Fostering new growth

IHNSA chairman Val Farrell in discussion with Tom Hayes TD, Minister for Horticulture

Val Farrell The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association chairman, outlines the key areas of activity for the organisation over the past year and sets out the IHNSA’s agenda.in protecting the interests of producers in the sector.

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Horticulture

Read More: Government Horticulture Industry Update The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association

“This year, our two trolley fairs continued to assist producers in showcasing their produce to potential buyers with 47 nurseries exhibiting and 200 visitor buyers attending, over the two events.”

IHNSA welcomed the GroMor / Garden Centre Campaign and engaged with REI to ensure nursery participation in 2015, which included the introduction in conjunction with Bord Bia of a ‘pot sticker’ for Irish plants for nursery participants.

IHNSA representation to the Department of Agriculture ensured the inclusion of hedgerows in the GLAS scheme. In fact, so far in the first tranche of applications, 1,300 km of new hedgerows, 2,000 new groves of native trees and 1,000 new orchards of traditional Irish varieties will be planted.

Val Farrell recently met with Minister for Horticulture Tom Hayes TD where he continued to emphasise the difficulties being faced by the sector and the need for an increased allocation for nurseries under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Sector in Budget 2016.

Issues raised with Minister Hayes included:  support for wholesale nurseries with stocks of Ash trees restricted for sale by the Ash Dieback suspension, exclusion of Ornamental Plants from the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme and actions being taken by the Department in the event of an outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa in Ireland.

IHNSA made a submission on the Consultation with Stakeholders on the need for Regulations to be introduced under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, for the category of grocery goods ‘garden plants and garden plant bulbs’. This submission supported the need for Regulations giving the protection of a contract in a nursery / retailer trading relationship, providing greater certainty for the producer and an ability to better plan production and investment decisions.

IHNSA continues to engage with financial institutions on credit difficulties in the sector and members have access to the IFA Credit Advice Helpline 1890 924 853, to assist individual members with credit difficulties.

IHNSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2015

The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association, c/o The Irish Farmers’ Association, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12. T: 01 4500266 F: 01 4565146  Email: ciaranagle@ifa.ie  Web: www.ifa.ie. Twitter: @ifamedia

Read More: Government Horticulture Industry Update The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association

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