Jim O'Callaghan
Question:1156. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking doing to support the Irish sheep sector. [18161/23]
View answerTuesday, 18 April 2023
Questions (1156)
Written answers
I regard a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy and I know that sheep farmers are committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product.
Although there has been a sustained increase in average sheep prices since the end of February, I recognise that sheep farmers are experiencing more difficult market conditions in 2023 compared to recent years. Market prices, however, are a commercial matter to be bargained between suppliers and buyers and Government has no role in determining commodity prices in the sheep sector
To bolster producer sustainability and viability, my Department provides significant support to the sector under the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), both through a new targeted scheme for sheep farmers - the Sheep Improvement Scheme - and through the broad range of schemes in the CSP.
The new Sheep Improvement Scheme has over 19,000 applications submitted. The scheme replaces the previous Sheep Welfare Scheme but shares the same aim of improving animal health and welfare in the sector, with a 20% increase in the ewe payment rate - from €10 to €12 - compared to the previous scheme.
The CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports over the period to 2027 for farm families. Sheep farmers are eligible for several other schemes in addition to Sheep Improvement Scheme, including the ACRES and Organics schemes, which are particularly suited to sheep enterprises or mixed beef and sheep enterprises and which will provide significantly increased payments to participants in those schemes.
I have secured places for all 46,000 farmers in ACRES which I am certain will benefit many sheep farmers.
Furthermore, support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, will strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.
Additionally, I have introduced a range of supports for livestock farmers:
- a €56 million fodder initiative;
- an innovative €8 million national liming programme; and
- grant aid for sowing multi-species sward and red clover to help reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers.
While market returns have reduced from the record prices of recent years due to increased input costs, Teagasc forecasts suggest that family farm income for specialised sheep farms in 2023 will be 2% down on 2022, due to the important role which direct payments play in contributing to sheep farm incomes and mitigating market volatility.
With regard to the challenges facing the sector, I have requested my officials to closely monitor market trends over the coming months and the Government will continue to make every effort to support the sector.