The Department of Agriculture is considering importing fodder and will meet with Teagasc and co-ops to discuss the option on Wednesday 4 April.

Teagasc has also stated it is compiling a register of fodder availability around the country.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has asked Teagasc to run fodder clinics to help support farmers going through a challenging period on farms.

The move is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on farms where fodder has already run out or is in short supply.

Slow grass growth

Weather has not let up and grass growth is still lagging far behind where it was this time last year. Poor ground conditions are also keeping cattle housed in parts of the country which would usually be on to the second round of the grazing rotation by now.

During the last fodder crisis, in 2013, the Department introduced a €2m imported fodder transport fund. More than 80 co-ops, merchants and other enterprises were approved for payment under that fund.

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