Listen: fodder relief scheme for farmers

The Department of Agriculture is planning a fodder relief budget for farmers severely affected by a feed shortage as a result of the wet summer.

Since the end of July, farmers in the west and northwest have endured as much as 600mm (2ft) of rain. This resulted in cattle having to be housed since August in many places.

We need to see urgent action by the minister to avert serious problems on farms

The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that the Department is in the process of formulating a fodder relief budget for these farmers.

Speaking at an IFA event in Co Leitrim on Saturday, junior agriculture minister Andrew Doyle confirmed the Department would examine a fodder relief scheme but ruled out a blanket budget as this would drive up fodder prices.

Listen to Minister Doyle and local farmer John Taylor in our podcast below:

“It’s not a matter of throwing money at it. This is a welfare issue for man and beast. I think we have to look at how we assist the farmers in the first instance and how they look after their stock because if the stock are minded, then the farmer will be better.

“We have a specific issue that is going to require a specific set of measures,” Doyle told the Irish Farmers Journal.

A spokesperson for Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said he endorsed the comments of Doyle, who visited Leitrim in Minister Creed’s absence.

The spokesperson added that Creed has asked Teagasc to work locally in areas with fodder difficulties and urged farmers to contact their local office if in difficulty.

IFA president Joe Healy said: “We need to see urgent action by the minister to avert serious problems on farms.”

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Listen: hardship taking its toll on fodder-hit farmers