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DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND COVID-19 CREATE PERFECT STORM FOR TILLAGE SECTOR

Apr 28, 2020 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 comments

24 APRIL 2020
ICSA Tillage chair Gavin Carberry has said the lack of rainfall during the month of April will impact yields and compound difficulties for the sector over the coming months. “Yields are very likely to be down significantly due to this extended dry period, and if we couple that with the expected fall in price as a result of Covid-19, we have the makings of a perfect storm,” he said.

“Met Eireann data indicates that average rainfall for April is well below average, particularly in the northern half of the country. Places where we would normally expect an average of 60mm for the month have seen less than 10mm so far. We saw this in 2018 when drought conditions hit the yield hard but at least we were able to achieve a relatively decent price for what we had. This will not be the case in 2020 however.”

‘Market disruption from Covid-19 is wreaking havoc; demand for malting barley from the drinks sector has been severely impacted, and will in turn add pressure on the feed market. None of this bodes well for the sector, and ICSA does not want to see tillage farmers left out when it comes to support measures from the Government or the EU.”

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CONVENING OF NFFSC MUST KICKSTART EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO WEATHER RELATED DIFFICULTIES FACING FARMERS

ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the convening of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) tomorrow must kick start an emergency response to the ongoing difficulties facing farmers amidst continuing heavy rainfall. “With any hope of an early spring well and truly dashed and any fodder reserves dwindling fast it is clear this committee needs to rapidly reassess the current situation on the ground, including the extent of the fodder shortages and the impact of continued wet weather on farming operations,” he said.

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