Coveney ‘slow to react’ to fodder crisis

The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association has said Simon Coveney, the agriculture minister, “doesn’t understand how serious” the fodder crisis is and accused him of being “very slow to react”.

Speaking yesterday after a meeting of agriculture industry representatives in Co Laois, John Bryan said: “It is quite clear that he doesn’t understand how serious this crisis is.”

“In several parts of the country, in Leitrim, in North Roscommon, Sligo, this crisis will continue for another three, four weeks even if the weather took up next week,” Mr Bryan said.

“At this stage the minister is talking about a €2m subsidy. Agriculture and food is worth over €9bn in exports to the Irish economy, 300,000 jobs. The minister is going to have to put more resources into it to get us over this crisis,” he said.

Mr Bryan said the Teagasc assessment of a potential shortfall in next winter’s fodder supply of up to 30% must be a call to action for Mr Coveney.

He again called for a €50m recovery package, to include a fertiliser subsidy and subsidised loans for farmers who inevitably will have to borrow to keep their business going.

Mr Bryan was happy that bank representatives attending the meeting “see farmers as a viable, long-term investment.”

However, he said it was very important that the Government introduce a “low-interest, loan subsidy because if we are running up huge loses we won’t clear it in one year”.

Speaking of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association assertion that the crisis could cost €1bn, Mr Bryan said he hadn’t yet reached a final figure, but for some farmers “it is a disaster”.

Director of Teagasc, Gerry Boyle, asked farmers to try and conserve their silage for next winter.

“We are now looking very much at the issue for next winter.” Mr Boyle said.

The next six weeks are critical for harvesting for next winter,” he said.

He urged struggling farmers to reach out to their vet or Teagasc adviser. “There are always options,” Mr Boyle said.

“There is absolutely no need for animals to die because of a lack of fodder.”

Meanwhile, Mr Coveney said some 30,000 tonnes of fodder will have been imported into the country under the Fodder Transport Subsidy Scheme by the end of this week.

He announced the scheme would end on Friday, but said as an exceptional measure, that any definite purchases that have been placed by that date — but which will be delivered during the following week — “will be included under the scheme”.

He, too, expressed concern about a possible impact on next year’s fodder supply.

“While continuing to focus on the emergency fodder situation in the short term, we also focus on growing and conserving fodder for next winter’s needs,” he said.

‘It is clear that the main cut of silage will be delayed this year and as a consequence we need to look at the potential for the growing of additional fodder later into the season.

In this regard, I have also raised a number of specific issues within the nitrates regulations with my colleague Minister [Phil] Hogan with a view to ensuring we maximise the opportunity for fodder production this year,” Mr Coveney said.