Tillage expansion could generate 3,000 jobs and €540m for economy

Increased use of land for tillage could see the sector create up to 3,000 jobs and generate an extra €541m for the economy, according to a Teagasc study.

Teagasc’s ‘Development Plan for the Tillage Sector’, unveiled in Dublin yesterday, identifies profitable opportunities for increased markets that exist for the tillage sector. The plan also identifies actions and policy/legislative changes deemed necessary in order to exploit the potential to the maximum.

The plan was presented to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney. It was compiled by the Teagasc tillage crop stakeholder consultative group, whose members include Larry O’Reilly, Brendan Barnes, Tom Barry TD, Tom Bruton, Thomas Codd, Andy Doyle, Donal Fitzgerald, Michael Hoey, John O’Loughlin, and Pat Ryan.

The group’s chairman, Larry O’Reilly, said: “If all the potential increases in the various crops were achieved, the area under crops could increase by 221,730 hectares or some 64%. There would be a cumulative potential to increase the output of the sector by €541m and to create up to 3,000 new jobs.”

The cropped area in Ireland currently extends to 378,000 hectares or 9% of the area farmed. Crop production, including horticulture, contributes €700m to agricultural output. The tillage development plan examines the nine major crops relevant to Ireland — barley, wheat, oats, pulses, oilseed rape, energy crops, potatoes, beet, and maize. It identifies considerable potential for expansion in cereals, oilseed rape and some potential in potatoes.

Up to one third of Irish soils are deemed to be either moderately suitable, or very suitable for tillage crops.

The study also identified huge growth potential for energy crops, but found that any expansion will depend on an integrated cross-departmental range of incentives.

Larry O’Reilly said that the achievement of the ambitious targets set out in the plan would require sustained and co-ordinated action from the entire industry.

The tillage stakeholder group also said that future legislation for plant protection products should not be over restrictive.

To aid knowledge transfer, the farmer discussion group schemes such as DEP/BTAP should be considered for the tillage sector.

The group also stated that the tillage sector would need the current level of Single Farm Payment to be retained in the reformed CAP, a vital support to counter extreme volatility in grain markets.

The group also sought for more specific crop and soil type based fertiliser recommendations to be incorporated into future Nitrates Action Plans. Frameworks needed to facilitate the use of organic manures/ municipal sludges on arable crops, the group stated.

Larry O’Reilly said: “Increased crop production will require a significant investment in storage, handling and drying facilities, both at producer and merchant level. Steps are also needed to enable the crushing of oilseed rape oil on the island of Ireland to ensure oilseed rape meal is retained for the feed market.”

The tillage group also proposes increased use of native feed ingredients to underpin the achievement of the Food Harvest 2020 targets and to enhance Bord Bia’s Origin Green Ireland campaign.

The group also noted that the re-establishment of the sugar beet industry would require the abolition of sugar quotas.

It also suggested that the benefits of new GM technologies should be researched and exploited, if acceptable to the consumer.