Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has pledged to support the importation of fodder from abroad to help farmers who have little or no fodder left.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at Teagasc Moorepark this Wednesday, the Minister said he has already spoken to Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe in relation to funding for the scheme.

The 2013 fodder import scheme cost almost €3m, he said, but he is “not overly concerned about cost at this stage”, adding that the detail of the support for co-ops importing still needs to be worked out.

Listen to Minister Creed in our podcast below:

The Minister is also set to ease restrictions on the current national fodder transport scheme to allow more fodder to move within the country.

The 100km transport rule will be dropped, he revealed, because the fodder problems have escalated from a regional problem to a national issue.

There are about two weeks, maybe less, in current reserves

He urged farmers to get in touch with their co-op, Teagasc and other professionals to seek help and to make plans to stretch existing scarce stocks.

“There are about two weeks, maybe less, in current reserves,” he said. “Stretching that out will be very important.”

“There is no silver bullet for this problem, community solidarity will be an important pillar of the reponse,” he said.

In addition the Department of Agriculture has confirmed that an extension until 30 April was being extended to farmers under Derogation.

Read full coverage of the response to the fodder crisis in this Thursday's Irish Farmers Journal.

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