Fodder clinics are getting underway in Ireland’s worst drought-hit counties from tomorrow (Wednesday, August 26).

Teagasc has advised that the first clinics will be held in its offices in Portlaoise, Tullamore and Naas tomorrow.

Further clinics are also scheduled to take place in Teagasc offices in counties Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Waterford, Tipperary, East Cork, Louth and Meath.

Last week the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) heard that one-in-five of farms surveyed by Teagasc have fewer than 100 days feed available.

Dr Joe Patton, head of Dairy Knowledge at Teagasc, also told the committee that overall 12% of farms in the country are currently 20% short of fodder.

This figure is based on a survey carried out by Teagasc of 396 dairy and drystock farms spread across regions.

Last week the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA), Denis Drennan, warned that the fodder deficit was widening.

He told Agriland that the focus should now be on growing as much additional fodder as possible in Ireland over the next two months to help bridge the gap.

Speaking on his farm - where the "last meaningful rainfall" was on June 19, - Drennan said it was going to "take lot of rain" for his farm to recover.

Fodder

According to Sandra Hayes, manager of the Teagasc Laois/Kildare/Offaly advisory region, farmers should contact the organisation for support at this time.

"We would urge those coming to the clinics to bring details of their existing fodder stocks on farm, and the number of livestock numbers expected to be on the farm over the next nine months, so that a fodder plan can be put in place," she said.

Teagasc has advised that taking action early "will help individual farmers to make the best decisions for their farm enterprises.”  

A series of webinars, which will offer farmers practical advice and the latest information, will also be launched this week.

The first two webinars will take place on Thursday evening, (August 27) for the Teagasc Carlow/Wicklow/Wexford advisory region and for the Meath/Louth/Dublin advisory region.  

Further details on the fodder clinics and webinars are available on the Teagasc website.

Ger Shortle, manager of the Teagasc Carlow/Wicklow/Wexford advisory region, said: “On the webinar we will have advisers covering fodder budgeting, advice on formulating diets, managing livestock numbers, exploring the option of catch crops and deciding, if, and when to apply fertiliser and slurry.”