Horticulture Council Report March 2025

Market Report

Storm Damage

It was a challenging beginning to the year as Storm Éowyn caused significant damage in late January, severely impacting horticultural businesses. Many growers experienced devastating damage due to the high winds. The storm came at a vulnerable time for growers as tunnels and glasses had been planted with young plants for the upcoming season. Structural damage destroyed many of these plants. IFA, in conjunction with Teagasc, conducted an analysis of the storm damage immediately and lobbied for compensation for the sector. 

As a result, last month a targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector was announced. The re-opening of the scheme goes some way in recognising the impact of the recent storm.

Staffing

The cost and availability of staff is a major concern for growers this season. The sector has been hit hard by acute staff shortages, driven by Ireland’s low unemployment rate and a lack of a structured and permanent work permit scheme. This reliance on non-European labour is further strained by rising wage demands, including the sharp 2024 increase in the Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) for General Employment Permits. 

A pilot of the seasonal work permit scheme has been opened for a limited number of growers in 2025. IFA continues to engage with the Department of Enterprise to make this scheme fit for purpose for industry. A committee was established for the duration of the Seasonal Employment Permit pilot. IFA continues to engage with this grouping and provide written feedback on the current challenges which the pilot scheme poses. IFA met with Minister Peter Burke this month on both the General Employment Permit Roadmap and the Seasonal Employment Permit pilot scheme.

Food Regulator 

IFA continues to engage with the office of the Food Regulator and further meetings with the CEO are arranged. Niamh Lenehan, CEO of the office addressed IFA’s National Horticulture and Potato meeting in February.  The office 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.  IFA continues to lobby for a Statutory Instrument to give the office additional powers to compel actors in the food chain to provide information to the office of the regulator upon request. 

Activity since last National Council 

• IFA continues to represent growers on the issue of work permits and soaring staff costs. IFA representatives met with Minister Peter Burke in on March 5^th to discuss the GEP roadmap and the SEP pilot scheme. 
• IFA has attended three meetings of the steering group on the Seasonal Employment Permit Pilot since December and provided written feedback to the Department of Enterprise after each meeting. 
• IFA completed a comprehensive submission to the Department of Enterprise on the Roadmap for the General Employment Permit in January. DETE are currently reviewing the submission. 
• A National Horticulture and Potato meeting took place Feb 25^th in the Irish Farm Centre. Minister Michael Healy-Rae addressed the meeting. A number of guest speakers including the Agri Food Regulator, Teagasc, DAFM and Bord Bia also addressed the meeting. 
• There was an IFA Fruit & Vegetable Committee meeting on December 9^th.
• There was a full HIF Committee meeting on February 11^th co-chaired by Minister Healy- Rae.  At the meeting growers were updated on issues such as recent storm damage, work permits and supports for the sector. 
• IFA attended a number of the Horticulture Industry Forum sub-group meetings. The group met with Dunnes Stores and Lidl representatives in March to present the proposed retail charter. 
• 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 representatives attended a meeting with Minister Michael Healy-Rae on Horticulture chairman, Mark Walsh’s farm in Golden Tipperary on March 11^th. 
• The IHNSA Annual General Meeting was held on the 28^th of November.
• IFA/IHNSA in conjunction with Bord Bia hosted the annual Trolley Fair in Whites Agri on the 4^th of February.
• IFA attended an Organic Produce – Shopper Intelligence Debrief on 9^th January. 
• IFA met with the Irish Organic Association on 5^th February and the Organic Trust on 7^th February.
• There was an IFA Organic Project Team meeting on 12^th February. 
• IFA continue to lobby a temporary derogation for the management of peat until viable alternatives become available in commercial quantities. Minister Michael Healy-Rae acknowledged this point at IFA’s National meeting and at the farm visit on Walsh’s mushrooms.
• IFA continues to lobby to ensure farmers are exempt from residential zoned land tax (RZLT). All farmers/growers’ farmers must act before the 31st of March deadline and apply for their lands to be rezoned regardless of previous applications. 

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.