The move to suspend the straw incorporation program is a solo effort that will impact the arable sector

IFA President Francie Gorman said the Agriculture Minister’s decision to announce the suspension of the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) without any consultation was a unilateral action by the Minister that failed to take into account the enormous challenges facing the arable farming sector.

“There are undoubtedly concerns about forage availability for the coming winter. However, the Minister needs to sit down with all stakeholders and put together a proper plan that takes into account all sectors and all options. The SIM has proven to be a positive for arable farmers in very difficult conditions,” he said.

Last week, an online meeting of the Committee on Feed and Food Safety appointed by the Minister took place.

“Although there were discussions about the straw chipping measure, there was no consensus and not even a formal proposal to suspend the measure,” he said.

“The minister has now completely ignored this group and continued with his own announcements,” he said.

Kieran McEvoy, chairman of the grains association IFA, said the move would be very disillusioning for arable farmers.

“In fact, arable farmers can opt out of the program if they want to. If that option is left open until after harvest, much of the better straw will be baled rather than ploughed under,” he said.

“The straw from some crops is not suitable for animal feed, so removing this straw comes at the expense of farmers,” he said.

“Arable farmers’ incomes will fall dramatically in 2024 due to bad weather, a 35% decline in winter plantings and a grain market in free fall,” he said.

“Earlier this year, the minister himself announced that he intended to support arable farmers with a payment of at least 100 euros per hectare. There are still few or no details on this and now the minister is cutting a payment to arable farmers,” he said.

The IFA has sought a meeting with the Minister to discuss the issue as soon as possible.