EU decision to abolish grain duty leads to Irish wheat price cut

WORLD grain market influences on Irish agriculture have been put into sharp focus by last year's EU decision to scrap a 10 per tonne duty on grain imports from the Baltic and Black Sea states.

According to the Irish Grain and Feed Association (IGFA), the EU decision has been a major factor in cutting the price of Irish feed wheat, from 200 in January 2002 to 115.50 in June 2002.

The IGFA says Baltic and Black Sea states had a bumper harvest, and took full advantage of the lower EU import duty, because they have to earn hard currency by increasing their exports.