Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has called on grocery retailers and co-ops to support farmers suffering due to poor weather conditions.
Kelleher said that the weather is “having a serious impact on productivity”.
He said dairy, sheep and suckler farmers have been unable to put their animals out on land, and that tillage and horticulture sectors have been unable to plant their crops.
With weather expected to worsen, Kelleher said that retailers need to be “more generous” and said that perhaps a short-term solidarity payment could be made to affected farmers to alleviate challenges.
He added that retailers and co-ops need to be “understanding” in terms of payments and prices.
“Rainfall for the country in March was approximately 140% of the average with certain parts of the country receiving even more rainfall.
“The bad weather has hampered spring operations such as planting. Farmers have been forced to keep their animals in sheds rather than putting them out to graze.
“This is costly for farmers who must now pay for feed rather than using the ample supply of grass in their fields,” Kelleher said.
“There’s no point making a higher profit off of a farmer this year when he or she is in trouble financially if your actions might put them out of business next year. We all need to think about the long term, Kelleher said.
“This is about surviving 2024, and making sure all of our farmers are still in business for 2025. It’s in everyone’s interests for that to happen,” he added.
According to Met Éireann’s latest forecast soil conditions are likely to deteriorate over the coming week with wetter than normal weather expected.
In the week ahead, rainfall amounts will largely be between two and four times higher than normal, with wettest conditions expected in the west and southwest.