Dark skies and rain have damaged the mood for tillage and livestock farmers alike. The harvest has become a nightmare, cattle have been re-housed and, with the slurry deadline fast approaching, there is little time left for land to recover enough for spreading.
Dark skies and rain have damaged the mood for tillage and livestock farmers alike.
The harvest has become a nightmare, cattle have been re-housed and, with the slurry deadline fast approaching, there is little time left for land to recover enough for spreading.
“I’m calling for flexibility on spreading of slurry,” said IFA Connacht chair Padraig Joyce, adding that farmers know when best to spread slurry and are just unable to get machinery out on land at the moment. “There’s been torrential rain here for the past week and we’re now in a desperate situation.”
Regulations in Northern Ireland allow farmers “with a reasonable excuse” to spread slurry during the closed period from 15 October to 31 January.
Five-point plan
With further rain forecast over the coming week there are mounting fears that there may be another fodder crisis in the spring. Over 25mm (1in) is forecast to fall in most places on Monday.
IFA president Joe Healy has called on the Government to implement a five-point plan to help address the difficult situation on many farms this autumn.
1. A crisis aid package for tillage farmers who have suffered serious crop losses.2. A fodder scheme for farmers unable to save enough hay or silage.3. A relaxation of the qualifying criteria for the Farm Assist programme.4. An extension of the slurry spreading deadline.5. Prompt and on time payment of all farm schemes this year.Listen to three western IFA chairmen describe the situation in their counties in our podcast below:
Irish MEPs Mairead McGuinness, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Matt Carthy and Marian Harkin are putting pressure on the European Parliament to establish a crisis fund for weather-stricken tillage farmers.
The first tillage forum is due to meet next week
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