Francie Gorman said that immediate action is needed by Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Martin Heydon to address worsening issues affecting farmers due to ongoing drought conditions.
Today, Minister Heydon held a meeting with IFA and other farming organisations to discuss the ongoing weather-related challenges.
At today’s meeting, Teagasc outlined that 39% of farmers surveyed in the last week estimate that they are facing a fodder shortage of 10% or more ahead of the coming winter.
“It confirms our fears as to the size of the fodder challenge facing us. There is also a huge the cash flow crisis on many farms,” Francie Gorman said.
“In addition, our horticulture and tillage sectors are also staring down the barrel of poor harvest yields, compounded by low market returns and rising cost of production,” he added.
“Supports must come for those sectors impacted in the short-term, in addition to a practical and effective fodder crisis plan.”
“It’s now almost 10 days since we asked Minister Heydon to convene the National Fodder and Food Security Committee. The Minister has finally committed to calling a meeting but gave no date for the meeting.” he said.
“We have already lost 10 days due to inaction and still have no concrete proposals on the table from the Minister,” the IFA President continued.
“We all have a part to play in addressing this crisis, but the Minister must lead it,” he added.
“Minister Heydon has failed to grasp the severity of the issues farms are facing. He must act now,” Francie Gorman concluded.
