The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) will meet with government this week to outline the impact of rising fuel costs on the sector.

The FCI is due to have discussions with Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.

Norman Egar, FCI national chair, and Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, FCI managing director will attend on behalf of the association.

It is understood that the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) will also be present for the meeting.

Last week, the government announced cuts to mineral oil tax (MOT) for petrol, diesel and green diesel and a cut to the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy.

The measures, which farm organisations said will not go far enough to help farmers, came after fuel prices spiked in recent weeks due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

FCI

In a statement, the FCI said that it "will voice the serious concerns of our members".

The association will also "propose solutions that government could implement in order to support the agricultural contracting and farming sector during this period of extreme uncertainty and financial strain".

"Immediate, targeted intervention is required to ensure the continuation of essential farming operations and to protect rural economies," the FCI said.

The FCI previously told Agriland that the cost of harvesting 100ac of silage ground with a full self propelled unit has risen by €2,855 plus VAT per day.

Fuel costs

Around 400 people across multiple sectors, including farming, contracting and haulage attended an emergency meeting on fuel costs in Portlaoise on Saturday (March 29).

Some of those at the meeting were in favour of staging road blockades at Dublin Airport and along the M50 motorway.

It was agreed that a committee would be established following the event.

Ann Gleeson Hanrahan will hand deliver the list of requests compiled at Saturday's meeting to the Tánaiste this week.