Cold weather setback for fodder crisis
The fodder crisis is fast turning into a financial crisis, said IFA President John Bryan.
He welcomed the extension of the imported fodder transport scheme and acknowledged the huge effort by the agricultural sector and particularly co-ops, livestock marts and merchants to import fodder.
But he repeated his call on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to bring forward direct payments, and to be flexible on disadvantaged area stocking rate criteria. ICOS national marts chairman Michael Spellman has also called on Mr Coveney to reduce the seven months retention period (which was increased from six consecutive months in 2012).
More than 1,000 loads of hay and maize silage have been imported — enough to feed 2.5 million of Ireland’s 6.5 million cattle for one day.
Following consultation with Met Eireann, co-ops, farming organisations and Teagasc, Mr Coveney doubled the fodder transport subsidy fund to €2m.
Fodder eligible under the scheme can be delivered into the country up to May 24. Importers had until last Friday to supply proof of purchase of forage.
Mr Coveney said imported fodder will enable farmers deal with the fodder shortage and put some hay, silage or maize into storage as an insurance mechanism.
“I recognise the work that co-ops have done in this regard, including smaller ones such as Drinagh Co-op in west Cork, and larger ones such as Dairygold which has brought in nearly half of all the fodder. Others are responding in imaginative and effective ways, including Glanbia’s initiative on maize. The Kerry Group, Connacht Gold, Lakeland and many others are all focused on solving this problem collectively.”
He has revealed that cattle deaths up to the start of May were 22% up on 2012, at 143,000 compared to 117,000.
Over 100 farmers have received emergency financial assistance ranging from €180 to €1,000 from the Department of Agriculture
The animal welfare hotline remains open for farmers with emergency situations or who need information about where to source fodder (call 1850-211990).
The Keenan nutrition and diet wagon company’s fodder helpline at 059-9101324 has handled up to 60 calls a day, most of which were coming last week from counties Armagh, Louth, Meath, Longford, Cork and Kerry.
