Agribusiness sector rallies to help combat fodder crisis
Co-ops and agribusinesses and Teagasc have put their shoulders to the wheel to help farmers since Dairygold Co-op’s move last week to import 2,500 tonnes of fodder revealed the extent of the crisis on farms.
Glanbia pays a rebate of €50 per tonne of manufactured ruminant feed ordered up to April 23, including calf milk replacer, and silage stretcher straights. Glanbia also imported 1,000 tonnes of alfalfa from Spain.
Illustrating how fodder shortages escalated due to Easter rainfall, Arrabawn Co-op said it had over 120 requests from farmers for hay and silage, and have sourced these feeds in Ireland and UK. But only a very small number of Arrabawn members had looked for support earlier.
Lakeland Dairies CEO Michael Hanley warned the feed crisis could run up to May.
Farmers can phone or text to a national Teagasc helpline phone number (087 7971377) to speak to a Teagasc person for assistance.
Dr Siobhan Kavanagh of Teagasc said silage supplies must be stretched, normal daily silage feeding can be halved and stock offered extra meal to fill the gap. Milking cows on high levels of meal should be offered an extra midday feed.
Farmers in serious difficulty who had not attended a Teagasc office or made contact with an adviser can do so now for assistance.
Last week, over 200 farmers with surplus silage registered with Teagasc, including many in the northern counties.
Over 500 farmers seeking supplies also registered.
Herdwatch has created a website page where farmers can advertise fodder to sell, or that they need fodder.
The InTouch nutritionists at Keenan offered complimentary fodder shortage nutritionist advice (email contactintouch@alltech.com or call 059 910 1320).
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Creed announced an extension to May 1 of the closing date for grazing livestock on traditional hay meadow GLAS land.
