The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 18 May, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details Risk of Grain Shortage in 2022

Intended results To highlight that Minister McConalogue has to take urgent action to support tillage farmers as it is more likely we will have less grain due to rocketing input prices. To highlight that agricultural diesel prices have skyrocketed since the conflict in Ukraine began. At current prices, it will cost an extra €100 a hectare in diesel alone to produce grain. To highlight that farmers need more cuts in excise duty and in the carbon tax. It's critical that sufficient agri-diesel supplies are available during the key spring and summer months when planting and harvesting of crops takes place.In addition to fuel availability, there are very real concerns about the availability of fertiliser later in the spring. It's vital that an inventory of fertiliser supplies is undertaken immediately by Department of Agriculture. To highlight that there is a massive opportunity to strengthen Irish food security for both animal and human consumption. The restoration of an Irish flour milling industry also has to be a priority. To call on the Minister for Agriculture to provide a funding scheme for the building of slurry and manure storage infrastructure on tillage farms. Schemes such as the straw incorporation scheme are also essential this year to replenish soils with organic matter and reduce the reliance on imported phosphate and potash fertilisers. To welcome the tillage scheme announced by the Minister and to stress that this scheme, along with the establishment of the Food Security and Fodder Committee, is not going to address the real issue which is the cost and availability of inputs. To highlight that as it stands, only 7.5% of the Irish agricultural area is devoted to crop production. It is critically important that any further decline is halted and future policy decisions must aim to restore the cropped area to at least 11% of the agricultural land area.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Kieran McEvoy IFA 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)

Social Media (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.

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Boylan Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

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)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

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