Need to secure greater recognition for native grains 'discussed in detail'
There is a growing recognition across Irish agriculture of the need to profile the benefits of native grains, according to Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) secretary, Clive Carter.
He told Agriland: “A recent get-together of all relevant stakeholders saw this issue put on the table and discussed in detail for the first time.
“This is an extremely important development. It was significant that representatives from both the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia actively participated in the meeting.”
He added: “But, fundamentally, the tillage sector needs the full buy-in of Irish livestock farmers when it comes to the full utilisation of native grains within compound feeds."
Carbon footprint
According to Carter, the existing Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS) quality assurance measures will deliver the full levels of traceability to allow the full identification of native grains with the compound feed chain.
“The low carbon footprint of native grains will be a another key driver when it comes to their premium use within Irish livestock rations into the future.
“This is why it is so important that as many as possible sign up to have the carbon footprint of their various cropping enterprises officially calculated using the new Tillage AgNav programme.
“The process only takes a few minutes to complete, with tillage farmers already to calculate the carbon footprints for all the crops they grew in both 2025 and 2024," Carter added.
Initial work already carried out by Teagasc has indicated that Irish cereals have the lowest carbon footprints of comparable crops grown in all other parts of the world.
In fact, oat crops grown at Oak Park have registered a net zero carbon footprint when the straw produced is chopped and incorporated back into the soil.
Driving these values is the higher yields that Irish tillage farmers can secure on a consistent basis.
Tillage support
Turning to other matters, Carter indicated that the details of the new €30 million tillage support scheme will be announced in the near future.
“This paves the way for monies reaching farmer back accounts during the spring period.
“I also remain hopeful that agriculture minister, Martin Heydon, will commit to an multi-annual measure where this new scheme is concerned," Carter said.
“The recent stakeholder meeting also provided an opportunity for an assessment of the ongoing CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] reform discussion.
“And while the full detail of what’s coming down the track have yet to be worked out, there are signs that the key role played by tillage within Irish agriculture will be recognised within these processes.”
