This is a subscriber-only article
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has described the 2025 Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) as a “rare, good news story for a sector badly in need of a lift”.
It comes after the Minister for Agriculture announced that all 3,057 applicants who applied for the SIM in 2025 will be accepted.
The SIM was oversubscribed by about €5.7m for 2025, but last year there was an underspend in the €10m budget.
IFA grain chair Kieran McEvoy said that income prospects for tillage in 2025 still remain on the floor and confidence amongst growers is very low with many leaving the sector.
“Straw yields on crops this year will be very varied with crops such as winter barley and winter wheat looking very promising but many spring barley crops unfortunately look set to produce well below average yields of grain and straw and the SIM payment will be a particularly important economic support for these crops,” he said.
Support
In addition, the IFA grain committee has called for a 5-year €250/ha support payment to be introduced for tillage farmers to help stabilise the sector.
McEvoy added that without further action, the tillage area will only decline further which is “totally contrary” to government policy.
“The combination of a decline in world grain markets to prices sub €200/t, high input and overhead costs and very moderate yield prospects for our largest crop; spring barley, will mean margins will decline significantly this year,” he added.
SHARING OPTIONS: