Up to €1,000 each for farmers to grow silage amid grain shortage

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue will outline plans to Cabinet for a €55m package to support farmers to grow crops to ensure sufficient feed for cattle this winter

With the cost of silage likely to rise by up to 30% this year because of the war in Ukraine and the wider cost-of-living crisis, farming groups have been demanding urgent action.

Farmers are to be given up to €1,000 each to help them increase silage output as part of a €55 million scheme to offset the grain shortage caused by the war in Ukraine.

The Cabinet is today set to approve a major new silage scheme, the Irish Examiner has learned. With the cost of silage likely to rise by up to 30% this year because of the war and the wider cost-of-living crisis, farming groups have been demanding urgent action.