Farm feed crisis

As winter refuses to relinquish its grip on the countryside any farmer responsible for feeding livestock is in a very tight corner.

Hard, unforgiving weather has made it impossible to rely on spring grass to feed animals so significant sums are lost feeding animals with compounds. In some instances, hopefully a minority, this has led to animal welfare issues as some farmers do not have the resources to continue to buy feed.

Farmers who depend on the natural cycle of seasons to plant crops must be wondering if they will ever get a chance to work their fields or if crops can survive the very low temperatures more reminiscent of winter than spring.

As is usual at this juncture there are calls for state intervention to provide supports to farmers caught in a terrible bind, though Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has admitted that his options are pretty limited. State funding may not be forthcoming or even appropriate but we should all do what we can to support Irish farms by buying Irish produce at every opportunity.