In 2013, Irish livestock farmers experienced an unprecedented fodder crisis after they were forced to house animals for much longer than usual. This was due to an extra-long winter and slow-starting spring.
It took some time for the government to respond. But when they did, their actions were swift and decisive. By June of that year, over 40,000t of imported hay and silage had been distributed to farmers in need.
It was a terrible time for many family farms – that cannot be understated – but without government support, it would have been much worse.
Now, 12 years on, Irish farmers continue to face unprecedented challenges. However, unlike 2013, the supports are not always there – or in the form of what is actually needed.
This year, commercial vegetable operations are on the line due to damage inflicted by storm Éowyn. Meanwhile, in aquaculture, the potential effects of climate change are creating serious challenges for operators.
Both sectors are calling for emergency government support, not just to help with their current dilemmas, but to better plan for the future and adapt to the changing landscape.
Aquaculture
Irish aquaculture is worth €180m to the Irish economy. It provides 1,800 direct jobs, contributes to 8,500 indirect jobs within the wider seafood industry and is a crucial element of coastal rural development.
At the recent IFA Aquaculture conference, held in Limerick on 20 March, chair Finian O’Sullivan addressed attendees. He commented on the challenges facing Irish aquaculture, which includes licensing issues, the export market and biological challenges facing aquaculture operations.
Speaking to Irish Country Living, Finian – who operated Bantry Harbour Mussels Ltd in west Cork for 40 years – says innovation, adaptation and mitigation are all necessary in order to move the industry forward.
“With climate change we will all have to adapt and take a look at our approach to husbandry,” he says.
“What worked in the past might not necessarily work in the future, and you have to be able to see the wood from the trees. With Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) [the Seafood Development Agency which provides research, data and business support], I think the supports are there. If we identify our needs, they’re there to help.”
John Harrington operates a rope mussel farm, Kush Shellfish, in Kenmare Bay, Co Kerry and has been in business since 1987. He says that in all of his years in operation, he has never faced the challenges he is facing today – and he is seriously concerned about the future.
“I started rope mussels in 1983,” he says. “I originally trained to be a teacher, but then my brother and I got into shellfish farming. In 1987, we decided to go at it commercially with my friend, Kevin. In the last two years we’ve seen a massive change in the business, which has really just been down to nature.”
Rope mussel farming is one of the most sustainable forms of food production in Ireland. Mussel seed is naturally occurring in Irish waters and our Atlantic coastal bays are ideal for production. To farm mussels, rope is hung at depth and the seed attaches to it, where they grow until ready to harvest.
IFA Aquaculture chair Finian O’Sullivan addressed attendees at the 2025 IFA Aquaculture conference, which was held in Limerick on 20 March.
According to BIM, 1kg of mussels accounts for just 0.107kg of carbon dioxide, meaning it has an extremely low carbon footprint. That said, mussels are also dependent on consistent environmental conditions.
John mainly grows mussels for export to mainland Europe, but for the last two years, there has been a tubeworm settlement on the mussel shells which has affected sales.
“Tubeworm doesn’t do any harm to the mussels, but it’s not as attractive looking on the outside,” he explains. “When you present that to the market, it doesn’t look pretty and they don’t want to buy it – that’s just one problem.”
Settlement – the act of mussel seed settling on the ropes, which happens roughly around the same time each year – has not been as successful as usual in the southwest of Ireland in recent years, and no one is quite sure why. Less food in the water for the mussels has also led to a 40% reduction in overall production in this region.
“When you combine these three problems, we’re talking turnovers collapsing,” John says. “This would directly affect 50 families in the southwest, and 150 families, indirectly.”
Due to this, there are calls on the Government to provide one-off support for those affected. John believes there should be a contingency fund for all sectors of Irish farming as we face weather and environmental challenges in years to come.
“There is the question,” he says, “do you let the sector collapse, or do you help the sector as farmers try to understand what’s going on? Why not give farmers a boost and enable them to make necessary changes; they need time to work out issues and change methods.
“In the future, we are going to hit bumps that are way bigger than bumps in the past,” he adds.
“We need contingency funds from Ireland and the EU, so if a sector hits a bump that’s too big to cope with, they can have the supports they need to continue to innovate.”
Horticulture
In horticulture, commercial growers are also calling for an emergency fund for those affected by storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland this past January; killing valuable winter crops and severely damaging polytunnels and propagation areas.
Losses are estimated to be worth up to €200,000 for some growers, and some experienced a 100% loss of their polytunnels.
According to the Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI) group, even if growers could afford the necessary repairs, it would take upwards of nine months for polytunnel repair businesses to visit their farm.
Una Wycherley operates Larkin’s Hill Farm in Co Tipperary. There, they grow organic vegetables and farm organic tillage and beef. The storm severely damaged their polytunnels.
“For growers across the country, it’s been very challenging,” Una tells Irish Country Living.
“Storm Éowyn couldn’t have hit at a worse time. This is the hungry gap – the point in the season when cash flow is at its lowest, but when growers are making the biggest outlays to get crops in the ground for the year ahead.
