The Government Calls On Farmers To Consider New Bioenergy Crops

Mary Wallace T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, called on farmers to consider energy crops as an alternative uses of their land.

Saying that she believed "that bio-energy offers a real, feasible and cost effective alternative to imported fossil fuels," the Minister went on to note that, "with the development of a real market for bio-energy, a new and significant alternative source of income is also now emerging for farmers and other landowners."

Under the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, farmers now have the freedom to focus more clearly on exploiting new farming opportunities, including agricultural production for non-food use, while retaining their single payment.

Minister Wallace pointed out that her department had a strong interest in bioenergy and, in particular, the market opportunities for farmers in purpose grown energy crops for use as a renewable source of energy in the heat, electricity and liquid bio-fuels markets.

"Significant funding is being made available over the coming years to encourage farmers to grow energy crops," she said. "The funding includes €8 million for a new Bio-energy Scheme to encourage farmers to grow miscanthus and willow to produce heat and electricity.

"An additional €6 million is being provided for a national payment of €80 per hectare, which will be paid as a top-up to the €45 EU premium available under the EU Energy Crops Scheme."

Minister Wallace said she was confident this package of measures would help to kick start production of energy crops at farm level.

According to the Minister, the bioenergy sector is now a major part of Ireland's renewable energy policy and bioenergy has the potential to make a positive contribution to the security of energy supplies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the open up new markets for agricultural production.

"It is essential that farmers, foresters and the rural economy benefit from this drive to promote bioenergy and that production is based on locally produced feedstock. This would help to stimulate diversification of farm incomes and contribute to the development of rural economies," she concluded.