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Farming organisation representatives taking part in this Monday’s meeting with Department officials in Sligo expressed disappointment that no direct aid was announced. However a spokesperson for the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal after the meeting that it took place "with a view to providing a targeted contribution towards long-distance transport of fodder to those areas most impacted by the adverse weather".
“Despite recent soundings to the contrary, regrettably no announcement on a transport subsidy was forthcoming today,” ICSA Sligo chair Gabriel Gilmartin said in a statement.
Farming organisations have repeatedly sought Government support to transport silage from areas with excess supplies to those facing shortages in the north and northwest.
Gilmartin added that Department officials present at the meeting said the transport of straw would not be subsidised in any event.
Meal vouchers, another solution pushed by the ICSA, were “not forthcoming either” he said.
“ICSA is arguing that meal vouchers can offer a better value solution than transporting fodder across the country at huge cost,” Gilmartin said, calling for a €40/t support for meal in affected areas. Alternatively, “ICSA will continue to press for transport subsidies for straw as well as hay and silage as a matter of urgency,” he added.
No progress
IFA rural development committee vice-chair Pat Gilhooley expressed his disappointment at the failure of the Department to announce measures to help farmers.
“We’re very disappointed that the Department and the Minister continue to fail to recognise that we’re in the middle of a crisis," Gilhooley said.
“We have attended our second fodder meeting and there’s been no progress. Teagasc reported in their own survey that 85% of farmers in the northwest hadn’t enough fodder."
Poor weather conditions over the summer months prevented many farmers in the west and northwest of the country from making enough fodder.
Farmers have reportedly been struggling to secure additional fodder at reasonable prices and a survey carried out by Teagasc last year found that 85% of farmers in the northwest region were affected by fodder shortages and had, on average, less than half of the fodder they needed for the winter.
There’s an awful shortage of cash
“The big problem is there’s an awful shortage of cash because farmers have used their BPS and ANC payments to pay contractors and last year’s bill.
“Farmers are having to sell good-quality suckler cows and people will never get them back. That’ll have a huge impact on the quality of herds for years to come.
“We need a transport scheme, but more importantly we need meal vouchers because the quality of the silage isn’t good enough and cattle need good-quality feed, especially as spring calving is about to start.” Gilhooley concluded.
The Department spokesperson stressed that any measure should be appropriately targeted to those most impacted without upsetting the normal trade of fodder between farmers.
Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesman Charlie McConalogue said he would raise the issue in the Dáil this week, adding: “Considering there was a €78 million underspend by the Department of Agriculture in 2017, there are ample funds available to directly support farmers with severe fodder shortages”, said .
Additional reporting by Hannah Quinn Mulligan and Amy Forde.
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