The grain harvest has got underway around the country this week – but there is considerable frustration at a Government proposal to immediately suspend the Straw Incorporation Scheme, a measure that allows farmers to chop straw and be paid up to €100 an acre/€250 a hectare to do so.
Chopping straw is an environmental measure that improves soil health and the payment incentivised farmers to apply for the scheme.
Farmers are paid €250 a hectare for chopping the straw from wheat, barley, oats or rye and €150 a hectare from oilseed rape.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has said that he has sought a deferral of the scheme from the European Commission due to an expected fodder shortage this winter.
While he said he appreciates that tillage farmers “may be disappointed by this move”, there is a “very strong market for straw this year due to the shortage and the need to replenish supplies”.
In some years the demand for straw would mean that those who sold their straw fared out better – though opting for the scheme also removed the workload.
Farmers apply for the scheme early in the year but can opt out at harvest time if they so wish.
The immediate suspension of this scheme as the harvest has just started has angered farmer groups and the IFA and Irish Grain Growers Association met with Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue this morning.
Given the volume of tillage farming in Laois, there was a strong representation from the county among the delegation that met the Minister – including IFA president Francie Gorman, national grain chairman Kieran McEvoy, Bobby Miller, Colm Fingleton and Clive Carter from the Irish Grain Growers.
IFA President Francie Gorman said the Minister for Agriculture’s decision to announce the suspension of the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) without any consultation was a solo run by the Minister, which gave no consideration to the huge challenges being faced by the tillage sector.
“There is no doubt there are concerns about fodder availability for the upcoming winter.
“However, what’s needed is for the Minister to sit down with all stakeholders and make a proper plan which considers all sectors and all options. The measure has been positive for tillage farmers during very tough conditions,” he said
Last week, there was an online meeting of the Fodder and Food Security Committee which was established by the Minister.
“While there was certainly discussion about the straw chopping measure, there was no consensus, or even a formal proposal to suspend the measure,” he said.
“The Minister has now completely ignored this group and driven on with his own announcement,” he said.
IFA Grain chair Kieran McEvoy said tillage farmers will be very disillusioned at this move.
“The reality is that tillage farmers can opt out of the scheme if they so wish. Leaving this option open until after the harvest would see a lot of the better straw baled rather than ploughed in,” he said.
“Straw from some crops will not be suitable for forage, so removing these hits the bottom line for tillage farmers,” he said.
“Incomes for tillage farmers are set to be hammered in 2024 due bad weather, a decline in winter plantings by 35% and free-falling grain market,” he said.
The delegation that met the Minister on Thursday morning in Gurteen Agricultural College have said in a joint statement that they made it clear that his decision to suspend the straw chopping scheme was “totally unacceptable” and “that it must be overturned immediately”.
The statement added that the Minister offered a follow up meeting next week, but the delegation was adamant that next week was too late and that he needed to resolve the matter urgently.
“IFA and IGG made it clear that the Minister must meet with us again tomorrow or over the weekend. This remains our position.
“Both the IFA and IGG were clear this decision will not be accepted and that the Minister must revisit his decision.
“This decision flies in the face of the Food Vision Tillage report, the discussion at last week’s Fodder and Food Security Committee and the recently agreed Farmers’ Charter.
“Farmers made decisions to plant crops based on a scheme announced by the Minister. He is now withdrawing the scheme after the harvest has started.
“If the Minister can do this to tillage farmers, he can do it to any farmer at the stroke of a pen. It will not be accepted.
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