When Michael Cahill’s farm was flooded in 1995, he was told it was a one in 100-year event. Since then he has been flooded in 2009, 2012 and in the winter that has just passed. He said the mental stress of it is taking its toll on people.
“I’m usually a positive person, but it would push you to breaking point,” he says.
Farmers near him in Rinrush, Gort, Co Galway, are facing an uncertain winter ahead.
“The water is higher now than it was this time last year,” said Cahill, who believes that while the CFRAM reports include cost-benefit analysis on flooding remedial works, they don’t include the economic loss on farmland.
The suckler and sheep farmer spent last winter travelling between a number of out farms lambing ewes that had to be rehoused when the floods hit.
Cahill received €9,000 through the fodder aid scheme, though the replacement silage was expensive and of variable quality.
Other costs
However, there are other costs associated with flooding that he and neighbouring farmers have all had to deal with that eat into margins. Cahill estimates it cost him an additional €12,000:
€800 emptying of slurry tanks to prevent ground contamination.€4,000 estimate of cost associated with road restoration, leading from public road, caused by extreme water flows.€750 to rebuild stone walls knocked in order to enable flow of water from farmyard.€500 water pump replacement caused by water contamination.€320 to replace and refit an electric fence. €2,300 for reseeding of land.€500 for powerwashing and disinfecting machinery.€450 in transport costs for moving animals to neighbouring farms.€950 of damage to his tractor from driving through flood water.€1,400 non-productive cost estimate associated with the flooding.The solution, according to Cahill, involves bringing together the key stakeholders in the area, such as Coillte, NPWS and farmers.
At the flood forum conference on Saturday the IFA called for a relocation grant for farms affected and maintenance of the river Shannon.
“Emergency funding also needs to be put in place for the farmers who have borne the brunt of the winter flooding to help them get back on to an even keel,” Fianna Fáil’s Anne Rabbitte commented.
When Michael Cahill’s farm was flooded in 1995, he was told it was a one in 100-year event. Since then he has been flooded in 2009, 2012 and in the winter that has just passed. He said the mental stress of it is taking its toll on people.
“I’m usually a positive person, but it would push you to breaking point,” he says.
Farmers near him in Rinrush, Gort, Co Galway, are facing an uncertain winter ahead.
“The water is higher now than it was this time last year,” said Cahill, who believes that while the CFRAM reports include cost-benefit analysis on flooding remedial works, they don’t include the economic loss on farmland.
The suckler and sheep farmer spent last winter travelling between a number of out farms lambing ewes that had to be rehoused when the floods hit.
Cahill received €9,000 through the fodder aid scheme, though the replacement silage was expensive and of variable quality.
Other costs
However, there are other costs associated with flooding that he and neighbouring farmers have all had to deal with that eat into margins. Cahill estimates it cost him an additional €12,000:
€800 emptying of slurry tanks to prevent ground contamination.€4,000 estimate of cost associated with road restoration, leading from public road, caused by extreme water flows.€750 to rebuild stone walls knocked in order to enable flow of water from farmyard.€500 water pump replacement caused by water contamination.€320 to replace and refit an electric fence. €2,300 for reseeding of land.€500 for powerwashing and disinfecting machinery.€450 in transport costs for moving animals to neighbouring farms.€950 of damage to his tractor from driving through flood water.€1,400 non-productive cost estimate associated with the flooding.The solution, according to Cahill, involves bringing together the key stakeholders in the area, such as Coillte, NPWS and farmers.
At the flood forum conference on Saturday the IFA called for a relocation grant for farms affected and maintenance of the river Shannon.
“Emergency funding also needs to be put in place for the farmers who have borne the brunt of the winter flooding to help them get back on to an even keel,” Fianna Fáil’s Anne Rabbitte commented.
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