The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Tillage Farming Crisis

Intended results To highlight how many tillage farmers are facing into a serious loss-making situation, with feed spring barley and winter wheat incurring significant losses per acre, particularly on rented land. To demonstrate that analysis completed by IFA shows that a 2.6t/ac spring feed barley crop grown on rented land is losing approximately €125/acre, even after all direct payments. High land rents – inflated by new nitrates rules – and declining CAP payments are all contributing to these losses. To highlight how very high input costs; moderate to poor yields from a difficult growing season; high land rental costs; and atrocious weather in July and early August are all responsible for losses in the sector. To demonstrate how tillage farmers are facing huge financial losses this year. Further Government support is required if this sector is to still stand still, let alone increase its land area in the coming decade. Otherwise, a massive contraction in tillage area will occur in the coming months and years. To emphasise the importance of retaining the link between the malting barley price paid by Boortmalt and the FOB CREIL market. It is crucial that this link is maintained as it will ensure a significant premium for malting barley over feed barley in 2023. To highlight that, with the income and weather challenges faced by tillage farmers this year, the imposition of Boortmalt's drying charge of €10/tonne is a retrograde step and will erode premiums.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kieran McEvoy IFA Grain Chair, Max Potterton IFA Grain Policy Executive, Thomas McKeown IFA Meath Grain Chair,

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Informal communication (2-5)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)