Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has been urged by Macra to reconvene the National Fodder and Food Security Committee.
Macra said the committee, which last met in January, needs to address the challenges faced by farmers around “immediate and future” fodder security at farm level.
In a letter to Minister McConalogue, Macra president Elaine Houlihan said it is “crucial” that the National Fodder and Food Security Committee meets “as soon as possible”.
Farmers are facing “difficult decisions” in the coming days regarding fodder supplies, grassland management, future fodder stocks and cereal planting, Houlihan said.
“Weather conditions remain challenging, and farmers need support and advice around future fodder decisions at farm level,” according to the organisation.
The committee, established by government in March 2022 in response to input price inflation and potential supply pressures, is chaired by Longford dairy farmer Mike Magan.
Met Éireann’s latest forecast (Thursday, March 21), shows that all soils are currently saturated or waterlogged, and not much change is expected in the week ahead.
The weather will stay unsettled with rainfall totals forecast to be above normal. All counties will see rainfall totals generally between around 20-60mm, highest in the southwest.
Rainfall amounts were above average in most areas away from northern coastal counties over the past week. Most areas had 150% to 250% of normal rainfall totals.
Drying conditions over the next week will be generally moderate or poor as any dry spells will be short lived. Opportunities for spraying will be limited this week.