The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) president has said that financial aid for farmers is more urgent than ever as poor weather conditions persist.
Sean McNamara welcomed the decision of Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue to suspend all farm inspections not specifically required to support payments until April 22.
“This move, at least, signals an acknowledgment from the department of agriculture regarding the significant challenges farmers are facing due to adverse weather conditions.
“However, we also want an assurance that any inspections that do go ahead will take these adverse conditions into account,” he said.
ICSA
Although some farmers are in difficulty, Teagasc told the recent National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) meeting that there are adequate fodder stocks in the country.
McNamara said that ICSA members on the ground are reporting a “starkly different reality”.
“A lot of farmers are having huge difficulties sourcing the fodder they need, which is of a decent quality, is at a price they can afford, and that they can afford to transport. It really is a dire situation out there,” he said.
Minister McConalogue has spoken to the country’s main banks to ask them to ensure access to short term finance and overdraft facilities where needed, to deal with the pressure arising from the current “exceptional weather conditions”.
“While we also appreciate the minister’s engagement with the financial institutions to address cash flow issues, the need for meaningful and accessible financial assistance has not gone away.
“On the contrary, it is now more urgent than ever. The need is real, and it is immediate,” the ICSA president said.
McNamara said news that the NFFSC will reconvene next week is welcome but said the meeting should be an in-person one.
“At last week’s meeting of the NFFSC – which took place online – ICSA and the other farming organisations were told that no financial assistance would be forthcoming.
“It is completely unacceptable to abandon farmers in such a time of need; it is even more unacceptable to do so over an online meeting.
What we need is real engagement that will result in real financial aid for farmers put on the table,” he said.