A €1.5m Fodder Import Support Measure has been introduced by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
The measure is being introduced with immediate effect to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage from outside the island of Ireland, a statement from the Department said on Thursday evening.
The measure will operate through the dairy co-ops, will cover forage (hay, silage, haylage, etc) imported by the co-ops from 5 April 2018 to 30 April 2018 and will be subject to EU State Aid (de-minimis) rules.
Support under the measure will substantially reduce the cost to farmers of imported fodder by approximately one third, according to the Department.
This initial allocation will support the importation of up to 20,000t of fodder into the country and the Department said this will be kept under ongoing review until the current crises is over.
The Minister stressed that while the measure will operate through the dairy co-ops, the actual beneficiaries will be farmers who urgently need supplies of forage.
“This measure will largely replicate the straightforward approach adopted in 2013 whereby a farmer approached a participating co-op, purchased fodder and my Department subsequently paid the transport support element to the co-op,” he said.
Application forms and terms and conditions will be made available through the co-ops and on the Department’s website from tomorrow. Supplies imported on Thursday 5 April will be covered by the measure.
Speaking on Thursday evening, Minister Creed said: “In light of poor weather conditions and an evolving fodder supply challenge across the country, I am immediately introducing a support measure contributing to the cost of importing fodder from abroad.
“I welcome the moves to import fodder by the co-operatives and this measures supports this initiative. The co-operative ethos remains very strong and vibrant in Irish agriculture.”
Fodder Transport Support measure
Minister Creed has also made the Fodder Transport Support measure more flexible:
The scheme will now apply to all counties with immediate effect.The need for a fodder budget has been removed from the scheme.The minimum distance requirement has been reduced to 50km. GLAS changes
Meanwhile, the Minister has also announced an extension to the closing date for grazing livestock on land under the Traditional Hay Meadow action in the GLAS scheme.
Grazing by livestock is now permitted up to 1 May this year – the original deadline was 15 April.
The Minister said he will continue to monitor the fodder situation closely and work with all stakeholders until farmers have successfully come through this trying period.
Read more
Creed to be grilled on fodder crisis next week
Watch: fodder relief logistics in full swing
Response to fodder crisis 'appropriate' - Creed
A €1.5m Fodder Import Support Measure has been introduced by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
The measure is being introduced with immediate effect to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage from outside the island of Ireland, a statement from the Department said on Thursday evening.
The measure will operate through the dairy co-ops, will cover forage (hay, silage, haylage, etc) imported by the co-ops from 5 April 2018 to 30 April 2018 and will be subject to EU State Aid (de-minimis) rules.
Support under the measure will substantially reduce the cost to farmers of imported fodder by approximately one third, according to the Department.
This initial allocation will support the importation of up to 20,000t of fodder into the country and the Department said this will be kept under ongoing review until the current crises is over.
The Minister stressed that while the measure will operate through the dairy co-ops, the actual beneficiaries will be farmers who urgently need supplies of forage.
“This measure will largely replicate the straightforward approach adopted in 2013 whereby a farmer approached a participating co-op, purchased fodder and my Department subsequently paid the transport support element to the co-op,” he said.
Application forms and terms and conditions will be made available through the co-ops and on the Department’s website from tomorrow. Supplies imported on Thursday 5 April will be covered by the measure.
Speaking on Thursday evening, Minister Creed said: “In light of poor weather conditions and an evolving fodder supply challenge across the country, I am immediately introducing a support measure contributing to the cost of importing fodder from abroad.
“I welcome the moves to import fodder by the co-operatives and this measures supports this initiative. The co-operative ethos remains very strong and vibrant in Irish agriculture.”
Fodder Transport Support measure
Minister Creed has also made the Fodder Transport Support measure more flexible:
The scheme will now apply to all counties with immediate effect.The need for a fodder budget has been removed from the scheme.The minimum distance requirement has been reduced to 50km. GLAS changes
Meanwhile, the Minister has also announced an extension to the closing date for grazing livestock on land under the Traditional Hay Meadow action in the GLAS scheme.
Grazing by livestock is now permitted up to 1 May this year – the original deadline was 15 April.
The Minister said he will continue to monitor the fodder situation closely and work with all stakeholders until farmers have successfully come through this trying period.
Read more
Creed to be grilled on fodder crisis next week
Watch: fodder relief logistics in full swing
Response to fodder crisis 'appropriate' - Creed
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