'Critically important' CAP budget agreed by end of 2026 - tillage group
There is a need for the EU to agree a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget before the end of this year, the Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) has said.
And the influence of Ireland’s EU presidency in making this happen will be essential in this regard, the tillage advocacy group said.
According to IGGG’s Clive Carter, the EU's Multi-annual Financial Framework budget must be settled prior to the detail of new CAP support schemes being agreed.
He stressed: “It is critically important for the tillage sector that all of this work is completed as early in 2027 as possible.
“This is because the 2027/2028 cropping season gets underway at the beginning of August next.
“But all of this is underpinned by an agreement on the new CAP budget."
According to Carter, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, will play a vital role in advancing these discussions over the coming months.
Carter said: “He also has a strong personal background in crop production.
"So, IGGG is hopeful that the minister can play a strong role in helping to meet the needs of the tillage sector in the run-up to August of next year.”
Significantly, IGGG members are also confident that greater levels of Irish national funding can be used to boost future CAP budgetary thresholds through envisaged co-fiancing measures.
“We believe the scope to increase the overall CAP budget is significant," Carter said.
"But objective number one is to ensure that the contribution made by Brussels is maximised in the first place."
IGGG will meet Minister Heydon during the third week of July to discuss the organisation’s pre-Budget 2027 submission.
Harvest 2026
According to Carter, small acreages of winter barley have now been harvested in parts of Co Cork.
But, weather permitting, it will be next week or early the week after before combines really get a chance to get on with Harvest 2026.
“My own winter crops are looking well. They got the rain and the sunshine when they needed it," Carter said.
“It’s a slightly different story where spring crops are concerned. They struggled with the extremes of weather that impacted Ireland during May.”
The IGGG representative noted that confidence levels across Irish tillage remain very low at the present time.
“Global grain prices remain extremely weak and will not compensate tillage farmers for the very expensive fertiliser and other input costs they incurred back in the spring.
“Under these circumstances it is imperative that merchants and Minister Heydon do all they can to support Irish tillage over the coming months," Carter said.
