Over the last number of days and weeks, the farming community has rallied together during the fodder crisis.

This week it was announced that a €1.5m fodder import scheme would be introduced to cover the cost of hauling the fodder to Ireland from abroad.

Before that scheme was brought in, farmers were helping each other out, with those who could spare a few bales or had plenty of pit silage offering what they could to their neighbours and those further afield.

One such farmer who received fodder from a neighbour was Hugh Connolly from Co Monaghan.

“My wife was at mass during the week and they were praying for the farmers that the weather would change and some lady said she had fodder.

“My wife approached her and we got some off the lady. It’s two-year-old stuff and it’s only middling quality but it might [help] me out.

“I thought I’d have stock out at this stage but it’s not happening. There’s more dodgy weather on the way so we’re just trying to get by day by day,” Connolly said.

Meanwhile, in Galway, Padraig Daly from Ballinasloe has made 80 bales of oaten straw freely available to farmers who are under pressure and are willing to collect from the yard.

There are also a small number of silage bales left but these are quickly disappearing, he told the Irish Farmers Journal. Padraig has released 120 silage bales and 40 haylage bales to farmers so far this spring, with most of his customers coming from within 10 miles of Ballinasloe.

Farmers around Galway can contact Padraig on 087-825 1332 for information about the fodder.

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