Not worthwhile planting cereals this year
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IT won't be worthwhile planting grain this year unless farmers are assured of a better price, according to IFA National Grain Committee Chairman Noel Delaney.
"The majority of growers are questioning the logic of growing a crop this year given when they experienced losses of up to €150 per acre last season," he said, adding that high world and EU carryover grain stocks into the 2010/11 campaign will limit any prospect of a significant price rise in the near term.
Mr Delaney said grain farmers will have to achieve minimum cost savings of 15% to 20% across the board on all inputs in addition to the anticipated rise in grain prices to restore profitability.
"No farmer should put the plough in the ground unless the sums add up. The trade needs to wake up - no other sector of society is expected to work for nothing. This industry has no future unless growers achieve a margin over the cost of production, Mr Delaney insisted.
