Tillage group highlights plant health threats posed by imported straw
Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) members have pointed to the continuing threat posed to Ireland’s plant health standards by imported straw coming in from Britain.
Significantly, they also point to this issue coming into sharper focus with the recent confirmation of Ireland’s first bluetongue case.
IGGG joint secretary, Bobby Miller commented: “The unwelcome outbreak of bluetongue in Wexford, one of the biggest tillage growing counties in Ireland, serves as reminder of how little policy and control measures are in place to protect Irish grain growers when it comes to the importation of straw.
“The immediate implementation of control measures when bluetongue was confirmed is very appropriate, protecting the livelihoods of livestock farmers."
Millar noted that there are similar measures in place for diseases such as foot and mouth and bovine TB, with financial compensation available for farmers affected.
“But compensation is not available to tillage farmers that live with the growing worry of resistant grass weeds like blackgrass and Italian ryegrass.
“In fact the opposite is now the case, given that blackgrass has been declared a noxious weed," he added.
According to the IGGG representative, the potential now exists for farmers to be fined if they are seen not to take steps to prevent the spread of blackgrass.
In addition, those that have blackgrass on their farms get no financial aid from government to try curb the scourge that is resistant grass weeds, he said.
Financial aid
“Budget 2026 has seen record funding being directed to try eradicate TB in Ireland," Miller continued.
“But where does this leave tillage farmers, who are coping with the challenge of resistant grass weeds?
“We have a situation where an Irish farmer looking to buy a machine in the UK must get certification that it is blackgrass-free before importing the machine.
“But due to a severe lack of policy and control measures, straw is being imported wholesale from the UK and countries like Spain.
“Put simply, policy must be introduced with immediate effect to implement control measures.
“The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine must take the necessary steps to protect its Irish tillage farmers as is already the case for livestock producers."
The IGGG representative said the group was calling on the minister and his department "to suspend the importation of straw until such policy is introduced".
“We cannot continue with the current situation where imported straw travels the roads of Ireland uncovered, losing perhaps contaminated straw when brushing off trees and hedges and travelling to unknown destinations," Miller added.
