Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has been called on to provide financial supports to stave off a coming fodder shortage.

Speaking after a meeting of stakeholders yesterday (Tuesday, August 18), the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said that these supports will be required if farmers are to navigate the challenges posed by both the drought and the resulting fodder shortage.

Eamon Carroll, the association's deputy president, said: "The message coming from our members of extreme drought conditions right across the midlands, south, east and south-east was reflected in the data provided by Teagasc at the meeting.

"Many farmers are in deficit for winter fodder and eating through it further by the day. This will continue for weeks to come with little or no rain forecast," Carroll added.

He said that even with rain it may take weeks for grass growth to return to "any degree of normality".

"Though we understand the need for accurate stocktaking, we’d be wary of delaying taking actions that are demonstrably required, and required immediately," Carroll said.

The ICMSA deputy president added: "There needs to be a tillage scheme to encourage cover and catch crops, as well as allowing farmer on lower-stocked land to increase nitrogen allowance to grow grass in the coming weeks if they can."

He also said that advice for farmers will be important in terms of dealing with drought conditions, organic manure and how best to respond when grass eventually comes back.

However, he added that the situation has already moved past advice and was going to require "actual funds being made accessible and easy-to-draw-down for the most hard-pressed farmers".

"We have to get these farmers through to next spring and, in the first instance, that’s going to take money being made available to the farmers who won’t make it through this winter if that help is not forthcoming quickly," Carroll said.

Mounting pressure on young farmers

Meanwhile, Macra has called for "urgent action" to support young farmers facing mounting financial and fodder pressure due to the recent long spell of dry weather.

Macra was also represented at yesterday's meeting, with the organisation saying it highlighted that many young farmers are already feeding winter fodder and purchasing concentrates due to poor grass growth, adding further pressure to already tight cash flows.

Speaking after the meeting, Macra president Josephine O'Neill said: "Young farmers are facing another significant and unforeseen cost. Many are feeding silage intended for the winter while purchasing concentrates far earlier than planned.

"With margins already extremely tight, this is creating serious cash flow pressure," O'Neill added.

The young farmer organisation also sounded the alarm on diminished winter fodder stocks and reduced yields for tillage farmers and vegetable growers.

Macra welcomed the commitment from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon to reconvene the National Fodder and Food Security Committee, but expressed disappointment that "no concrete timeline was provided".

"The committee needs to meet urgently, and it cannot be a talking shop. We need concrete actions and meaningful supports that address the challenges farmers are facing now and in the months ahead," O'Neill said.

She called on farmers to complete fodder budgets to assess available stocks and help inform the response required.

"The situation is developing quickly. We need to understand the scale of the challenges and ensure young farmers are supported before pressures deepen further," she added.