‘We must work together to get through fodder crisis’

Following a very wet summer and an extended winter, conditions for farmers are very challenging.

My department has been working on this over the winter and continues to monitor the situation very closely on a daily basis.

I am acutely aware of the challenging conditions farmers have been working under for the past months. The bad weather has been unprecedented, and we now find ourselves having to import fodder from the UK, a situation that has not occurred before. The strong sense of neighbour helping neighbour, which rural communities are known for throughout the country, has been evident in recent weeks and the farming community is to be commended for pulling together to get through this fodder crisis.

A number of measures have been put in place to assist farmers.

* The availability of emergency assistance under the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council’s early warning system which ensures there is no reason for any farmer to see their animals starve.

* €1m has been allocated to cover the transport costs of fodder to reduce the cost of feed for farmers. This means farmers will only be paying for the cost of the fodder itself and not its transport cost.

* The scheme will operate through the dairy co-operatives and will cover forage imported by the co-ops from Apr 15 to May 3. This will substantially cover the cost of transport into the country and reduce the cost to farmers of a bale of hay by about a third. Co-ops have confirmed they will facilitate farmers who need help in sourcing urgent fodder supplies, whether or not they are existing customers or suppliers.

* The department is processing outstanding scheme payments as promptly as possible. Last week 800 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) payments were fast-tracked and made to farmers, worth over €500,000. In the next 10 to 14 days, another €2m of AEOS payments will be made.

* Following a meeting with the CEOs of the dairy co-ops, my department and the co-ops have agreed to substantially increase the volume of fodder being imported over the short to medium-term. The co-ops have also agreed to consider the introduction of interest-free credit, within limits, to farmers for the purchase of fertiliser, limited to May.

This will ensure farmers have access to fodder for the foreseeable future and will reassure farmers that fodder supply will not be an issue until grass growth improves. While access to fodder is a priority, grass growth is key to ensuring this problem is overcome.

I recognise there is a serious fodder shortage in certain parts of the country and I acknowledge the role the co-ops and other stakeholders have played and continue to play. Operating this new scheme through the co-ops is the quickest and most effective way of getting the fodder to those who need it. Strong commodity prices at present for dairy, beef and lamb should also allow farmers to plan with greater confidence. I’ll continue to work with all in the sector to get through this difficult period.

* Animal Welfare Helpline: 1850211990