IFA: Cereal growers ‘at end of their tether’

Current sub-production cost grain price offers will accelerate the wind-down of cereal production, said IFA president Eddie Downey. He said many growers are at the end of their tether as their incomes have been on the floor for the last three years.

This has been reflected in sowings, with the cereal area having fallen by about 90,000 acres, Mr Downey told farmers attending the final day of the National Ploughing Championships in Co Laois.

Mr Downey said: “Some larger buyers are sending a clear market signal to growers that they are not seriously interested in the long-term viability of grain production, but are happy to sell inputs at prices that are unaffordable.