned but work was needed with the local authorities.