The Government's response to the fodder crisis has been "appropriate and measured", according to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
He also urged farmers who are having difficulties with fodder supplies that they should "put their hands up".
Speaking on Today with Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1, he said that the fodder shortage has been a revolving and dynamic story since last September/October, but the accusation that we should have intervened then and imported fodder is ridiculous.
"Our response has been appropriate and measured and it is appropriate and measured now," he said.
Difficult growing conditions
He spoke of the difficult growing conditions encountered by farmers this spring and re-emphasised the point that farmers in need of help should ask for it.
“We had a fixed amount of fodder and if we had a normal spring it would have been adequate. What we’ve had is an extremely late spring and wet spring.
"The overwhelming message I want to send to farmers is if you have a problem, put your hand up. We have been responding to the co-op movement."
When questioned if it was too little too late to bring in fodder, Minister Creed said that importing fodder last September would be absurd.
“If we had taken that step last September, you would have me on this show and saying that I’m spending taxpayers' money that’s not needed.”
Support
Support is being delivered through the co-ops in the form of the cost of importation and fodder budgeting is available with Teagasc for farmers, the minister said.
We had a fixed amount of fodder and if we had a normal spring it would have been adequate. What we’ve had is an extremely late spring and wet spring
He also rebutted claims that the fodder transport scheme is too complicated.
“The fodder transport scheme wasn’t mired in red tape. Farmers had to go to Teagasc to establish [their] need and then approach co-ops to organise transport. I don’t see that as excessively bureaucratic.”
Minister Creed also said that he is satisfied that there is no need for animals to die as a result of lack of fodder.
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