Tillage farmer calls foul on much heralded grain shipment

SENATOR Timmy Dooley has defended his decision to post a video on social media from Shannon Foynes port welcoming the first shipment of grain to Ireland from Ukraine since its invasion last February.

This follows stinging criticism and claims from a North Clare tillage farmer that politicians who welcomed the arrival of 30,000 tons of corn for animal feed engaged in electioneering for votes from dairy and beef farmers.

The Panama-flagged NAVI STAR left Odessa Port on August 5 carrying 33,000 tonnes of grain to Ireland on behalf of the Cork-based grain and feed company R&H Hall.

Senator Dooley posted a short video on Facebook after visiting Shannon Foynes Port on Saturday, August 19, to witness the delivery of 30,000 tons of grain for animal feed.

In his post he stated, “This is a really important shipment to secure feed for our dairy and beef cattle over the coming winter – enabling Irish farmers in turn to feed the Irish population and many people across Europe and other parts of the world.”

However, the secretary of the Western Division of the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland (FCI), Shane Nolan has claimed the arrival of “cheap grain” was done to deflate prices for tillage farmers who are harvesting their crops.

“There will be no fodder shortage this winter. Silage pits are bursting and are chock-a-block. Every farm is full of feedstuffs. Is there any traceability concerning this shipment from a non-EU country?”

A few years ago, he claimed, when the IFA examined grain that was imported from a non-EU country it contained a lot of empty corn shells and black grass.

Commenting on Senator Dooley’s video, Mr Nolan claimed the Fianna Fail representative posted it because he could secure more votes from beef and dairy farmers compared to the much smaller number of tillage farmers.

Mr Nolan also criticised the government’s national tillage scheme providing €400 a hectare to grow cereals.

“That would be like asking me to go milking cows. I hardly know the front end from the back end of a cow. To give me a grant to go milking cows would be ludicrous.

“What does a dairy or beef farmer know about tillage. I have harvested tillage for some farmers and there are weeds, grass, dirt and a poor crop because they didn’t manure it properly. These farmers have no machinery.

“Tillage farming requires a huge investment in buildings and equipment.”

Stating he feels sorry for Ukrainian people who have been hit by the war, he questioned why grain imports were being allowed while at the same time the government had tried to encourage farmers to grow more tillage.

Previously involved in electronics, Mr Nolan left his work in Dublin in the early nineties and took over his father’s farm in Finavara and started renting land for tillage, which he has been involved in for more than 30 years.

Mr Nolan recalled decades ago Ireland was self-sufficient for grain production until new restrictions were introduced forcing tillage farmers to grow three different crops if they had 30 hectares.

He claimed the government were hindering tillage farmers by constantly changing the rules for tilling and imposing draconian restrictions.

Responding to Mr Nolan’s claims, Senator Dooley told the Clare Champion Clare farmer and farmers throughout the West of Ireland use grain to finish their cattle in addition to silage and grass during the winter period.

“Regardless of the supply of grass-based fodder, there is always a need for grain as an input into finishing beef cattle. Every year, Ireland imports grain from Russia and Ukraine. This year, there was a particular concern due to the sanctions on Russia and the difficulty in getting grain out of Ukraine.

“Many farmers I spoke to were deeply concerned that grain couldn’t be imported into Ireland because of the Black Sea blockade. This grain should have been in Ireland about six months ago only for the blockade.

“Those of us who visited Foynes on Saturday met the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland and welcomed the fact that we are again getting access to Ukrainian grain to Ireland. That is positive to ensure farmers will have access to grain to meet their needs over the winter period,” he said.

“This will allow farmers to continue to produce milk and beef, which will be exported to Europe and beyond, benefiting Irish farmers. We live in a globalised economy where trade is an integral part of it.

“The importation of fertiliser and grain from places like Ukraine provides for the exportation of dairy products and beef to EU and non-EU markets.

“There may be some who would like a scarcity of grain and may benefit from it. Ireland had never been self-sufficient regarding grain production, if we were to turn over to all grain crops, we wouldn’t have enough grass to meet our needs.

“While grain is produced for milling and brewing, there is a concentration in Ireland on producing milk and beef from grass,” he added.