"It’s the hardest time to take a financial hit, and this storm has forced many to ask: ‘Why bury myself in debt before the season even starts, knowing that a drought, poor yields, or some other disaster could come next?’”
Aside from farming, Una is also involved with the OGI. After the storm – with help from Teagasc and other stakeholders – the group compiled data on affected farmers and presented their findings to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in late January, along with a list of recommendations on how to best support affected growers.
Una Wycherley operates Larkin’s Hill Farm in Co Tipperary (pictured here prior to the damage inflicted by storm Éowyn). \ Janine Kennedy
Repsonse from DAFM
The response from DAFM came in the form of re-opening their Investment Scheme grant, but this fell short of the recommendations provided. Irish Country Living reached out to DAFM for comment but received no response at the time of going to print.
“The grant doesn’t cover losses, only new builds,” Una explains. “And the time-frame is too long – by the time you go through planning, sourcing materials and actually getting the tunnel up, you’ve already missed a season. And crucially, [the grant] doesn’t cover repairs.
"In our case, we need new plastic and a few replacement hoops and doors, but the minimum spend for the grant [for farmers] is around €7,000 – beyond what some growers need to spend, and way beyond what most could afford upfront.”
Una says a rapid-response fund similar to the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS 1 and HEPS 2, which was introduced in 2022 to help growers affected by economic challenges) could help provide the right support.
Growers need immediate repair and replacement costs covered with no planning permission delays and direct payments based on damage assessments.
“HEPS was the right idea for an economic crisis, but what’s needed now is a disaster relief fund for growers – fast, simple, and targeted at keeping farms in business,” Una says.
“We are not a sector that is asking for handouts every day. We are asking for help in a time of crisis, and we are not being listened to, despite the fact that we are the ones putting food in people’s kitchens, growing in the most environmentally responsible way, and stepping up when imports fail.
“To anyone reading this – put pressure on your supermarkets,” Una continues. “Ask for local spuds and Irish veg. Seek out the grower in your area, because for those who do manage to bounce back from this, that support could be the difference between survival and shutting the gates for good.”
Irish farmers are increasingly facing challenges due to extreme weather events and climate change.This year, the aquacultural and horticultural sectors are calling on the Government for an emergency relief fund.Both sectors are facing unprecedented challenges which have put many businesses at risk of closure. Immediate financial support is needed to help these farms navigate new and improved methods of production, and to mitigate and adapt to future challenge. Read more
Fast to feast: a growing halal market for Irish agri-food
That's the spirit: Irish distillers on the cutting edge of innovation
In 2013, Irish livestock farmers experienced an unprecedented fodder crisis after they were forced to house animals for much longer than usual. This was due to an extra-long winter and slow-starting spring.
It took some time for the government to respond. But when they did, their actions were swift and decisive. By June of that year, over 40,000t of imported hay and silage had been distributed to farmers in need.
It was a terrible time for many family farms – that cannot be understated – but without government support, it would have been much worse.
Now, 12 years on, Irish farmers continue to face unprecedented challenges. However, unlike 2013, the supports are not always there – or in the form of what is actually needed.
This year, commercial vegetable operations are on the line due to damage inflicted by storm Éowyn. Meanwhile, in aquaculture, the potential effects of climate change are creating serious challenges for operators.
Both sectors are calling for emergency government support, not just to help with their current dilemmas, but to better plan for the future and adapt to the changing landscape.
Aquaculture
Irish aquaculture is worth €180m to the Irish economy. It provides 1,800 direct jobs, contributes to 8,500 indirect jobs within the wider seafood industry and is a crucial element of coastal rural development.
At the recent IFA Aquaculture conference, held in Limerick on 20 March, chair Finian O’Sullivan addressed attendees. He commented on the challenges facing Irish aquaculture, which includes licensing issues, the export market and biological challenges facing aquaculture operations.
Speaking to Irish Country Living, Finian – who operated Bantry Harbour Mussels Ltd in west Cork for 40 years – says innovation, adaptation and mitigation are all necessary in order to move the industry forward.
“With climate change we will all have to adapt and take a look at our approach to husbandry,” he says.
“What worked in the past might not necessarily work in the future, and you have to be able to see the wood from the trees. With Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) [the Seafood Development Agency which provides research, data and business support], I think the supports are there. If we identify our needs, they’re there to help.”
John Harrington operates a rope mussel farm, Kush Shellfish, in Kenmare Bay, Co Kerry and has been in business since 1987. He says that in all of his years in operation, he has never faced the challenges he is facing today – and he is seriously concerned about the future.
“I started rope mussels in 1983,” he says. “I originally trained to be a teacher, but then my brother and I got into shellfish farming. In 1987, we decided to go at it commercially with my friend, Kevin. In the last two years we’ve seen a massive change in the business, which has really just been down to nature.”
Rope mussel farming is one of the most sustainable forms of food production in Ireland. Mussel seed is naturally occurring in Irish waters and our Atlantic coastal bays are ideal for production. To farm mussels, rope is hung at depth and the seed attaches to it, where they grow until ready to harvest.
