Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has requested that a meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee be held this week.
It comes amid concern in the agricultural sector about ongoing and challenging weather conditions.
The online meeting is set to take place on Friday morning at 11:00.
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.
Minister McConalogue said this afternoon (Tuesday, March 26): “Grass growth over the winter period has yielded strong pasture covers on farms, however, difficult weather conditions are delaying or restricting turnout.
“The challenge is more pronounced in certain parts of the country particularly where early grazing is a key management tool.”
Teagasc has advised that silage is available to purchase, and that some farmers had included the option of purchasing fodder in their winter feed budgeting plans.
The minister added: “It is important that the [fodder] 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.”
Fodder
In some parts of the country, farmers have not seen a substantial break in the rain for several months.
While livestock should be out grazing by this time, on a normal year with decent weather conditions, many farm enterprises still have livestock housed.
This has resulted in additional expense to farmers and an inability to spread slurry and concern about the quality and quantity of silage/fodder this year as a result.
The Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has said that farmers around the country are facing a “fodder crisis”, with the situation “worsening” as wet weather persists.
Met Éireann has said that most soils are currently close to saturation, with very little improvement expected over the coming week.
In some northern and western areas some light soils are trafficable, while most poorly drained soils are waterlogged.
Weather
In terms of the weather outlook for the coming days, Met Éireann is forecasting that rain will continue over Connacht, Ulster, west Munster and north Leinster this afternoon (Tuesday, March 26).
It will turn brighter elsewhere with scattered heavy showers developing, bringing a chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms and highest temperatures of 6° to 10°C in moderate north-east to east winds.
Tomorrow, outbreaks of rain will gradually clear northwards in the morning and early afternoon. Sunny spells and showers will follow from the south for the rest of the day.
Some showers will be heavy with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms, and with sleet possible on hills. Cool with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh southeast to south winds.
Generally it will be unsettled with frequent rain and showers, and the possibility of some flooding. Blustery at times also.