2021: Optimism as demand for home-grown grain increases
The recent uplift in grain prices and the increase in this year’s area of autumn-sown cereals have combined to give Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Grain Committee chairman Mark Browne cause for optimism that Ireland’s cereal growers can look forward to 2021.
“Demand for home grown grain continues to strengthen. There will be no carryover of stocks into the New Year,” Browne said.
“All of this is positive. Looking ahead, there is every prospect of the drinks sector becoming more active in terms of their involvement with Irish farmers.
Demand for premium quality Irish grain continues to increase across the board. This is evident courtesy of the activity taking place within the distilling and milling sectors.
December 16, 2020 12:10 pm
Government policy has got to “ensure a level playing field” for local tillage and horticulture farmers, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has said.
The farm organisation was reacting to the Ag Climatise – A Roadmap towards Climate Neutrality – report published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Commenting, IFA Grain Committee chairman Mark Browne acknowledged the emphasis on increasing the tillage area in this country, and promoting the use of native grain and protein crops in livestock rations.
However, in order to achieve these goals, government actions and policy must support the sector, he asserted.
Some of the current proposals under the next CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] in relation to convergence and the administration of eco schemes will impact negatively on the tillage sector.