Farmers urged to grow grain needs

THE outlook for the cereals sector in Ireland is reasonably positive, with an expected rise in prices due to reduced supplies in Europe and the general trend for a long-term rise in world prices.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh, who made the prediction when replying to a Dáil query by Deputy Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael, said average grain production in the country over a number of years has been in the region of two million tonnes.

It is desirable to maintain this level of production in order to avoid overdependence on imported grain.