Grain production and farm inputs
Seán Canney asked how farmers would be supplied with fertiliser, grain and machinery after the Minister urged more tillage in response to the Ukraine crisis. The Taoiseach said the Minister was meeting farm bodies and that any change in agricultural direction would need to be measured and sensible.
In light of the announcement last Sunday by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine asking farmers to grow grain to try to make up for some of the shortfall and risk arising out of the Ukrainian crisis, how will the Government provide the fertiliser, grain and machinery that are required? Many farmers, including in my constituency, have not done tillage in a hell of a long time, since the sugar factory closed in Tuam.
Comment on this
I am asking the Taoiseach how this is going to be done.
Comment on this
The Minister is meeting with the farm organisations. There will be a need to grow grass and make sure we have enough animal feed for next year. We will take no chances or shortcuts. There will be a very challenging environment ahead in terms of animal feed and global grain supply. It makes sense that we change tack in terms of our agricultural portfolio and, working in partnership with the farming organisations and farmers, that we do so in a measured and sensible way.