'Exceptional aid' urged for tillage sector as further contraction feared

The IFA said there is "a crisis situation on the ground".

"Without support, we are going to see a further contraction in tillage area in 2024 similar to what we saw happening in 2023," the IFA warned.

The Government is being urged to use EU agricultural reserve funding to provide exceptional aid to the tillage sector.

Irish Farmers' Association national grain chairman Kieran McEvoy said that the sector has many medium and long-term challenges that are being looked at by the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group, "but right now we have a crisis situation on the ground".