With fuel prices in flux, The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has said that agricultural diesel should be supported as much as auto diesel. This follows the announcement this week’s of a 15c to 20c cut per litre of auto fuel, and a 2c cut per litre of green diesel. The Cabinet agreed to reduce excise duty on a litre of petrol by 20c, and 15c per litre of diesel, along with 2c for a litre of green diesel.
ICSA president Dermot Kelleher pointed out that, “Sme people who drive to work can work from home, but you can’t work from home if you are cutting silage. It is simply untenable to expect farmers to keep producing food with rapidly escalating costs.”
Tim Cullinan, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association also said that the cut in excise duty will do very little to offset the rocketing price of fuel. He felt it would be seen as an insult to farmers, given the importance of food security. “If the Government is serious about encouraging farmers to grow more grass and crops and produce more food, they should suspend all excise duty and carbon tax on agri diesel for farmers and farm contractors.”
“If farmers are to sow more crops and grow more grass, it will require increased use of farm machinery in the coming days and weeks.” As everyone knows, farm families are under huge pressure because of the “savage increases” in their costs. “The Government has to get to grips with the issue and provide meaningful support to farmers,” Mr Cullinan said
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association views the 2c cut as “derisory”. Association president Pat McCormack has said that the benefits to farmers, contractors and farm-related logistics will be “practically negligible”.
LSL News.