Talking crops' progress and the politics of tillage with IGGG

Agriland

10 hours ago

Irish Grain Growers' Group (IGGG) co-secretary Clive Carter is confident that his winter cereal crops have significant yield potential.
According to Carter, this is a direct result of the tremendous start the crops received last autumn and the exceptional early spring growing conditions.
The barley was sown out in mid-October and the oats a week later
A mix of winter seed barley and gluten free winter oats is grown on the Carter farm, which comprises part of the former National Ploughing Championships' site at Ratheniska in Co. Laois.
Carler told Agriland: 'This year we are growing a crop of Orcade winter barley: Enya is the winter oat option.
'Assuming the weather holds, we should be cutting barley around the middle of July. That's about a week earlier than would normally be the case.
'Again, weather permitting, our hopes are high that winter crops will yield well this year.'
But it is a slightly different story where spring cereals are concerned. Clive is growing Husky as a spring gluten-free oat option, with Planet the malting barley variety used this year.
He explained: 'The spring oats struggled during the recent dry spell.
'We are farming light land, which can dry out quite quickly. The yield potential of the oats was significantly impacted by the total lack of rain during the month of May.
'But we won't know the actual scale of the yield reduction until harvest time.'
From an agronomy perspective, the spring crops will receive their final fungicide spray over the coming days. After that it is a case of seeing what the final harvest delivers.
The politics of tillage
IGGG's other co-secretary, Bobby Miller, was a recent visitor to the Carter farm.
Miller told Agriland: 'Grain markets remain in the doldrums.
'Current grower prices are back at 1984 levels, which is totally unacceptable.'
Miller acknowledged that winter crops continue to look well. However, the economic outlook for Irish tillage farmers remains exceptionally challenging.
'From a winter cereals' perspective, two of the three factors that combine to deliver true sustainability for grain growers have been in play up to this point: high yield potential and good weather,' he said.
'However, the missing factor is good prices. And the market outlook for the coming harvest is extremely bleak.'
IGGG wants to see Irish cereal growers working in partnership with livestock farmers, grain merchants, and feed merchants to deliver equitable returns for all parties involved.
Fast maturing winter oats on the Co. Laois farm of Clive Carter
At the heart of this envisaged arrangement is a commitment to use Irish grain in ways that deliver sustainable prices for everyone growing and utilising homegrown cereals.
According to Miller: 'Grain imports continue to increase. The latest figures would indicate that up to five million tonnes of grains and feed materials are imported into this country on an annual basis.
'A high percentage of these materials are coming from countries outside the European Union. In other words they are grown to standards that would not be permitted of Irish farmers.'
Miller noted that genetically modified (GM) crops are also included within these imports.
'And, again, these are crops are not allowed to be grown in Europe,' he said.
'Not for one minute would Grain Growers countenance the production of GM crops in this country.
'However, Irish tillage farmers want a level playing field – this is only right and proper. And there is no reason why the Irish government cannot use tax incentives to help make this happen.'
Sustainable tillage farming
Miller said that ensuring the economic sustainability of the tillage sector will assist it in improving its sustainability in terms of environmental measures.
'If grain growers are making sustainable returns, then the target contained within the National Climate Action Plan can be met,' Miller stated.
'It envisages the expansion of the tillage sector to 400,000ha by 2030. However, if the crops' sector remains in the doldrums, all of this is just a pipe dream.'
Turning to the current politics of tillage farming, the two IGGG representatives made a number of fundamental points.
According to Clive Carter, the Food Vision Tillage Group has not met since last August.
He stressed: 'This is disappointing, as has been the government's lack of response to the Tillage Vision Group report.
'Yes, we have seen moves made on the issue of noxious weeds. But even here, the outcomes to date have been underwhelming.
'Blackgrass has been officially declared a noxious weed. However, little or no checking of straw consignments coming in from England takes place at Irish ports.
'Imported straw and machinery continue to represent the most important sources of Blackgrass contamination impacting on this country.'
Meanwhile, Bobby Miller pointed to the pre-election promises made to tillage farmers by the two main parties in the current government.
Miller said: 'Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised an additional €300 million of support to the tillage sector during the lifetime of the current parliament.
'This works out at €60 million per annum. But, as yet, we have heard nothing about the ways in which this extra support funding will be spent.'
IGGG is also campaigning to have the annual funding made available for the Straw Incorporation Measures to be increased from the current €10 million per annum threshold up to €15 million
Clive Carter added: 'We believe there is scope to make this happen during the lifetime of the current CAP.'
IGGG crops walk
IGGG will host a crops walk on the farm of the Miller family at Rathcrea, Vicarstown, Co. Laois on Friday, 13 June. Events get underway at 10:45a.m.
The guest speaker at the event will be Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Cowan.