The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed says that fodder will have to be imported as ongoing wet weather conditions mean livestock continue to be kept indoors.

The adverse weather conditions since the autumn mean that farm animals are being kept indoors longer than normal, with already depleted fodder supplies on farms being put under extra pressure.

Speaking after a meeting with Teagasc and industry representatives at Moorepark in Co Cork, Mr Creed said that he asked Department of Agriculture officials to develop a scheme to import fodder.

Farmer and News Correspondent with the Irish Farmers Journal Hannah Quinn-Mulligan says the crisis is having an impact on the mental health of farmers.