The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed cannot ignore the developing fodder crisis any longer- that’s according to the IFA President Joe Healy.
Farmers along the western seaboard have found themselves short of fodder as we start the New Year, following on from bad weather conditions last Summer and Autumn.
The IFA is just one of the farming organisation calling for assistance from the Minister for farmers in worst affected areas.
A recent Teagasc survey showed that 85% of farmers affected by fodder shortages in the West / Northwest region have less than half the supplies they need for the Winter.
The IFA President Joe Healy is now calling for a further meeting of the Fodder Action Group to be urgently convened to assess the situation and to establish actions required to avoid a crisis this winter.
The action group was set up by the Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and met in Sligo before Christmas, but the IFA President says a further meeting needs to take place as soon as possible to deliver tangible outcomes.
The group is chaired by Teagasc and comprises of all the main stakeholders, including feed merchants and co-ops, as well as banking and farm bodies.
Joe Healy says the Minister has been aware of the situation for some time but has yet to offer any tangible support, and immediate action is required.”
He’s calling for a meal voucher system, which he believes would be the best and most efficient solution, and he’s also seeking a commitment from the Minister to fund the significant cost of transporting fodder to the areas in need.
The IFA is currently twinning counties to identify farmers who are in a position to contribute feed that can be transported to areas in need and provided at a reasonable cost.
The new President of the ICMSA also says the fodder crisis is one of two issues that need to be dealt with quickly – the second being problems around shipping calves.
Pat McCormack succeeded Mayo farmer John Comer as ICMSA President shortly before Xmas, and he says supports will have to be put in place to ensure farmers can get additional fodder into affected areas at a reasonable cost.
