Max Potterton

When it comes to fertilisers, the 🇪🇺 has the tools to act! Decisive measures are urgently needed to safeguard farm viability and Europe’s food security in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical context. Following the mobilisation of thousands of farmers in Brussels last December calling for urgent action on fertiliser prices, the Praesidia of @COPACOGECA has approved the farming sector’s common position on a comprehensive set of immediate, medium- and long-term measures to deliver relief and restore market stability ahead of the long-awaited Fertiliser Action Plan by @EU_Commission Among other actions, @COPACOGECA calls for: 📛 Suspending the CBAM for fertilisers and mitigating its cost impact 📛Suspending MFN tariffs and anti-dumping measures on fertiliser imports ✅Amending the Nitrates Directive without delay to allow greater flexibility in the use of manure where agronomically justified ✅Authorising the use of digestate above current thresholds 📐Harmonised rules to scale up organic and recycled nutrients that can substitute synthetic nitrogen 📏Aligning RENURE criteria with the Joint Research Centre’s recommendations to ensure full technological neutrality 🔎Reinforcing the Fertiliser Market Observatory and strictly enforcing competition rules 🧐 Closely monitoring the market to provide farmers with reliable information on fertiliser availability and fair pricing The upcoming Fertiliser Action Plan must reflect the agronomic and economic realities on the ground, deliver immediate relief, and set a credible pathway towards sustainable nutrient management. These measures represent the minimum response needed to address a crisis that farmers have been warning about for years, one whose consequences could extend far beyond agriculture and impact the European Union as a whole. Full Position Paper on our website >>> copa-cogeca.eu/publications

@SnowbieWx Sorry wettest start to a year since 2002 I think rather than just Feb. Agree last 10 days of Aug 24 were very pleasant

@MaxPotterton Are you forgetting about February 2020? That was wetter than 2002. All this rain would be forgiven if we managed an August 1947. Man, I'd murder for that. Such a good month. I'd be surprised though. Say what you want about summer 2024 but I thought Aug 2024 was fine.

18 days in and February is only on 19.6 hrs of sunshine for Dublin Apt. The 1991-2020 average is 81 hrs. By this point in the month, we should be ~52 hrs. The cloudiest Feb on record is 1947 with 28.2 h, we will almost certainly beat that though. 42.2 h (1994) 2nd cloudiest.

@SnowbieWx 34mm unreal. Could be 35% of annual rainfall after 1.5months

Didn't expect rain to be this heavy tonight in Dublin, it is torrential.

IFA National Grain Committee taking place in Teagasc Oakpark this afternoon. The group heard research updates from Ewen Mullins and John Spink in the Teagasc Crop Science Department. @IFAmedia

Ahead of the publication of the draft Nitrates Action Plan, IFA had raised the issues with shallow cultivation. The concerns of tillage farmers have been taken on board, which is a good outcome. ifa.ie/farm-sectors/p…

IFA National Grain Chair Kieran McEvoy, North Cork Chair Pat O'Keefe and Cork grain rep Pat Collins met with Dairygold in Mitchelstown this morning. The delegation urged that the co-op pay the strongest possible grain price to tillage farmers this year. @IFAmedia

IFA Grain Chair Kieran McEvoy, Grain Vice-Chair John Murphy and Grain Policy Executive Max Potterton addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture on Challenges for the Tillage Sector this evening.

An important event for the tillage sector in the Killashee hotel, Naas this evening. @IFAmedia

A delegation of tillage farmers from Carlow @IFAmedia met with TD Jennifer Murnane O'Connor to highlight the income challenges the tillage sector is facing at present and the need for sectoral support in Budget 2026.

Interesting presentations at the Irish Drinks Forum in Athenry. Resilience a key theme given the challenging market conditions in the alcoholic Drinks sector at present.

IFA National Grain Chairman Kieran McEvoy, south Tipperary IFA chair Pat Carroll and local tillage farmers met with Dairygold reps today. The need for the strongest possible grain price was emphasised by the delegation given the income crisis in tillage farming. @IFAmedia

@SnowbieWx I regard it highly. Some very hot sunny days. Like 2022, it closed in quickly with heavy rain in the autumn though

2006 is probably the most forgotten and underrated brilliant Irish summer. On the Poulter index, it was the 4th best summer between 1970 and 2020 beaten by only 1995, 2018 and 1976. I don't know a single Irish person who regards this summer highly other than myself.

@RoryDeverell from Black Silo giving a very interesting talk on grain markets at a Laois @IFAmedia tillage meeting on Rory and Sean Doyles farm in The Rock.

@John_Dunne_ Maranello well worth a visit too when in the region John.

Went to visit this place today, some gorgeous machines to view. No cameras on the factory tour I’m afraid. They were assembling the Revuelto (0-100kph ~2secs) and the Temerario. 400 colour choices!!! The stuff of dreams…..

A remarkable weather statistic for Shannon

IFA Policy Executive Max Potterton was part of the Tillage Industry Ireland delegation along with IFA Director of European Affairs Liam MacHale that held a meeting with COPA’s Senior Policy Advisor Dominique Dejonckheere to discuss tariffs on fertilisers and legislation on new breeding techniques in Brussels.

Tillage Industry Ireland's delegation along with IFA European Policy Executive Noel Banville met with DG Agri's Justyna Wróbel (Arable Crops) and Laurent Mercier to discuss the EU Cereals sector with a particular focus on challenges for Irish tillage farmers.

@RobertMilne4 There wasn't, airportused more generally, location is Clonshaugh

@MaxPotterton Didn't know there was an airport there since 1850.

With 13.5mm looks like the driest March since 1990 at Dublin Airport, based on Met Eireann 1850-2010 dataset.