Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is calling on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue to roll out a national fodder support scheme.
The Kerry deputy has said that “several financial packages for farmers” are needed to tackle a “severe feeding deficit” which he said is “leading to one of the worst fodder crisis in living memory”.
Farmers have contacted the Kerry TD saying that they need financial support to afford bales as they have already run out.
Fodder
Due to persistent rainfall for months now, farmers in some areads have been forced to keep livestock housed for longer which has lead to an increasing financial strain.
“We are well beyond predicting a ‘fodder crisis’ as we are well and truly in the middle of one, with most soils beyond saturation point with land simply waterlogged and not trafficable for man, machine or beast.
“Cattle have been in sheds now since last September, [while] the tillage sector [is] at breaking point as most farmers are not able to plant crops,” Deputy Healy-Rae said.
“With the current increasing costs of production and the ever-decreasing income from farming, many farmers have now been forced to borrow even further which is a cause of concern for their long-term futures.
“The ongoing weather has impacted on planting and sowing as well, and this will have a knock-on effect later in the year and its impact will not be fully seen until next year.
“This is why the minister needs to act now,” he added.
Committee
Minister Charlie McConalogue has requested that a meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) be held this week to assess the current picture across the country.
The online meeting is set to take place on Friday morning (March 29) at 11:00a.m.
The committee will receive an update from Teagasc across grassland tillage farms; a situation report from the committee members and a summary of the situation across the country.
“Grass growth over the winter period has yielded strong pasture covers on farms, however, difficult weather conditions are delaying or restricting turnout.
“The challenge is more pronounced in certain parts of the country particularly where early grazing is a key management tool,” the minister said.
Teagasc has advised that silage is available to purchase, and that some farmers had included the option of purchasing fodder in their winter feed budgeting plans.
“It is important that the committee establishes the most up to date facts regarding the fodder and feed situation on farms and provides advice to assist farmers through this challenging period,” McConalogue said.