How best to relieve shortages of fodder

FEED from set-aside land can be fed to livestock three weeks ahead of the normal EU regulated schedule, to help avert fodder shortages.

Normally, farmers would have to wait until August 31 to harvest fodder grown on set-aside land. Sale of fodder from these lands is, however, still not allowed.

The measure may bring some relief after dry weather has reduced growth rate by at least 25% in most areas outside the north and west, and brought a complete halt to growth in the southeast, due to that region’s 70mm-plus moisture deficits.