Biomass growers criticise grant delays

FARMERS have accused the Department of Agriculture of dragging its feet in paying the first seventy-five per cent instalment of energy crop establishment grants.

Growers from various parts of Munster, who met in Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, said they had incurred major expenses in growing miscanthus but were now frustrated with the delays in grant aid payments.

Some growers said they planted miscanthus in 2006 in the belief that grant aid was coming down the track. They felt there should be some help as they were the pioneers of the biomass project.