The exclusion of Irish mushroom sector from the crisis fund is unbelievable

According to IFA chairman Tim Cullinan, the exclusion of the mushroom sector from the horticulture crisis fund is unbelievable. On Tuesday, Ireland's Department of Agriculture announced that the scheme is now open for applications and eligible growers will receive a one-off payment in January 2024. However, mushroom growers and the majority of strawberry growers are excluded. Cullinan said he cannot understand how the mushroom sector has been excluded given the challenges it faces, especially since Brexit and gaining access to the UK market. He added that the strawberry sector should not have been left out either as there are some excellent growers in the country who have invested serious money in their business. "This is exceptional support that has come from the EU and he has the right to co-finance it up to 200%. That should have happened and these two sectors should not have been left out of the exceptional support," said Cullinan. ...