Given the huge investment required, farmers need clear guidance on fertiliser stocks and prices.

There seems to be a significant gap in up-to-date information available from the Department on stocks and usage.

The proposed fertiliser register will help, but, surely we need a running audit of stocks in the country before using public funds to secure stocks.

Given the turbulence in global trade and the ongoing war in Ukraine, certainty is in short supply.

This week Anne Finnegan tracks EU prices while Siobhán Walsh outlines what farmers need to consider if purchasing nutrients. While the national fodder grouping advises buying 20-30% of your annual supply, for some farmers under pressure due to other commitments it may not be the best advice.

Of course it is a necessary input, but for individual businesses buying it now might not be best practice. Farmers would be best advised to do their own analysis. It may prove that they need to consider selling stock, reducing rented land, renting land etc.

Macra reboot

Amy Forde’s interview this week with Michael Curran, the new man at the helm of Macra, thankfully shows ambition, creativity and a willingness to engage with young people around rural Ireland.

Speaking last week, former Macra president Thomas Duffy didn’t leave a tooth in it when he said the new CAP had essentially forgotten young farmers, and that trends on young farmer involvement were not properly measured.

Barriers

While the Irish are near the top for educated young farmers on a European scale, they won’t stay farming unless stakeholder groups break down the barriers to overcome key issues such as access to land and access to credit.

The Macra land mobility initiative has worked, but needs to move up another level.

The Irish Farmers Journal offers support and the best of luck in turning the Kerry man’s ambition into reality.

Roadmap to €6/kg minimum price is needed

Heavy rain over the past week has led to a cut in beef prices and leaves farmers wondering about why they should risk carrying huge production costs with only a remote hope of a viable beef price in the spring.

Bord Bia has this week launched a €1m promotion campaign to drive further value for Irish beef exports in the UK and EU markets.

Irish factories have also been active at the SIAL food and drink show in Paris this week along with all the other major exporters in the world.

What is missing from all this is a roadmap to show farmers how the €6/kg minimum required next spring can be achieved.

It is a case of farmers beware.