Tillage farmers occupy Department offices

Tillage farmers mounted a lightning protest at the Department of Agriculture headquarters in Kildare Street, Dublin, on Wednesday in protest at the aid package for growers hit by the bad weather of last harvest.

This week, the office of Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed revealed that funding had been secured from the exchequer for a scheme. This was welcomed by IFA president Joe Healy, who called for further details to be announced.

However, reports then emerged that the scheme would include a €5,000 ceiling per applicant – drastically lower than the €15,000 sought. There could also be a limit of €200/ha and aid for no more than 25ha per farmer, the reports suggested.

On Wednesday afternoon a meeting of IFA’s grain committee under way in Dublin decided that these details, along with the lack of an official announcement by the Minister or his Department, were unacceptable.

The 10-farmer committee then proceeded to occupy the Department’s headquarters. Backing their action, IFA president Joe Healy demanded a meeting with Minister Creed. The reported terms of the scheme are unacceptable, he said.

Also on Wednesday, a Department spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that the reported details were in line with the scheme it has now drawn up.

Growers in Co Cork are very angry at the reported terms of the scheme, said Cork grower Jim O’Regan, who lobbied politicians on the issue.

“Some growers in this area lost up to €60,000 as a result of the extensive salt burn on crops followed later by atrocious harvest weather. The proposed scheme is an insult to tillage farmers.”