Impact of Fodder Shortage Deepens on Farms

IFA Deputy President Eddie Downey has expressed concern over the impact of the fodder shortage that is being reported locally through the Project Teams set up at county level involving IFA, Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture.
He said, “The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney needs to ensure that adequate resources are made available, and a meaningful emergency fund is necessary to assist the Department and the Project Teams in dealing with these cases”.

Eddie Downey said the fodder difficulty is now becoming an acute problem on some farms across the country, and farmers are incurring significant extra costs in buying in feed. It is essential that the Project Teams have a level of emergency funding available to them to take action. “The full impact of last year’s wet weather is now being felt on farms, with input costs rising. Some farm families, through no fault of their own, are finding it extremely difficult to deal with the fodder crisis and help must be provided.”

The IFA Deputy President said now is the time to act to assist genuine cases and get them over the current impasse and out as far as grass growth in early spring.

He also reminded the banks of their responsibility to their customers to provide the necessary cashflow to help farm families get over the winter.