Heavy rainfall costs farmers €100m in additional feed bills

The sustained rainfall has cost livestock farmers €100m in higher feed costs and may cost another €60m this winter, estimates IFA president John Bryan.

The IFA leader said large numbers of stock have been re-housed and feed bills are up significantly, while output is down.

He encouraged farmers to attend weather response clinics set up by Teagasc.

“Across dairy, beef, tillage and sheep, the impact on farm incomes over the last five weeks has been a hit of €100m due to higher feed costs and a loss of output.

Extra feed will have to be bought in next winter to supplement silage, at a cost of over €60m.”

Mr Bryan said that only one-third of the June crop has been saved, while the weather is also hampering essential work and essential farm improvements.

Mr Bryan is calling upon Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to relieve pressure by securing a 50% advance on the Single Farm Payment for the middle of October, and ensuring the full payout of Disadvantaged Area payments in September.