News of Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue’s proposed silage support scheme has been welcomed, but the parameters of the measure have come under debate. The Independent Farmers Organisation of Ireland has now added their voice, commenting that the government’s proposed measure ignores the reality of the increased cost of production.
The minister stated that payments would be made later in 2022, with the finer details of the package still being decided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The scheme, which targets beef and sheep farmers, will offer a €100/ha payment for all silage cut up to a maximum of 10ha, meaning farmers would be eligible to receive up to €1,000 each.
Minister McConalogue said that,“You can’t address all the cost challenges that are there, but I think €1,000 for your average farm is a really significant contribution to the challenges facing farmers. Obviously, it is a very challenging year from a cost point of view and one of our key objectives has to be to grow as much grass this year to ensure we are fodder secure for next winter and spring.”
But in response, members of Independent Farmers have said the measure is insulting, calling it a “a waste of time”. They explained that the cost of chemical fertilisers has quadrupled in some cases, putting out of reach for many Irish farmers. “This package would cover the cost of one tonne of a compound fertiliser suitable for silage production, and at a modest application rate per acre would cover the fertiliser cost of just 2.5ha for a single cut. By the time the applications for inclusion in the scheme can be processed and approved by DAFM, at best it might be available for the second or more realistically third cut of silage,” they said.
The Independent Farmers added that the scheme also doesn’t compare well to the generous supports available to farmers in other EU member states.