Plan is needed on inputs emergency
THE GOVERNMENT has been called upon to put in place a five-point, short-term action plan to cope with the new challenges in the feed and forage sector as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Figures produced by the IFA’s head office in Dublin showed that in 2020 Ireland imported over 426,000 tonnes of maize and corn from The Ukraine – almost one third of Ireland’s total imports of those commodities.
The situation with 2020 imports of fertiliser products is even more concerning with nearly 266,000 tonnes of compound imported from Russia, close on 40% of Ireland’s total compound imports.
Nearly 95,000 tonnes of nitrogen was imported from Russia in 2020 as well as close 24,000 tonnes of potash. There were also significant import amounts of fertiliser from Belarus (Russia’s close ally) and The Ukraine.
As regards the situation in 2021, the IFA point out that native Irish crop (grain) yields were much improved as compared to 2020 with maize imports from the Ukraine dropping to 189,000 tonnes.
However, increased volumes of imports coming from Canada last year may not be replicated this year due to difficult weather conditions in that country in 2021.
Galway-Mayo IFA Regional Executive, Roy O’Brien, said that the figures for 2020 indicated that 35% of Ireland’s fertiliser imports came from Russia and Belarus.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.