Carbon tax on farm diesel ‘to add €11m to agriculture sector costs’

THE introduction of carbon tax on farm diesel from May 1 will add €11 million in costs to the agriculture sector, the Irish Farmers Association claimed yesterday.

John Bryan, IFA president, said this will disproportionately affect the tillage sector, which is facing its third difficult year.

“The value of the sector has fallen by over 60% since 2007,” he said, pointing out that carbon tax will increase the price of farm diesel by 8.75%.