Govt urged to support contractors with fuel costs to avoid fodder crisis
The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has called for urgent action to be taken by the government to address the rapid increase in marked gas oil (green diesel) prices.
Norman Egar, national chair of FCI, said that the cost of the marked gas oil has increased by 70% over the past month, following the conflict in the Middle East.
“In week nine of 2026, marked gas oil was approximately €1/L including VAT.
"In week 12 of 2026, there are reports across the country of marked gas oil costing up to €1.70/L.”
“Prior to this price increase, our sector was consuming 350 million litres of diesel at roughly €1/L.
"Now, with the price increase of 70%, the cost to our sector has grown by nearly €245 million. That’s very significant,” Egar said.
Contractors
The production of silage, which usually occurs between May and June, will also be affected as it is heavily reliant on diesel-powered machinery, according to the association.
“The consequence is that contractors may not be able to provide these services," Egar continued.
"Farmers would have to do without sufficient silage, some crops would not be sown, and over time that would lead to food shortages.
"The impact may not be immediate, but it would have long-term consequences,” he said.
Exports
Meanwhile, managing director at FCI, Ann Gleeson Hanrahan has warned of serious knock-on effects to Irish exports if the government do not intervene.
“Farm contractors cannot afford to go to work. This will be the final nail in the coffin for rural Ireland," Gleeson Hanrahan said.
"Government ministers are going to stand by while farm contracting businesses fail, and the failure of Irish agriculture will follow shortly after.”
Director of research at FCI, Michael Moroney claimed that government ministers have shown a "complete lack of respect" to farm contractors over the past month:
“We have called for support from the government and we have called for emergency meetings with government ministers, but all to no avail. They have not even bothered to respond,” Moroney said.
“If contractors are not supported, no crops will be sown and no silage will be preserved," he said.
"The resulting fodder shortage will see farmers left with no choice but to sell their animals.
"Government ministers will have to respond then, when Irish food exporters cannot produce their products due to a lack of meat or dairy.”
FCI is calling for:
- An emergency meeting with relevant government ministers at the earliest opportunity;
- Support for farm contractors during this period of unprecedented price increases to help address rising operating costs and ensure contractors can deliver essential services to farmers.
