Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon is to invite farm organisations to a meeting next week as concerns over fodder shortages grow.

Teagasc will be asked to present an interim report at the meeting on Tuesday (August 18) on the current status of fodder supplies across the country.

It is understood that invitations for the meeting will be issued by the minister today to farm organisations and Teagasc.

Pressure has been mounting on Minister Heydon to take action as farmers, particularly in the east and south, have been forced to use winter fodder supplies and additional feed for the animals as grass growth stalled in recent weeks.

The situation has lead to a huge increase in costs in what has already been a difficult year for farmers.

Fodder

A spokesperson for Minister Heydon told Agriland there is “huge concern about the whole situation” which is being closely monitored.

The minister has again asked farmers to complete a fodder budget through Pasture Base or with their advisor before next Friday, August 21.

The data will be used as part of the Teagasc National Fodder Survey.

"We know that there are reserves of silage there. We know that there is a lot of grain in storage now and a lot of good quality straw in as well, but we really need to get the full picture," the spokesperson said.

The data collected from across the country will be used to inform how the government will support farmers.

Fodder

Farm organisations and politicians have called for the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) to be urgently reconvened.

The committee was established in 2022 by then Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to monitor and respond to emerging risks to supplies of fodder.

Minister Heydon previously said that when the full results of the fodder survey are available, he will consider "any necessary next steps, including reconvening the National Fodder and Food Security Committee".

While the minister has currently stopped short of reconvening, it is likely the data from the survey will indicate that such a meeting will be required.

The minister's spokesperson said that it is too early yet to say if a fodder support scheme will be introduced, but they added that the government is "ready to react".

Weather

The meeting comes as the latest forecast shows little change for soil moisture deficits in drought-hit areas.

Soil moisture deficits are ranging from 71 to 97mm in the south and east where they are in near-drought or drought conditions.

In contrast, some soils in the north-west are saturated with values there of -3 to 8mm.

According to Met Éireann, most of the country will see less than average amounts of rainfall over the coming seven days.

However, the north and north-west of the country where grass is growing may see up to twice as much as average.

Ailís Hankinson, operational meteorologist with Met Éireann, told Agriland the current indications are for some showers then as we head into next week.

"Again it's looking like the north and the north-west will see the majority of the rainfall, while it will be drier further south and east.

"It's likely that the south and east will see a bit of rain, but it won't be enough to change the soil moisture deficits significantly," she said.