Teagasc conference hears calls for end to importation of untraceable grain

THE blind importation of untraceable grain, with lax or no production standards, has to stop, the Teagasc national tillage conference was told in Carlow.

Tom Barry, a tillage farmer from Killavullen, Co Cork, said all players, including the Government, need to recognise that the industry must be protected and nurtured. “It is inevitable that, at some stage, a suspect shipment of grain will arrive and the consequences to the food industry will be devastating.

“Lowest cost animal feed formulation and the acceptance of grain with traceability standards below Irish levels may be the rock we perish on,” he warned.