Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Healy-Rae has asked Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue to confirm the payment date for the Fodder Transport Support Measure.
The support measure was announced by the minister in early April to provide targeted support by way of a transport support contribution to farmers who had to purchase fodder over longer distances.
A total of 682 applications were made under the scheme, for which a number of administrative checks are required to be completed before any bulk payments to participating co-operatives can be considered, the minister said.
“Immediately on completion of all checks, bulk payments will commence issuing to co-operatives and individual claimants will be notified,” Minister McConalogue added.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Deputy Healy-Rae on the Fodder Transport Support Measure, Minister McConalogue said:
“This support measure was an emergency response to the adverse and prolonged wet weather conditions and the negative impact this was having on fodder stocks on holdings throughout the country.
“The measure was operated in conjunction with the co-operative movement and as outlined in the terms and conditions of the measure, a bulk payment will issue to each participating co-operative in respect of associated and verified individual claims.”
The rates of payment under the Fodder Transport Support Measure are as follows:
Forage material Bale size Transport support per bale/t € Hay/straw 4 X 4 20 Haylage/silage/maize silage 4 X 4 30 Hay/straw 8 X 4 X 4 35 Hay/straw 8 X 4 X 3 30 Haylage/silage/maize silage 8 X 4 X 3 40 Hay/straw 6 X 3 X 2 8 Pit silage Per tonne 40 Fodder beet Per tonne 40
Meanwhile, the Teagasc National Fodder Survey has offered an insight into the fodder stocks on Irish drystock and dairy farms as the winter approaches.
The survey shows that 62% of farms have fully secured their winter feed (including one-month reserve), with a further 20% showing minor deficits of less than 10% of winter feed requirements.