The Department of Agriculture is a loyal customer for Irish straw, Shay Phelan of Teagasc has said.

Speaking at a Laois IFA grain meeting on Tuesday night the Teagasc crops specialist said farmers are still waiting on straw payments from 2024 customers and need to keep this in mind when making decisions on straw chopping.

He said that “yes the straw market is good”, while adding that “the Department is also a loyal customer”.

He commented that the Department of Agriculture generally pays farmers for the Straw Incorporation Measure in December if everything is right, but many farmers will be paid for 2024 straw when customers come to collect straw in 2025.

The crops specialist noted that 2025 is a difficult year and 2026 is also shaping up to be difficult financially.

He noted that farmers can be paid as much as €10,000 for straw incorporation from the Department.

“When things are tight you have to look at that,” he commented.