Teagasc’s 20% winter feed buffer is a ‘hell of a new gospel’

Teagasc sources saying they recommend a 20% winter feed buffer, is “a hell of a new gospel” from the agriculture and food development authority, says John Bryan.

He says a lot of top farmers have got in trouble, even on good land and where they had a fodder reserve 10-15% bigger than best Teagasc advice.

Every IFA county chairman has fodder blackspots, but Bryan suspects that western counties are now suffering worst. Wet land and overstocked farms (including many dairy farms in Munster) will take longer to recover — and sheep have reddened farms, he says.