Ireland fights against the effects of the Ukraine war on supply by introducing a 12 million euro grain-growing scheme

Amidst the situation in Ukraine, Ireland, which is known for its grass-fed beef and dairy, has started a €12 million crop cultivation project to boost grain production. The Irish government approved a cost of €400 per hectare on Tuesday to encourage farmers to grow more barley, wheat, and oats, reviving a "wartime tillage" program that was used during WWII. Maize and beet will receive an amount that is likely to be slightly higher, while farmers will likely be paid €300 per hectare for crops like peas and beans. Only approximately 7.5 percent of Irish farmland, or about 300,000 hectares, is used for crop development, and the proposal aims to increase this by 25,000 hectares. Farmers, on the other hand, complained that the incentives were insufficient to offset the rising costs of fertilizer and gas. "It'll cost you an extra €100 to run any tractor across an acre of land, €250 per hectare... it's a paltry gesture," Pat McCormack, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers ...