Walsh under pressure to give farmers weather compo
However, a spokesman for the minister, who has already announced a number of measures to help farmers in difficulty, reiterated that there is no specific financial package available to deal with the weather conditions.
Fine Gael agriculture spokesman Deputy Billy Timmins, who called on Mr Walsh to bring a targeted plan to Government to assist the agriculture industry âwhich is facing into its worse crisis in yearsâ, said there is an unprecedented despondency among farming communities following the severe weather and the uncertainty over the Common Agriculture Policy.
Labour Party agriculture spokesperson Deputy Jack Wall said the plummeting crop and milk yields were having repercussions far beyond the farming sector. The average weight of beef animals is down by 25%, milk output is down by 15% and fruit and vegetables yields are down by up to 70%. Consumers might soon experience price increases on these products as demand exceeds supply.
Mr Walsh said last week-end he had asked Teagasc to work closely with the farming community and to help it in every possible way. Changes had been made to help farmers in difficulty because of the weather and the EU Commission had approved a derogation for the use of set-aside land, which would benefit the worst affected.
Minister Walsh also announced yesterday that two senior officials from his Department, Tom Moran, Assistant Secretary General, and Paddy Rogan, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, are in Egypt this week to discuss the beef export trade with the Cairo authorities. A huge effort had been put into opening this market and he was pleased the Egyptian authorities had agreed to do so, following detailed assessment of Ireland's food safety controls.
Teagasc, in an updated assessment ten days ago on the impact of the weather on farming, carried out countrywide during the week to August 2, stated that, while progress had been made in recent weeks in hay and silage making, there was still wide variation between the drier and wet land areas in winter feed supply, grass growth, animal performance and damage to soil.
While all first-cut silage had been made in dry land areas, the figure for the wetter farming areas varied from 40% to 80%.
IFA president John Dillon said that, given the extremely difficult income situation facing farmers, he had called for an urgent meeting with Mr Walsh, urging him to take immediate action to restore beef and milk prices and bring forward direct payments to livestock and grain farmers.
Mr Dillon said vegetable and fruit growers are in an extremely serious financial situation with more than 50% crop loss in some cases. On cattle prices, he said Mr Walsh must tackle the factories in their relentless drive to cut prices, deliver an increase in export refunds to offset devaluation of the dollar, boost exports to the Russian market and reopen beef exports to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gulf States, Indonesia, South Africa and the Philippines.
ICMSA president Pat O'Rourke said an assessment of the weather crisis by dairy and livestock co-ops in the northern part of the country is that it is unprecedented in its severity.
He said he would be seeking Government action and support for an animal fodder scheme. There was also a need for the banks to restructure loans and provide longer term finance to allow farmers to farm their way out of difficulties.
