The Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) has called for leadership from the Government to increase the tillage area in this country.

The group stated that “proof of lack of leadership is the severe loss of land to grass in recent decades”.

“Just a few months after the Climate Action Plan was launched, one of the Government's objectives is failing. Tillage land is being lost this year to dairy farming as a direct result of nitrates [rules], flying in the face of Government plans,” group chair Bobby Miller stated.

The IGGG questioned if the Government was going to take steps to address the decline and what these actions will be.

“The Citizens Assembly report launched this week reaffirms our belief that opportunity exists in the food-grade, plant-based arena, but will the Government have the vision to really push that agenda promptly?” the IGGG asked.

A statement by the group sent to the Irish Farmers Journal said the only way tillage area will increase is through profitable tillage farming.

“It’s time our leaders really take note of a sector that has many of the solutions for them in front of their noses. The Citizens Assembly recommends a more plant-based diet. Let's give the tillage farmer an opportunity to flourish and fill those opportunities in the plant-based arena,” the statement continued.

The IGGG encouraged all to join in Arable April, a celebration of the positives in the tillage industry, by posting photos on social media and tagging #arableapril.

For your chance to win a €500 voucher for as part of Arable April click on this link.

Fieldwork

On field work, Miller said: “This spring is reminding us again how dependent we are on nature. With the weather patterns not showing much promise either, we must resign ourselves to the fact that it’s a late spring and plan accordingly.

“While the majority of tillage farmers would want crops sown by now, it must be remembered that many a farmer doesn’t sow particular fields until April and those fields often perform equally well so it’s too early to make any financial judgments for the year just yet.”