Representatives of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) National Grain Committee are to meet with agriculture minister Martin Heydon.

Both parties will discuss the outcome of Budget 2027 at a get-together that will take place over the coming days.

National Grain Committee chair, John Murphy commented:

Budget 2027 saw the government again commit €30 million to a bespoke Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme.

The farming organisation wants these monies paid out as quickly as possible.

According to John Murphy, the support measure will help tillage farmers cope with the continuing cash flow pressures impacting on their businesses.

Murphy added that a multi-annual funding commitment of €65 million is still needed to safeguard the sector from the prolonged economic crisis it has faced for the past four seasons.

Without this, he believes there is little hope of achieving the government’s own target of 400,000ha of tillage in Ireland by 2030.

Securing a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform deal is also a priority for the members of the IFA National Grain Committee.

“Ensuring the best possible funding outcome moving forward is our number one objective in this regard," Murphy told Agriland.

Crops

While the cut and thrust of international markets and politics continue to exorcise the minds of tillage farmers, there has been universal acknowledgement of the excellent start to the 20206/2027 growing year.

All winter cereals and oilseed rape crops have been planted out in almost perfect conditions.

Growth rates post drilling have been exceptional.

In addition, all required weed control and other field work priorities have been addressed in a timely fashion.

One of the most obvious themes identified in 2026 was the fact that final yields, not prices, are the key fundamental determinant of profitability within all tillage enterprises.

Good establishment rates will always drive final crop performance.

There is hope and expectation that crops grown in 2026/2027 have potential to yield extremely well next summer.

Specifically, where CAP is concerned, the envisaged ability to allow national governments greater scope in implementing more targeted national support measures could be a 'good news’ story for Irish agriculture.

And, where tillage is concerned, this would include a more formal recognition of the sector’s ability to help meet the 2030 climate action targets that are currently in place.