The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is calling for a pause in all farm inspections as farmers across the country struggle to cope with difficult weather conditions.
The association’s vice president John Joe Fitzgerald said that all State bodies need to take into consideration the “enormous pressure” currently on farmers.
“Across all sectors of farming the unrelenting rainfall is taking a toll. This can be seen through increased costs, heightened stress levels and a never increasing workload that has left many farmers exhausted.
“Unfortunately, with no improvement in the weather forecast these concerns will remain and this is why it is vital that we don’t add to them through inspections that could be deferred until the weather improves and farmers are in a better place,” he said.
Farm inspections
Fitzgerald said that any pause in farm inspections should include the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), local authorities, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He added that there is also a need for Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue to consider financial support for farmers through a “timely and substantial” fodder scheme.
“There has been a number of fodder support schemes in the past so the roll out of any possible scheme shouldn’t be a major issue, what we need is a commitment on a budget and a timescale.
“Farmers have seen difficult weather periods before and got through them and this will be the same.
“However, it is vital that we don’t add to the considerable pressure that farmers are currently trying to cope with and this is why we are looking for a pause in farm inspections,” the INHFA vice president said.
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 this morning (Friday, 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.
“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.