Rising costs and reduced prices threaten grain production viability
Grain Committee chairman Noel Delany said, over the last 10 years, there has been a substantial increase in input costs particularly for fuel and fertiliser.
Fertiliser prices alone have increased by a massive 260% while fuel prices have gone up by over 200%.
Variable production costs (including machinery hire) for spring barley have gone from €640/ha (excluding Vat) in 2003 to approximately €1,000/ha today, while grain prices are falling.
Mr Delany said production costs for other arable crops have followed a similar pattern.
This relentless cost price squeeze, coupled with the impending reduction in growers’ Single Farm Payment, additional compliance costs due to CAP reform proposals and extreme price volatility threatens the future viability of Irish grain production.
Changing weather patterns have also increased the challenge to growers as evidenced in 2009 and again last year.
Mr Delany said the trade must realise the seriousness of the situation and put pressure on suppliers to increase input rebates which can be passed back to growers, reduce grain drying and storage charges and up the price paid for green grain this harvest.
Current price offers of €140/t to €150/t for spring barley and €10/t over for wheat will see many growers struggle to break even this year, even on their own land.
“Marginal returns coupled with weather-related production risks and increasingly complex compliance rules arising out of CAP reform will force many growers to reconsider their enterprise choice.”
Mr Delany said speculative investment in grains and oilseeds by the financial community must be curtailed. This has accentuated the price volatility in recent years, creating serious financial difficulties for arable and livestock producers alike.
