Tillage farmers call for 'humanitarian' relief after the loss of entire crops in dire harvest

TILLAGE FARMERS, SOME of whom lost their entire crops last year, are calling for urgent “humanitarian aid” to help them cope with the fall in income.

The west of Ireland experienced one of its worst harvests in recent history last year due to bad weather.

Persistent heavy rain in certain areas led to significant losses of crops for a number of farmers. The primary areas affected extend from Cork to as far north as Donegal.

IFA grain committee chairman Liam Dunne said that about 250 farmers were the most severely affected. The average loss of crops for these farmers was about 60%, with some farmers having everything from their harvests.

Dunne said the scale of losses was virtually unprecedented in the tillage sector.

“Some parts of Kerry had the highest rainfall they’ve had for years,” he said. “Lots of crops were lost which is a very unusual thing to happen.”

“The crop was literally beaten into the ground by the end of the month and there was nothing left to harvest.”

Dunne said it costs about €400 in Ireland to grow a cereal crop on an acre of land. The costs of seeds and equipment is incurred whether or not the crop is successful, which has put many of farmers into serious debt.

“It’s not just a matter of not having an income. Farmers are losing money as well,” he said.

“Humanitarian support is what’s needed.”

Emergency fund 

The IFA and affected farmers are calling on the Department of Agriculture to provide an emergency fund to help the farmers deal with their difficult financial situations.

Dunne said the cumulative losses of the 250 or so farmers totalled as much as €4 million. If this money was provided by the government, it could be paid back next year after a successful season.

Fianna Fáil will today present a motion during Private Members’ Business calling on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to establish a crisis support fund for the affected farmers.

The party’s spokesman on agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, said he was “shocked by the minister’s complete failure to engage with this issue”.

Charlie McConalogue speaking today

“Despite calls for a compensation fund to assist these farmers, the government has stood back and refused to move on the issue,” he said.

The government is expected to oppose the motion this evening. It is believed it will instead put up a counter-proposal to address the problems for the tillage sector.

The plan is expected to involve the rollout of the €150 million Agri Cashflow Support Scheme as a direct response.

This scheme will function as a low-interest, flexible loan for tillage and horticulture farmers for amounts of up to €150,000 at an interest rate of 2.95%.

But Dunne said the measure would not be effective as struggling farmers may already have significant debts they can’t afford to pay.

Other measures to be put forward by the government include promoting the use of native grains and Irish malt in the manufacture of Irish whiskey and beer.

Written by Cormac Fitzgerald and posted on TheJournal.ie