The proposed fertiliser support package unveiled by the EU must be targeted at Irish farmers who paid "higher prices," the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has urged.

The European Commission last week revealed details of a major support package to help farmers battling the fertiliser crisis, with a potential new €1.5 billion in financial aid.

The commission has also proposed new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) flexibilities to speed up access to supports.

The European Commission aims to provide financial relief to help farmers who need to buy fertilisers by providing an immediate package of €540 million.

Member states will be able to top this up by up to 200% of national funds - which would bring the total available financial support to a potential total of €1.5 billion.

Members of the European Parliament today (Tuesday, June 16) agreed to "fast-track" work on the proposed measures to support farmers, this is likely to be voted on next month.

But the president of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan, today also warned that if the supports are to “make any difference”, then they must be directed to those farmers who had bought fertiliser at high prices. 

The ICMSA president has also called for "headroom" for national funding to top-up any supports that the EU support package may deliver.

Drennan said: "We think that it’s critical that the supports go to those farmers who have – and are still in the process – of purchasing fertiliser at inflated prices.  

"As is by now usual where the EU is dealing with farmers, the funds being provided are demonstrably inadequate and this cannot be a case of one for everyone in the audience - the funding must be reserved for the farmers who purchased - or will be forced to purchase - at high prices".

Fertiliser prices 

According to the ICMSA president the Irish government could also play a crucial role in ensuring the right level of support is available to farmers who have been hit by soaring fertiliser prices.

"There’s no need to reinvent the wheel here, if we just identify those farmers who have already purchased at higher prices, and who are in the process of purchasing at higher prices, then hopefully we will be able to give a level of support that will make a real difference, rather than the kind of token gesture that the current level of funding suggests” Drennan said.