‘Token measures on fuel and fertiliser won’t protect farmers or food production’

The ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the government must take decisive action to address the unprecedented surge in fuel and fertiliser costs.

“Fuel prices have surged in a matter of weeks, with agricultural diesel up by as much as 65-70% and road diesel up around 30%. Fertiliser prices have also escalated sharply, and in some cases, product is simply not available. These are not marginal increases that farmers can absorb, they go to the very heart of whether it is viable to produce food at all,” he said.

Continuing, he said farmers are now facing a season where the cost of producing silage, keeping livestock, and growing crops could double.

“At the same time, there is no guarantee that essential inputs like urea will be available when needed. This is an extraordinary situation and it demands a serious response from government.”

He said that unless meaningful action is taken, many farmers will be left with no option but to reduce output or exit farming altogether. “The stark reality is that farmers cannot continue to operate at a loss. If current trends continue, we will see reduced stocking rates and lower levels of production. This will have direct consequences not just for farm families, but for food supply and prices.”

Mr McNamara said that while there are indications that the government will introduce some measures to ease the pressure, anything short of a meaningful intervention will be inadequate. “Farmers are being hit from all sides. Fuel, fertiliser and general input costs are all rising at the same time. This is a systemic shock driven by global events and it needs a strong, joined-up response from government,” he said.

Mr McNamara said ICSA is calling on the government to implement a targeted package of measures, including:

• A significant reduction in excise on green diesel and the suspension of carbon tax on agricultural fuel for the duration of the crisis.

• Immediate engagement at EU level to address fertiliser supply issues, including measures to ease import costs and improve availability.

• Recognition of primary food producers as a critical sector requiring specific support in the context of this energy and input cost shock.

Concluding, Mr McNamara said, “Token measures will not protect farmers or safeguard food production. If the government gets this wrong, the impact will not be confined to farms, it will be felt in higher food prices and reduced supply. Protecting farmers now is essential to protecting consumers in the months ahead.”