Farmers in west Clare have received a load of 30 bales of silage from Laois IFA to help mitigate the effects of a fodder shortage in the area.
It’s part of an IFA initiative to pair counties with a fodder surplus with those who are short on fodder, after an abnormally wet, late summer prevented many farmers from making enough winter fodder.
The Clare IFA chair told the Irish Farmers Journal, that the load had come into Kilfenora which was one of the ‘worst hit areas so far’.
“We’ll be charging a nominal fee per bale at about €20 to €25 to cover transport costs,” Hanrahan said.
“We’re twinned with Laois and in fairness they responded very well to the issue.
“Some farmers in the area would be very short but we’re working with them and Teagasc were good with information and sent out a formula to help farmers calculate what fodder they had left.”
Fodder meeting
Next Monday, Minister Creed will meet with Teagasc and industry representatives to discuss the issue of fodder shortages in the west of Ireland.
Farm organisations have been campaigning to the see the introduction of a fodder scheme to help farmers affected by the shortage since last year.
The meeting will be the second Fodder Action Group Meeting, after the first was held at the beginning of December last year.
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Listen: farmers asking €50 a bale amid west Clare fodder shortage