Minister wants 2m tonnes of grain

SOME winter wheat was sown in the past two weeks, but Teagasc advisers estimate that the total area planted is unlikely to exceed 50,000 hectares, compared to 77,000 ha grown last year.

Reduced planting is seen by many as the first sign of how EU decoupling will reduce Irish grain production. However, Michael Hennessy, Teagasc tillage specialist, pointed out that the eventual production outcome will be largely influenced by growing conditions for the year.

In the Dáil, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan said she was satisfied that, subject to weather conditions, production will continue at the 2m tonnes average of recent years. "It is desirable to maintain this level of production in order to avoid over-dependence on imported grain", she said, in reply to Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan.