The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are calling for the introduction of a fodder support scheme for sheep and cattle farmers. Speaking on this National Vice President John Joe Fitzgerald outlined how the organisation is seeing a growing number of farmers contact them expressing concern about their fodder supplies. “With grass growth over the summer well behind previous years, leading to lower fodder supplies, farms across the country are now looking at tight supplies for the coming winter” stated Fitzgerald.
“This reduction in the amount of silage and hay made has been further complicated in western areas through August, where heavy rain forced many farmers into housing stock and feeding silage that was already in short supply” added Fitzgerald
As we look to the coming winter period Fitzgerald stressed the need “to support farmers through a scheme that can accommodate their specific requirements.” Such a scheme will, he continued “need to recognise that for some farmers it will be support to buy silage or hay., while for others the preference may be to extend existing fodder stocks through the feeding of meal and for other farmers, the purchasing of straw may help in both their bedding and fodder requirements.”
To accommodate these outcomes, the INHFA Vice President recommended a scheme “paying a specific amount of money based around cattle and sheep numbers and a scheme that would have a maximum payment. For farmers to avail of this they would need to apply, detailing what stock they have.”
In conclusion, Fitzgerald pushed Minister McConalogue and Finance Minister Jack Chambers for a budget allocation to support such a scheme stating that “now is the time to address this issue and not next Spring when fodder supplies will be even tighter and options more limited.”