The effects of the war in Ukraine have prompted the Irish Department of Agriculture officials and Teagasc to draw up a plan on how to grow more crops in the coming season.
Pressures on food production and food supply are set to increase. Ukraine and Russia are both major producers of grain, feed and fertiliser, and supply disruptions have already been felt in Ireland.
The millions of litres of diesel required to complete the silage harvest this year and all other agricultural tasks mean that costs to producers are spiralling.
Minister McConalogue said the establishment of a committee is to ensure that the sector can “respond effectively and rapidly to one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
Farmers await the outcome of meetings to see what supports might be put in place to avoid production failures.
Some in the cereal end of things question the idea of growing more wheat in Ireland, as there aren’t the mills to process it.
