Ireland's tillage farmers concerned about impact of 10 months of rain

DUBLIN, Ireland: Irish tillage farmers are voicing concerns over the prolonged impact of nearly ten months of incessant rainfall on their industry.

Since last July, continuous wet conditions have made it difficult, if not impossible, for farmers to plant barley, oats, and bean crops this spring.

Bobby Miller, a tillage farmer from Co Laois, explains the challenges farmers like him face. The usual planting season, which starts in August and extends into spring, has been disrupted by intense rainfall during critical sowing periods. "In 2023, we had a very dry February, and then in March, when its peak spring crops sowing, practically the whole month was wet; we did not actually get out there, so our crops were a month to six weeks later than we would like," he said.

"What happens then is the harvest is delayed, yields reduce, and quality reduces. We grow some crops that totally depend on reaching quality standards. And then the harvest time was real wet as well. It just went completely pear-shaped for us in 2023."

That streak of bad weather is continuing into key times in spring this year.

"I would say two percent, definitely less than five percent, of spring crops are sown in Ireland. That is two years in a row last year was a late spring as well and this year again, which is usual."

Patrick Dahaene, a farmer from north Dublin, highlights the impracticality of planting crops amid saturated ground conditions, which can jeopardize optimal growth and yield potential.

"I am farming nearly 40 years and my father farmed before that and we have had years that were difficult but not as prolonged as they are now I don't think we have had six consecutive dry days since July of last year."

The situation has prompted farmers to ponder whether to proceed with planting or leave their land fallow. The window for ideal planting conditions has already passed, leaving farmers with difficult decisions to make.

Miller emphasizes the importance of local grain production in reducing reliance on imported grains, which account for a significant portion of animal feed in Ireland. He underscores the environmental benefits of locally grown crops, such as carbon-neutral gluten-free oats, compared to imported alternatives.

"It is part of your decision-making on farms, because as tillage farmers, especially we are totally dependent on weather. Are we saying climate change is here on our door? You could say yes," said Miller. "The climate is evolving as far as I am concerned, it is evolving."

He emphasized the need to adapt farming methods to evolving weather patterns, urging stakeholders to prioritize sustainability and resilience.

In response to the crisis, the government has announced a tillage payment of 100 euros per hectare to alleviate immediate financial pressures. However, farming groups argue that this needs to address the industry's needs, calling for a higher payment to prevent further decline in tillage acreage.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue acknowledges the farmers' challenges and hopes that the support scheme will instill confidence among farmers to plant crops this year. "Anyone who is looking to plant in fields this spring or planted last autumn, it was very difficult. There is still a window available; thankfully the weather forecast for the next few days seems to be improving," he told RTE.

"But farmers' confidence is really dented, and I want to give them the confidence to go ahead and plant this year because we need our tillage sector to be strong, and we need to see those crops."