As more than 250 farmers wait with bated breath for news of a tillage crisis fund, one Galway farmer is still trying to deal with the mess of harvest 2016. Francis Dillon is one of 253 farmers – as identified by the IFA – who suffered badly in last year’s wet harvest. He is based around Tynagh in south Galway and this was one of the badly affected areas, as well as neighbouring north Tipperary and the other more publicised problems in the south, west and north of the country.
Dillon grows about 280ac of crops – oats, barley and swedes – and he also has around 300 ewes. The crops are mainly on rented and swapped ground.
His early crops yielded 3t/ac but he finished up with an average of 1.5t/ac across the acres cut. As a result, he had to pay money to clear his merchant account.
Dillon ended up with almost 50ac of oats unharvested. He brought in the combine when the weather picked up, cut a patch in one field but the little he got in the tank was unsaleable so he had no choice but to leave it.
The Galwayman is now running his sheep across this land in order to make some use of the germinating seeds and to help break down the straw.
He wants the option to be able to insure his crops against such weather events in future but it is not available. He wonders if a fund can be established, with the help of grower contributions, to help with similar problems in future.
An IFA survey of growers put the overall loss at €4.1m. Farmers lost €3.032m on grain and €1.073m on straw.
Many other farmers suffered similar crop losses last harvest. While prices were low, it is the loss of the tonnes that has given rise to the greatest challenges. And now it is almost planting time again and these farmers need access to funds.
Minister’s response
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed last week gave his clearest signal yet that an aid package was in the pipeline, telling the Irish Farmers Journal that he was willing to establish a fund.
“What I have committed to is engagement with the IFA on this matter and that is what we are doing. And what I’ve said clearly is that if there’s a way, there’s a will,” he said.
Torrential rain halts play in the south and west
Weather snapshot: flooding, waterlogged soils and housed stock