IFA Aquaculture chair Finian O’Sullivan addressed attendees at the 2025 IFA Aquaculture conference, which was held in Limerick on 20 March.
According to BIM, 1kg of mussels accounts for just 0.107kg of carbon dioxide, meaning it has an extremely low carbon footprint. That said, mussels are also dependent on consistent environmental conditions.
John mainly grows mussels for export to mainland Europe, but for the last two years, there has been a tubeworm settlement on the mussel shells which has affected sales.
“Tubeworm doesn’t do any harm to the mussels, but it’s not as attractive looking on the outside,” he explains. “When you present that to the market, it doesn’t look pretty and they don’t want to buy it – that’s just one problem.”
Settlement – the act of mussel seed settling on the ropes, which happens roughly around the same time each year – has not been as successful as usual in the southwest of Ireland in recent years, and no one is quite sure why. Less food in the water for the mussels has also led to a 40% reduction in overall production in this region.
“When you combine these three problems, we’re talking turnovers collapsing,” John says. “This would directly affect 50 families in the southwest, and 150 families, indirectly.”
Due to this, there are calls on the Government to provide one-off support for those affected. John believes there should be a contingency fund for all sectors of Irish farming as we face weather and environmental challenges in years to come.
“There is the question,” he says, “do you let the sector collapse, or do you help the sector as farmers try to understand what’s going on? Why not give farmers a boost and enable them to make necessary changes; they need time to work out issues and change methods.
“In the future, we are going to hit bumps that are way bigger than bumps in the past,” he adds.
“We need contingency funds from Ireland and the EU, so if a sector hits a bump that’s too big to cope with, they can have the supports they need to continue to innovate.”
Horticulture
In horticulture, commercial growers are also calling for an emergency fund for those affected by storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland this past January; killing valuable winter crops and severely damaging polytunnels and propagation areas.
Losses are estimated to be worth up to €200,000 for some growers, and some experienced a 100% loss of their polytunnels.
According to the Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI) group, even if growers could afford the necessary repairs, it would take upwards of nine months for polytunnel repair businesses to visit their farm.
Una Wycherley operates Larkin’s Hill Farm in Co Tipperary. There, they grow organic vegetables and farm organic tillage and beef. The storm severely damaged their polytunnels.
“For growers across the country, it’s been very challenging,” Una tells Irish Country Living.
“Storm Éowyn couldn’t have hit at a worse time. This is the hungry gap – the point in the season when cash flow is at its lowest, but when growers are making the biggest outlays to get crops in the ground for the year ahead.
"It’s the hardest time to take a financial hit, and this storm has forced many to ask: ‘Why bury myself in debt before the season even starts, knowing that a drought, poor yields, or some other disaster could come next?’”
Aside from farming, Una is also involved with the OGI. After the storm – with help from Teagasc and other stakeholders – the group compiled data on affected farmers and presented their findings to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in late January, along with a list of recommendations on how to best support affected growers.
Una Wycherley operates Larkin’s Hill Farm in Co Tipperary (pictured here prior to the damage inflicted by storm Éowyn). \ Janine Kennedy
Repsonse from DAFM
The response from DAFM came in the form of re-opening their Investment Scheme grant, but this fell short of the recommendations provided. Irish Country Living reached out to DAFM for comment but received no response at the time of going to print.
“The grant doesn’t cover losses, only new builds,” Una explains. “And the time-frame is too long – by the time you go through planning, sourcing materials and actually getting the tunnel up, you’ve already missed a season. And crucially, [the grant] doesn’t cover repairs.
"In our case, we need new plastic and a few replacement hoops and doors, but the minimum spend for the grant [for farmers] is around €7,000 – beyond what some growers need to spend, and way beyond what most could afford upfront.”
Una says a rapid-response fund similar to the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS 1 and HEPS 2, which was introduced in 2022 to help growers affected by economic challenges) could help provide the right support.
Growers need immediate repair and replacement costs covered with no planning permission delays and direct payments based on damage assessments.
“HEPS was the right idea for an economic crisis, but what’s needed now is a disaster relief fund for growers – fast, simple, and targeted at keeping farms in business,” Una says.
“We are not a sector that is asking for handouts every day. We are asking for help in a time of crisis, and we are not being listened to, despite the fact that we are the ones putting food in people’s kitchens, growing in the most environmentally responsible way, and stepping up when imports fail.
“To anyone reading this – put pressure on your supermarkets,” Una continues. “Ask for local spuds and Irish veg. Seek out the grower in your area, because for those who do manage to bounce back from this, that support could be the difference between survival and shutting the gates for good.”
Irish farmers are increasingly facing challenges due to extreme weather events and climate change.This year, the aquacultural and horticultural sectors are calling on the Government for an emergency relief fund.Both sectors are facing unprecedented challenges which have put many businesses at risk of closure. Immediate financial support is needed to help these farms navigate new and improved methods of production, and to mitigate and adapt to future challenge. Read more
Fast to feast: a growing halal market for Irish agri-food
That's the spirit: Irish distillers on the cutting edge of innovation
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