DUBLIN: Farmers in Ireland are likely to use this week’s ploughing championship to urge the Government to commit to further tax reliefs, given what they say are increasingly difficult times for the sector.
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) last week showed the situation for crops has been mixed, with cereal prices up 4.5pc and vegetables up by 0.8pc. However, the prices received for potatoes has come down by 23.1pc compared to a year previously. Losses in overall income for farmers was offset by a decline in energy prices, with the price of electricity down 2.3pc, while motor fuel costs declined by a more significant 11.9pc.
Overall, the cost of fertilisers came down by 17pc. PK fertilisers fell by 7.2pc, with (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilisers (NPKs) dropping 17.9pc. George Collier, county chairman of the Carlow branch of the Irish Farmers Association, said: “All categories of farming are under pressure.
Mr Collier stated that the nature of global markets meant farmers were in a more precarious position than ever: “The issue of volatility in the global market is something that’s here to stay.
“Farmers might have one good year, but if prices around the globe mean a fall for the next three, the question is, can they survive for those years.
