Horticulture Council Report November 2024

Market Report

The cost and availability of staff is a major concern for growers this season. Many growers are struggling to complete harvests because of a lack of labour. One grower cited that he lost 30% of his crop because of staffing shortages. The provision of the seasonal work permit scheme is critical for next season. Minister McConalogue announced at the IFA ‘Future of Farming’ event that he is confident that the seasonal work permit scheme will be in place for Q1 in 2025. This deadline must be achieved or continued consolidation of the sector will remain. 

It has been a challenging growing season for growers. All plantings were significantly delayed which caused a knock-on effect for subsequent harvest and plantings. Fluctuating temperatures and below average light levels throughout the summer have reduced yields on many crops, particularly those in the glasshouse sector. These adverse conditions are compounded by the fact that input costs have not abated and in the case of staffing have significantly increased with double digit inflation.  

Field Vegetable Sector

Harvest conditions have been quite favourable with some reports of yield reductions because of lower temperatures and late plantings. Staffing for harvest remains very problematic for this sector. 

Protected crops

Reduced light intensity levels throughout the season have led to reduced yields across the board for the protected crop sector. 

Apples

The inclement wet weather conditions earlier this year caused damage to access roadways and pathways in orchards and significant costs will be incurred on this remedial work. Yields to date are reported to be above average.

Amenity

Reduced light levels have impacted the amenity sector in terms of growth rates and markets. Wet weather throughout the summer has caused significantly subdued sales for the sector. 

Mushrooms

The cost and availability of straw as a direct result from the weather conditions is having a huge impact on the mushroom industry. This extremely wet spring has led to a shortage of straw this year and current stocks are at an all-time low.

Food Regulator 

IFA continues to engage with the office of the Food Regulator and further meetings with the CEO are arranged. The office of the new Agri-Food Regulator was launched in December. This new State body tasked with regulating the food supply chain, An Rialálaí Agrabhia, will play a very important role in bringing fairness back into our food supply chain and level the playing pitch in negotiations between farmers, processors and retailers.  

Activity since last National Council 

• IFA continues to make a number of political engagements on the issue of work permits and soaring staff costs since the announcement in December. 
• IFA met with Minister Peter Burke on Niall McCormack’s farm in Longford, on the issue of the General Employment Permit Roadmap and the Seasonal Work Permit Scheme.  At the meeting, the Minister gave a commitment that a steering group will be convened in the coming weeks to finalise the final detail of the Seasonal Work Permit Scheme.
• At the IFA Farming & Food Conference event in the Curragh on Oct 31^st, Minister McConalogue stated that he was confident that the Seasonal Work Permit Scheme will be in place in Quarter 1 2025.
• There was an IFA Fruit & Vegetable Committee meeting on Oct 9^th in the Irish Farm Centre.  At the meeting DAFM updated the Committee on the National Horticulture Strategy.
• There was a full HIF Committee meeting on Nov 4^th co-chaired by Minister Hackett.  At the meeting growers updated on issues such as: work permits, support for the sector and Budget 2025. 
• IFA attended a meeting of the Horticulture Industry Forum sub-group. This group will hold a second round of meetings with all retailers on the objectives of the National Horticulture Strategy. 
• IFA organic project team met with Bord Bia virtually in July first to discuss the ongoing works into market development in the sector.
• IFA has a stand in the Organic Village at the ploughing this year. IFA representatives had a number of engagements with industry at the event. The launch of the Organic Strategy was one of the main events over the three days. 
• IFA Organic project team chair John Fitzpatrick and Niamh Brennan travelled to Brussels last month for a meeting of the Organic COPA working party. A project team meeting also took place prior to the event. 
• There was a meeting of the IHNSA committee last month online via Microsoft teams. The IHNSA AGM will take place in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise later this month. 
• IFA continues to work with Bord Bia to deliver the ‘Life is Better with Fruit and Vegetables’ promotion. The promotion is 80% funded from the EU with the balance supported by growers. More info on https://fruitnveg.ie/
• IFA continued to liaise with all retails and packers on how the season is unfolding, the weather conditions, staffing costs and all other issues. 
• IFA wrote to Minister Pippa Hackett following Budget 2025. The cut of funding for the Horticulture Grant was one of the key issues outlined along with the provision and cost of staffing. 

EU/COPA Developments 

• IFA continues to engage with our COPA COGECA counterparts on all issues. 

Upcoming Events / Issues

• The EU promotional campaign for Fruit and Veg is now underway. More information can be seen here https://fruitnveg.ie/. The promotion is 80% funded from the EU with the remaining contribution from growers.
• Bord Bia will address a meeting of all growers in the Farm Centre on Nov 15^th on the issue of Quality Assurance.