Extreme frustration among farmers over the proposal to suspend the straw planting programme

Grain harvesting began across the country this week, but the government’s proposal to immediately suspend the Straw Incorporation Scheme, which allows farmers to chop straw and receive up to €100 per acre or €250 per hectare, has caused great frustration.

Straw chopping is an environmental measure to improve soil health and the payment provided an incentive for farmers to apply for the scheme.

Farmers receive 250 euros per hectare for chopping straw from wheat, barley, oats or rye and 150 euros per hectare for chopping rapeseed straw.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he had asked the European Commission to postpone the regulation because there was expected to be a shortage of feed this winter.

He said while he understood that arable farmers “may be disappointed by this move,” there was “a very strong market for straw” this year due to shortages and the need to replenish stocks.

In some years, the demand for straw made those who sold their straw better off, but participation in the program also reduced the workload.

Farmers apply to participate in this program at the beginning of the year but can opt out at harvest time if they wish.

The immediate suspension of this scheme, just before the start of the harvest, has angered farmers’ associations and the IFA and the Irish Grain Growers Association met with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue this morning.

Given the scale of arable farming in Laois, the county was strongly represented in the delegation that met the Minister – including IFA President Francie Gorman, National Grains Chairman Kieran McEvoy, Bobby Miller, Colm Fingleton and Clive Carter of the Irish Grain Growers.

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 is no doubt that there are concerns about feed availability for the coming winter.

“However, the minister must sit down with all stakeholders and work out an appropriate plan that takes into account all sectors and all options. The measure has proven to be positive for arable farmers under 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.

The delegation, which met the minister at Gurteen Agricultural College on Thursday morning, said in a joint statement that they had made it clear that his decision to suspend the straw chipping program was “totally unacceptable” and “must be reversed immediately.”

The statement added that the minister had offered a follow-up meeting next week, but the delegation insisted that it was too late for next week and that the matter needed to be resolved urgently.

“IFA and IGG have made it clear that the minister must meet with us again tomorrow or at the weekend. That remains our position.”

“Both the IFA and the IGG made it clear that this decision is not accepted and that the Minister must reconsider his decision.

“This decision is contrary to the Food Vision Tillage report, the discussions in the Feed and Food Security Committee last week and the recently agreed Farmers’ Charter.

“Farmers decided to grow their crops based on a plan announced by the minister. He is now withdrawing this plan after the harvest has begun.

“If the minister can do this to arable farmers, he can do it to any farmer with the stroke of a pen. That will not be accepted.”

SEE ALSO – Check out our 10 minute podcast series on all the hurling clubs in Laois ahead of this year’s championship