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The fodder situation on farms is now a nationwide crisis, according to IFA President Joe Healy.
With this in mind, Healy wants the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to convene a meeting with all stakeholders as soon as possible.
“We’re calling on the Minister to gather all stakeholders together immediately,” said Healy, speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland this Tuesday.
“This is very serious from a human and animal welfare point of view. Grass growth for the month of March has been at a third of normal growth.”
He said stakeholders such as the IFA, Teagasc and grain merchants should be brought together to try find solutions that will alleviate some of the stress on farmers.
“I don’t think people realise how serious the situation is. In some cases animals went into the sheds in Autumn and they are still in.”
Last September senior IFA representatives visited farms in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim to witness the situation on farms during the wet autumn.
Back then farmers in the northwest couldn’t carry out a second cut of silage as "the only two dry days were 24 and 25 July, it has just got wetter and wetter ever since”.
It is now April and Healy says there is a “serious lack of silage and hay".
"Meal prices have gone up. There is a serious lack of finance on farms because the winter has been so costly,” Healy added.
Weekly weather: Rain and cold to continue until Thursday
Monday management: Limited opportunities for field work this week
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