Irish farmers are warning the government of a nationwide fodder shortage of up to 10 million bales.

Implementation of the Government’s €2.75m incentive for tillage farmers must be kept simple, farm organisations have urged.

Vital drought responses include incentives for the growth of catch crops, flexibility on GLAS and nitrates restrictions and aid with importing fodder from the continent, says ICOS CEO TJ Flanagan.

Temperatures are set to rise to the mid-20s again this weekend amid warnings that the ongoing dry, warm conditions are going to have significant consequences for farmers, with those in the dairy sector looking at their income dropping by half on last year.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has appealed to farmers with lower stocking density to consider growing fodder cash crops which could be used by farmers nationally who are short of winter fodder.

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has announced the extension of the fodder import scheme by a week.

An extra €1.5m needs to be spent on measures to alleviate the fodder crisis, according to Fianna Fáil.

Fianna Fáil will bring a motion before the Dáil and Seanad tomorrow calling for the Government to step up its efforts to deal with the fodder crisis.

By Stephen Cadogan

By Stephen Cadogan

By Stephen Cadogan

An investigation of why feed ran out in 2013 and again in 2017 is needed, writes Stephen Cadogan.

By Denis Lehane

The Agriculture Minister has defended his response to the fodder crisis.

There is a call for the Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to allocate a dedicated budget to farmers to help them through the fodder crisis.

British farmers are raising concerns about the amount of fodder being imported into Ireland during the current feed crisis.

Dan Hallissey has been farming full time in Ballymakeera, Co Cork, for 26 years, and this has been the longest winter housing period for livestock that he has had to deal with.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has allocated €1.5m to import fodder, as farmers strain to feed stock.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has allocated €1.5m for the importation of fodder to help reduce costs for farmers, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Latest: The first emergency batch of animal feed has arrived at Rosslare Port this morning.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed yesterday asked his officials to develop a fodder import scheme, and said a collaborative effort of all stakeholders is needed to support farmers without adequate feed supplies, until livestock can be turned out to graze.

Dairygold Co-op has organised imports of over 2,500 tonnes of haylage and hay from the UK, with the first loads due in Ireland today.

A multimillion-euro scheme aimed at supporting struggling farmers import fodder is to be announced by the agriculture minister today.

We need a smaller beef herd and an emphasis in dairy on premium products like cheese and ice-cream, writes Victoria White

Update 4.27pm: The Agriculture Minister says the importation of fodder supplies should begin as soon as tomorrow.

The Government has been urged to hold an emergency meeting to help farmers struggling with an extensive fodder crisis which, farm groups say, is threatening human as well as animal health.