New policy document on future use of native cereals/ oilseeds launched
The National Grain Committee of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has launched a new policy document on the future use of native cereals and oilseeds.
It was unveiled at today’s (Tuesday, February 17) council meeting of the organisation.
The new strategy calls for a minimum inclusion rate of all compound animal feeds produced in Ireland.
IFA National Grain Committee chair, John Murphy, told Agriland: "This approach will swerve to boost demand for Irish grains and oilseeds.
“By boosting demand for native grains, it will also serve to secure a premium return for Irish tillage farmers across the board.”
He said that the concept of securing a premium price "is not a new one".
"This principle is already well established, where malting barley and food grade oats are concerned.
“Getting our new policy document over the line will require the full buy-in of all the livestock sectors, Bord Bia, and the government," Murphy added.
According to the IFA representative, approximately 9% of Ireland’s agricultural land produces two million tonnes of grain on an annual basis.
“We want to see the land area dedicated to crops increased to 18% of the total that is available nationally. When this is achieved, it will be possible to put a circular economy in place.
"Arable land can then be used to ensure that best use is made of the slurries and the other organic manures produced within the livestock sectors.
“The likes of forage maize and fodder beet will be very much part of the crop rotations followed on Irish tillage farms into the future," Murphy said.
Straw
He also pointed to the valuable role that straw will continue to play within Ireland’s rural economy.
Murphy added: “But it’s got to be Irish straw.
"Imports coming in from Britain and Spain represent too much of a crop health risk. They have the potential to wipe out the entire tillage sector in Ireland."
Meanwhile he is all too aware of the severe impact made by the recent wet weather on winter cereal crops planted out last autumn.
He said he has received a significant number of phone calls from tillage farmers on this problem.
Specifically, he has been dealing with this very issue on his own Co. Wexford farm, where land planned out in winter wheat has been extensively flooded over recent weeks.
The IFA representative is also conscious that low-lying land in many parts of the country has been impacted by twice the normal levels of rainfall since the turn of the year.
“The impact of the bad weather on winter crops can only be assessed accurately once ground has dried up sufficiently.
“But I would be happy enough that the vast majority of these crops will respond well to fertiliser applications, assuming that farmers can get out into the fields within the next fortnight.
“Admittedly, it might take heavier lands four weeks to dry out sufficiently.”
Malting barley
Where malting barley is concerned, Murphy is fully aware of the pressure coming on the sector at the present time.
Contract tonnages have been reduced by some 30% and the first Boortmalt price offering of the year has come in at €225; that’s approximately €45 above current feed barley prices.
The National Grain chair said: “IFA engaged with Boortmalt last July when the then intention of the malster was to cut contract tonnages. But this was at a time when crops were already in the ground.
“The reality in 2026 is that demand for malting barley, destined for distilling, remains almost non-existent.
“In contrast, demand for malt that is used for brewing continues to grow. And we will be approaching Boortmalt on that basis.”
Murphy went on to say that the "principle of securing a premium prices for cereal crops grown in Ireland must be developed".
“Demand for malting barley and food grade oats has declined over the past year or so, but these markets will return.
"It is significant that a number of Irish distilleries intend to recommence their production systems over the coming months.
“IFA remains totally committed to securing the best possible returns for premium quality grains," he said.
Tillage support
In Budget 2026 the government committed to an additional €30 million support package for the Irish tillage sector.
Murphy said: “We recently met officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this matter.
“And I am hopeful that the details of the new measure will be published in the very near future.
“Minister Martin Heydon has also given me a commitment to the effect that that the new scheme will be a made available on a multi-annual basis."
According to Murphy "the thinking is that the additional monies can be used to fund a sustainability and expansion scheme for the tillage industry in the longer term".
He added: “But the members of the National Grain Committee remain committed to securing a €65 million annual tillage support scheme."
This was called for by the IFA prior to Election 2025 and endorsed by the Tillage Food Vision Group 2030, Murphy explained.
“The €65 million was also referenced in the government parties’ pre-election manifestos."
The National Grain chair called on "Irish agriculture as a whole" to support the IFA's new native grains’ policy document.
Grain imports
“Given current circumstances, the importation of grains and oilseeds into Ireland is required - up to a point," Murphy added.
He said that IFA has "no issue" when it comes to imported proteins, such as high quality soya.
“The reality is that Irish tillage farmers cannot produce sufficient tonnages of home-grown beans and oilseed rape.
"But there is a strong case that can be made against the importation of inferior feed ingredients into Ireland, such as palm kernel and soya hulls.
“What’s more, Irish cereals and oilseeds have an extremely low carbon footprint.
"It has been shown that the exclusive use of native grains on Irish dairy farms would have a positive environmental impact, equivalent to switching all fertiliser nitrogen sources from CAN to protected urea," Murphy said.
