The Fodder Transport Support Measure remains bogged down in rule confusion.

The Department of Agriculture has stated that the scheme is “not area-specific”, but farmers in Roscommon have been told that they are ineligible for the scheme because their county is not listed.

“My planner certified that I was 250 bales short, but they’ve been told by the Department that Roscommon isn’t in the scheme,” one farmer from north Roscommon told the Irish Farmers Journal.

The farmer’s adviser added: “I was told [on Tuesday] by the Direct Payment Section that Roscommon is not on the list of eligible counties.

“There’s a load of farmers in the area who would be short of fodder, with over 20 completing fodder budgets just with us.”

Speaking in Charleville on Monday night, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “It’s in black and white – the scheme is not area-specific.”

The published terms and conditions of the scheme do not include any list of counties.

On Tuesday, the Irish Farmers Journal understood that only farmers short of fodder in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, west Cavan, west Clare, Galway and Mayo were eligible to apply for the scheme, and Roscommon was under consideration.

Certain counties

“The fodder scheme is only available in certain counties, but the consensus of the meeting was that the scheme should be extended to Monaghan and Roscommon,” Teagasc regional manager Con Feighery told the Irish Farmers Journal following a meeting between ICSA and Teagasc on Friday.

“The Department will base its decisions on fodder budgets completed by farmers, but they haven’t indicated a particular number that’s required.

“If it’s decided that a whole county doesn’t warrant the scheme, then the Department will roll it out according to DEDs (District Electoral Divisions).”

ICSA’s Gabriel Gilmartin said Teagasc staff had a list of 70 Longford and Roscommon farmers who would be in serious fodder trouble by St Patrick’s Day.

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