The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) president has said that urgent financial support is needed to help farmers to buy feed and transport fodder.
Sean McNamara said that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue must “act immediately” to support farmers who are “suffering enormously” due to the persistent bad weather.
“Farmers across the country are facing immense challenges as a result of the severe wet weather conditions, with both their mental and financial well-being at stake.
“The minister needs to listen to farmers, and he needs to offer support now,” he said.
ICSA
The ICSA president said that the current conditions are particularly taking a toll on low-income beef, sheep, suckler and tillage farmers.
“It is hard to keep everything ticking over at the best of times, but at the moment, it is next to impossible.
“Fodder reserves are depleting at an alarming rate, and the financial strain is mounting.
“Farmers have shown great resilience up to this point, but that resilience is waning,” he said.
McNamara said the situation is being made even worse by the refusal of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to offer farmers financial support to date.
“Farmers feel abandoned at the moment. The prolonged winter and financial strain have pushed many farmers to their breaking point.
“There are a lot of stressed farmers out there, and many are feeling a sense of hopelessness,” he said.
Meeting
The comments come as the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) meets again this morning (Tuesday, April 9) to examine the supports being currently offered to farmers.
During the previous meeting of the committee, Louise Byrne, deputy chief inspector with DAFM, said that there is “no money for subsidising feed purchases or for having a fodder support scheme for 2024”.
McNamara said that the department “cannot come with that same message” to today’s meeting, adding that “farmers need help, and they need it now”.
As well as urgent financial aid for the purchase of meal and transportation of fodder, the ICSA called on the minister to expedite the release of all outstanding farm scheme payments.
“At the very least, the minister needs to ensure that any outstanding payments to farmers are expedited. Any monies owed to farmers must be paid without any more excuses,” he said.
Ahead of today’s meeting, Minister McConalogue has asked DAFM officials to examine a scheme to facilitate the long-distance movement of fodder, similar to one rolled out in 2018, which brought fodder to farmers in need.
Teagasc is establishing a fodder register to allow farmers who require fodder to contact farmers who have excess fodder available.
It is also setting up phone helplines to provide advice to farmers on how to manage their farms in the challenging weather conditions.