GOVERNMENT AGRI-FOOD GROWTH TARGETS DEPEND ON POSITIVE OUTCOME TO NITRATES REVIEW – JOHN BRYAN

IFA president John Bryan has said that the outcome of the nitrates review has the potential to make or break the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 growth strategy for the agri-food sector, which is essential to national economic recovery, exports and job creation.

John Bryan stressed the interdependency of the different sectors in Irish agriculture, saying that sustainable growth in dairying, livestock, pigs and poultry is critically linked to a secure supply of indigenous feed grain from the tillage sector and the recycling of organic fertilisers.

“The nitrates review must provide a platform for viable growth for each sector to achieve the Food Harvest 2020 targets, including 50% increased output from the dairy sector, a 20% increase in beef and 50% growth from pigs. To achieve these targets the review must eliminate excessive costs and restrictions that are holding back the growth potential of each sector.

"While the continuation of the 250kg Org N derogation for the dairy and livestock farmers and the roll-over of the phosphorous provision for the pig and poultry producers are essential, we also need to restore competitiveness in the tillage sector.

"Excessive restrictions over winter ploughing, green cover and nitrogen application rates have to be removed as they have reduced yields and resulted in the sector losing competitiveness compared to the UK.

"Policy-makers need to recognise the economic value of organic fertilisers from the pigs sector for grassland farmers, who can secure higher productivity while saving on input costs and substituting imported chemical fertiliser”, John Bryan concluded.

LOWERING THE COST OF HOT WATER ON DAIRY FARMS

A new energy research project at the Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy aims to reduce the Irish dairy farmers’ electricity consumption and hence their carbon footprint.

Evaluation of new technology such as the use of more efficient cooling technology for milk tanks, solar panels, heat pumps and variable speed vacuum and milk pumps is underway in both laboratory and field experiments. In an article in TResearch, Teagasc’s science magazine, researcher John Upton explained that an adequate and reliable supply of hot water is an essential element in the production of high quality milk on any dairy farm.

“Energy audits carried out by Teagasc in 2009 identified water heating as one of the major consumers of electricity, accounting for over 30 per cent of total energy used on dairy farms. The most common method of providing hot water on dairy farms is electrical water heating, with oil fired boilers also popular on larger dairies,” explained John Upton.

“The Energy Audit showed the importance of using night rate electricity. It also showed that an oil fired water heating system was cheaper to run than electrical heating systems. The price of kerosene would have to increase by one third from today’s prices to match the cost of the electrical heating system. The oil fired system also emitted less CO2 compared to the electrical system, but there was a higher capital investment involved”, he added.

The Teagasc energy research programme aims to promote a more efficient energy approach to dairy farming, which in the longer term will result in lower energy input costs. Farmers are urged to give serious consideration, not only to the initial purchase costs but also to running costs and environmental impact.

€155/T ACHIEVABLE ON DEALS FOR GREEN BARLEY - DELANY

IFA national grain committee chairman, Noel Delany, said that up to €155/t (at 20% moisture, excl. vat) is achievable on deals for green barley with €10 over for wheat.

“Despite some harvest pressure on the continent green grain prices have continued to harden, moving closer to imported values. Overall yields are coming in 0.3 to 0.5t/ac below expectations leading to competition especially where farmers are prepared to shop around.

"Inter farm sales have increased as the trade raised compound feed prices twice since June, with further price hikes in the pipeline. Imported wheat and barley prices, while easing in recent days, are ranging from €190 to €195/t for barley and wheat respectively. With weather expected to improve over the weekend grain moistures should improve allowing easy on farm storage”.

“Sourcing directly from your neighbour can deliver significant savings on transport costs alone. Native cereal still represents the best value for money feed that livestock farmers can buy, delivering thrive and performance”.