The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) has called for a review of the level of grain being imported from Mercosur countries for use as feed on Irish farms.

Speaking to Agriland, the ICSA general secretary Hugh Farrell said: "We are seeing a massive reduction in the amount of tillage being farmed in Ireland at the minute."

The ICSA call for a review into Mercosur grain imports used on Irish farms comes as farm organisations are demanding the chair of Bord Bia Larry Murrin to resign following confirmation his company sources some of its beef from Mercosur countries.

Ireland imported 750,000t of grain and 105t of beef from Mercosur countries in 2024.

Irish tillage production

Farrell attributed the volume of grain being imported from non-EU destinations such as the Mercosur countries as an attributing factor to the decline in tillage production in Ireland.

He said: "The sad part is we have up on two years supply of oats lying in storage that nearly can't be sold.

"Wheat has fallen under the price of barley so there's no reason for importing all this [grain] if the right regulations were in place to use up the Irish grain and to encourage farmers back into tillage production.

He said that the review will have to involve consultation with stakeholders in the Irish tillage industry.

"Unless its properly looked after, and the millers and companies processing feed is putting priority first on using Irish grains, that's the only way we can control this."

Farrell said that the ICSA believes that more grain can be produced here in Ireland and that the tillage sector in Ireland must be "supported in a different way".

He also noted the emissions associated with grain imports and also said that grain produced in Mercosur countries is produced to different standards.

The ICSA secretary general also highlighted that Irish grain is GM free and said the same can not be said for grain imported from non-EU destinations.

IGGG seek 'preferential procurement' of native grain

The ICSA call comes as the Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) has recently called for "the preferential procurement of native grains" by Irish farmers.

Against the backdrop of a fresh debate over imports from Mercosur countries to Ireland, the IGGG has urged dairy and other livestock farmers to support Irish growers.

According to the group, the process needs to start with "a formal recognition" of the quality and low carbon footprint of the cereals and oilseeds produced locally.

Clive Carter, secretary of the IGGG, said: “All of this can be achieved if Ireland’s dairy co-ops and the red-meat processers, in tandem with pig and poultry processors, commit to paying a bonus to those livestock farmers who preferentially source native cereals and oilseeds."

Chair of the IGGG James Kelly previously stated that Ireland "imported 750,000t of grains and feedstuffs in 2024 from Mercosur countries", much of which, he claimed, "is genetically modified".

Last year, the EU exported 40 million tonnes of grain and feedstuffs.